Download - Unification Of Italy
Unification of Italy
Italy in early 1800s
Obstacles to Unity Geographic problems - mountains
separate Italy into regions (remember those 5 themes?)
Italy is a collection of separate kingdoms
Most kingdoms ruled by outside powers Naples – Spain Venice & Lombardy – Austria Papal states – Pope / Church
The Leaders Giuseppe Mazzini
The “soul” of Italian unity Leads a secret nationalistic movement
“Young Italy Society” Wanted unified Italy Wanted Italy to be a democracy / republic
Viktor Emmanuel II and Camillo Cavour Led the “Resorgimento” (revival) Cavour is the “brains” behind the
operation King Victor Emmanuel is the “Heart”
The History
1848 Revolution Kingdom of Piedmont and Sardinia
stood up to Austria Fought Austria to aid other Italian
states under control of Austria Lost – but gained the respect of all
Italians
King of Piedmont forced out, but his son Viktor Emmanuel II and Cavour step in to take over – good move
1859 Things looking up
France and Austria go to war.
Piedmont, allies with France.
When France wins, Piedmont gets Lombardy from Austria. Piedmont now seen as most influential
Italian kingdom. People in other kingdoms rise up and
join Piedmont. Tuscany, Modena, Parma
Piedmont
Enter Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi The “Sword” of Italian unity Formed a volunteer army of
nationalists “1,000 Red Shirts”
Sailed to Sicily and took it over.
Sailed to Southern Italy Moved up through Italy
conquering and unifying Ended up unifying nearly all
of Italy
Garibaldi continued Good general, lousy
politician – and he knew it.
After unifying most of Italy, he turned control over to Viktor Emmanuel. Knew Emmanuel was a
better politician who could lead all of Italy
Not all is perfect – Plenty of corruption
and little real unity, but it is a start
Map of Italy beginning to look like the Italy we know today