Italian UnificationChapter 23

Background

• The “Long Century” – 1789-1914– French Revolution/Napoleon (1789-1815)– Age of Metternich (1815-1848)– Age of Realpolitik (1848-1871)

• 2nd French Empire• Italian/German Unification• Crimean War• Issues in Austria, Britain, and Russia

– Age of Mass Politics (1871-1914)– Nationalism played a large role in Eur post 1850

Background• Italy still fragmented in the 19th C• Austria, France, the papacy, and Italian nationalists compete

for control of the peninsula• Giuseppe Mazzini’s romantic nationalism failed to unite Italy

in 1848.• Failure of 1848 showed that left-wing romantic nationalism

could not win revolutions alone• Age of Realpolitik – Achieving goals through practical means,

not idealistic means will help the liberal goals of 1848 be attained. Political goals were achieved in a Machiavellian fashion

Step 1 – Carbonari Insurrections

Giuseppe Mazzini – “The Heart”

“A Country is not a mere territory; the particular territory is only its foundation. The Country is the idea which rises upon that foundation; it is the sentiment of love, the sense of fellowship which binds together all the sons of that territory. “

“Insurrection by means of guerrilla bands is the true method of warfare for all nations desirous of emancipating themselves from a foreign yoke.”

Camillo di Cavour – “The Head”

• Camilo di Cavour – moderate nationalist. Political liberal

• Prime Minister of Sardinia-Piedmont.– Parliamentary system of gov’t, elections, civil

liberties, wanted to decrease influence of RCC– Sought to unite northern Italy/central Italy

Camillo di Cavour – “The Head”

Cavour – “The Head”

• STEP 2 - Allied w/ FR and GB during Crimean War – What does he get in return?

• STEP 3 - Convinced FR to help uniting Northern Italy.• STEP 4 - 1859 – Sardinia-Piedmont annexed

Lombardy after war w/ Austria• 1860 – Annexed other northern/central Italian

states.• France received Nice and Savoy in return for support

of Cavour

Giuseppe Garibaldi – “The Sword”

• STEP 5 - Garibaldi and his Red Shirts liberated southern Italy and Sicily and united with Sardinia-Piedmont

• Was a romantic nationalist.• 1861 Victor Emmanuel named King of Italy• STEP 6 - 1866 – Alliance w/ German Chancellor,

Otto von Bismarck, led to annexation of Venetia.• STEP 7 – 1871 – Rome united w/ Italy after FR

loses war w/ Prussia. FR withdrew from Rome.

Political cartoon titled “Right leg in the boot at last” shows Garibaldi putting the boot of Italy on King Victor Emmanuel

Giuseppe Garibaldi - “The Sword”

Why do you suppose Garibaldi ceded southern Italy to Victor Emmanuel?

Father of the FatherlandVictor Emmanuel Monument to Victor Emmanuel

DID YOU KNOW?The Margherita pizza was named for Queen Margherita of Italy in the late 19th century. The red sauce, green basil, and white cheese match the Italian flag.