Italian Unification
Stirrings of Nationalism
-Nationalism = devotion to one’s country
-Italian peninsula not united since Roman Empire
-Had several small competing states (9 major ones)
-Napoleon temporarily united Italy
-Congress of Vienna (after Napoleon)
-Tried to keep “old Europe”
-Put different cultures/groups within same border
-People didn’t want that
-Wanted their own land for their own people
-Guisseppe Mazzini
-Founded Young Italy (1831)
-Nationalist groupàCalled for unification of Italy
Path Towards Unity
-Revolutions in 1848 got the ball rolling
-Some rebelled against Austria (Northern Italy)
-Failed
-Mazzini took control of Rome in 1849
-France and pope regained control
-Sardinia revised constitution, remained independent
-Camillo di CavouràNationalist leader
-Founded newspaper (Il Risorgimento)
-Became prime minister of Sardinia in 1852
-Improved economy = Sardinia stronger
-Allied with France (1860)
-Helped break Northern Italy away from Austria
Garibaldi and the Red Shirts
-Guiseppe Garibaldi
-Part of “Young Italy”
-Recruited by Cavour (Sardinia)
-Learned guerrilla warfare
-Fight to free Italy from Austrian control
-Helped get N. Italy away from Austria
-Followers were called “Red Shirts” (colorful uniforms)
-Wanted to free Kingdom of Two Sicilies (1860)
-Used guerrilla warfare
-Took Sicily and Southern Italy
-Cavour favored monarchy; Garibaldi favored republic
-King Victor Emmanuel (Sardinia) took control of Kingdom of Two Sicilies
-1861àTerritories vote to unify
-Except Venetia and Papal States
-1866àVenetia taken by Italy after Italy sided with Prussians in war against Austria
-Austria lost
-1870àItalian troops take Papal States
-France withdrew troops
Challenges After Unification
-Social and Economic Problems
-Lots of regional differences (lack of unity)
-Southern Italy didn’t like being ruled by Rome
-Catholic Church refused to recognize Italy
-Widespread poverty, unemployment, high taxes
-Millions of Italians left immigrated to America
-Reforms
-Allowed more men to vote
-Reformed workplace (child labor laws, working hours)
-Improved transportation and water systems
-Foreign Policy
-Allied with A-H and Germanyàagreed to defend each other if one were attacked (Triple Alliance)
-Future cause of WWI
-Tried to acquire colonies (Ethiopia)