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The document discusses the unification of Italy from the 1850s to 1870. It provides background on Italy before unification when it was divided. It then outlines the key factors and people that led to unification, including Count Cavour, Giuseppe Mazzini, and Giuseppe Garibaldi. It also describes the main events and steps of unification from revolutions to wars that consolidated the Italian states.

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32 views

Class 8

The document discusses the unification of Italy from the 1850s to 1870. It provides background on Italy before unification when it was divided. It then outlines the key factors and people that led to unification, including Count Cavour, Giuseppe Mazzini, and Giuseppe Garibaldi. It also describes the main events and steps of unification from revolutions to wars that consolidated the Italian states.

Uploaded by

karthickkumar2087
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ITALIAN NATIONALISM & UNIFICATION OF ITALY (1850s-1870)

Background (Italy before Unification)

Factors Responsible for Unification

Course of Unification

Role of Count Cavour, Mazzini & Garibaldi


BACKGROUND (ITALY BEFORE UNIFICATION)
1) 10TH CENTURY TO 1806 (THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE):

Prior to 1806,Italian states were part of the Holy Roman Empire

Holy Roman Empire was headed nominally by Austrian Habsburg dynasty


The Holy Roman Empire at its greatest territorial extent
2) 1806-1815 (NAPOLEON EMPIRE):

Napoleon fought a war with Austria and incorporated many parts of the Holy
Roman empire into the Napoleon’s Empire

Napoleon abolished the Holy Roman Empire in 1806

Under Napoleon, Italian peninsula was divided into three entities:


1) Northern parts: They were annexed to the French Empire (Piedmont, Liguria,
Parma, Piacenza, Tuscany, and Rome)
2) Newly created Kingdom of Italy: containing Lombardy, Venice, Reggio,
Modena, Romagna, and the Marshes. Ruled by Napoleon himself
3) Kingdom of Naples: It was first ruled by Napoleon’s brother Joseph
Bonaparte, but then passed to Napoleon’s brother in-law
3) 1815-1865 (VIENNA ORDER):

In Italy, the Vienna Congress restored the pre-Napoleonic patchwork of


independent governments, either directly ruled or strongly influenced by the
prevailing European powers, particularly Austria

Of the 8 states into which Italy was divided, only the Kingdom of Piedmont-
Sardinia had Italian ruler.

Hapsburg princes (connected with Austrian royal house) were re-established


in Parma, Modena and Tuscany

Papal States were restored to Pope


Bourbon rule was restored in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (fused together
from the old Kingdom of Naples and Kingdom of Sicily)

To Austria, two most prosperous provinces Lombardy and Venice was given
to secure Italy against possible French aggression
FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITALIAN UNIFICATION (RISORGIMENTO)
1) Napoleon Role
Napoleonic liberal reforms increased the hunger of self governance

Rise of Italian nationalism against Napoleonic Imperialism

2) Carbonari movement
The Carbonari was an informal network of secret revolutionary societies active
in Italy in the early 19th century

Carbonari favoured constitutional and representative government and wished to


protect Italian interests against foreigners and expelling them
3) Artistic and literary societies highlighted shared language, history, and culture of
People which also fuelled Italian nationalism

4) Role of Count Cavour, Mazzini & Garibaldi

i. Mazzini’s moral fervour (Soul of Italian Unification)

ii. Garibaldi sword (Sword of Italian Unification)


iii. Cavour’s diplomacy (Mind of Italian Unification)

5) Role of Piedmont-Sardinia: Piedmont-Sardinia emerged as a driving force behind the


unification process. Under the leadership of King Victor Emmanuel II and statesmen like
Cavour, Piedmont-Sardinia modernized its institutions, economy, and military,
positioning itself as a leading Italian state capable of challenging Austrian dominance.
6) Support from External Powers: The support and intervention of external
powers, particularly France and Britain, played a significant role in shaping
the outcome of the Italian unification process. While some powers supported
Italian nationalism for strategic reasons, others sought to maintain the status
quo or protect their own interests
COURSE OF ITALY UNIFICATION

1)Insurrection in Naples & Piedmont against Austria (1820-21)

2) July Revolution of 1830 in Italy

3) Revolutions of 1848-49 in Italy


King Charles Albert of Piedmont leads national war against Austria
but got defeated
Victor Emmanuel II become new king of Piedmont
Republican movement in Rome(1849)
4) Piedmont became the Centre of Italian Nationalism & Unification (1850s)

5) ‘Decade of preparation’(1849 to 1859)


Cavour became the prime minister of Piedmont in 1852 & brought
wide range of political and economic reforms

