Movement to reclaim land to state in the basis of historic or ethnic attachment?

• A. Secession
• B. Irredentism
• C. Annexation
• D. Relocation

Answer: (B)

Irredentism is the push to reclaim and attach lands to a state based on historic, ethnic, or cultural ties, often crossing current borders. This movement argues that certain territories belong to the nation because of their historical presence or ethnic kinship, and should be brought back into the state's domain. That focus on reuniting lands with the homeland distinguishes it from other ideas: secession aims to form a new country out of a region rather than reclaiming border areas; annexation is the broader act of taking territory into a state, not specifically tied to historic-ethnic claims; and relocation involves moving people rather than changing borders to reflect historical attachments. For context, histories of irredentist claims include Italy's early-20th-century efforts to gain lands with Italian populations (like Trentino and Istria) and Hungary's claims to territories such as Transylvania due to ethnic ties.