Editing Romania (section)

=== Formation of the modern state ===
Wallachia and Moldavia elected the same ruler in 1859, establishing the political union that became the foundation of modern Romania. The state declared independence in 1877, and the Kingdom of Romania was proclaimed in 1881. Bucharest became the principal political and administrative centre.

State institutions expanded during the late 19th century, but their reach remained uneven. Administration and infrastructure developed more rapidly in Bucharest and other large cities than in rural districts.

Following the First World War, Romania gained additional territory and became a larger multiethnic state. Parliamentary institutions operated during much of the interwar period, but frequent government changes weakened political stability. Economic inequality and competition among political elites placed further pressure on the constitutional system.