6) Crimea War(1856) & Treaty of Paris

7) Compact of Plombieres,1858
It was a secret treaty of alliance against Austria signed by Napoleon
III (France) and Cavour (Piedmont)
8) Austro Sardinian War, 1859(1st Step of Unification)
 Franco-Piedmontese forces advanced to Lombardy and defeated Austria
in Battle of Magenta. At the same time, in the northern part of Lombardy,
the Italian volunteers of Giuseppe Garibaldi’s Hunters of the Alps
defeated the Austrians and Lombardy was cleared of the Austrians.
 Therefore by 1859, Piedmont got control of Lombardy from Austria
 The rulers of Central Italy (Tuscany, Parma and Modena), were expelled
by people’s revolution shortly after the beginning of the war
 Treaty of Villafranca (France sign peace treaty with Austria & exit the war)
9) Annexation of Central Duchies (Duchy of Parma, Duchy of Modena, Grand
Duchy of Tuscany) and the Papal States by Kingdom of Sardinia in 1860
(2ND STEP OF UNIFICATION)

10) Expedition of the Thousand or Red shirt in 1860 (expedition against Sicily)
(3RD STEP OF UNIFICATION)
Expedition of the Thousand campaign undertaken in 1860 by Giuseppe
Garibaldi to overthrew the Bourbon Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (Naples)

It led to union of southern Italy and Sicily with the north
11) Austro-Prussian War,1866 (4th Step of Unification)
Prussian victory at Sadowa made Austria to surrender Venetia to the
Italian King under the terms of the Peace of Prague

12) Franco-Prussian War,1870 & Acquisition of Rome(5th Step of Unification)


The Capture of Rome (20 September 1870) was the final event of the
long process of Italian unification marking both the final defeat of the
Papal States under Pope Pius IX and the unification the Italian
peninsula under King Victor Emmanuel II with Rome as capital
ROLE OF COUNT CAVOUR, MAZZINI & GARIBALDI
ROLE OF COUNT CAVOUR
Count Cavour was called Real creator of Italy

1) Understanding hurdles involved in Italian Unification


1st statesman to study the Italian question in all its aspects and forge a
clear path for Unification
He demanded not merely expulsion of Austria but the extinction of
many princely houses and destruction of temporal power of Pope
2) Use of Diplomacy to get support from foreign powers for Italian Unification
 Cavour skillfully negotiated with France to secure its military support
against Austria, the primary obstacle to Italian unification. The secret
Treaty of Plombières (1858) between Cavour and Napoleon III of France
laid the groundwork for the Franco-Sardinian alliance against Austria.

3) Made skillful use of all available sources (Napoleon’s ambition, Mazzini’s

inspiration, insurrectionary movements, Garibaldi’s sword)

4) As a Prime minister of Piedmont brought in many political and economic


reforms .This strengthened Piedmont kingdom
ROLE OF MAZZINI
Called as Soul of Italian Unification

1) Joined Carbonari movement and involved in few conspiracy for Italian


Unification

2) Founding "Young Italy": In 1831, Mazzini founded the organization "Young


Italy" with the aim of promoting Italian nationalism and unification. The
organization sought to mobilize the youth and promote revolutionary activities
to achieve Italian independence and unity
3) Propaganda and Revolutionary Activities: Mazzini's writings and speeches
served as powerful propaganda tools for the Italian unification cause. He
used his literary skills to inspire Italians to rise against foreign domination
and work towards national liberation.

4) Revolutionary Networks: Mazzini's influence extended beyond Italy, as he


established networks of revolutionaries and nationalists across Europe. He
sought support from other European nationalist movements and inspired
similar struggles for independence and democracy.
5) Role in 1848 Revolutions: During the revolutions of 1848, Mazzini played a
prominent role in the uprisings across the Italian states. Although the
revolutions ultimately failed to achieve lasting political change, they
contributed to the momentum of the Italian unification movement

6) Influence on Later Leaders: Mazzini's ideas and principles profoundly


influenced other key figures in the Risorgimento, such as Giuseppe Garibaldi
and Camillo Cavour. While Mazzini's vision of a republican Italy was not fully
realized, his contributions laid the ideological groundwork for the eventual
unification of Italy under the leadership of King Victor Emmanuel II.
ROLE OF GARIBALDI
Called as Soul of Italian Unification as his contribution was mostly military
one

1) As a member of Young Italy movement popularized Italian Unification &


Republicanism

2 He created guerrilla force called Red Shirts and helped Mazzini to defend Rome
during Republican movement of Rome(1849)

3) During Austro Sardinian War, 1859 Italian volunteers of Giuseppe Garibaldi’s


Hunters of the Alps assisted Piedmont forces to defeat the Austrians & helped in
Lombardy annexation to Piedmont
4) Expedition of the Thousand or Red shirt in 1860 led to union of southern
Italy and Sicily with the north

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