Why Was so Little Progress Made Towards the Unification of Italy Between 1815-1848?

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Why was so little progress made towards the unification of Italy between 1815-1848? There are many different contributing factors as to why so little progress was made towards the unification of Italy in 1815-1848. For example the Restored monarchs and the revolutions of 1815-49 all hindered the progress of unification because they were all un-progressive and the revolutions even lead to a step back. Pre- Napoleonic Italy was not as we know it to day; it was merely a geographical expression, as the Austrian Chancellor, Prince Metternich, once said. It was a disjointed country, which had many different states, until Napoleon invaded. Napoleon invaded Italy in 1796 and ruled until the defeat at Waterloo in 1815. The European powers met at the Congress of Vienna and this is where it was decided that Italy would return to the old ways of pre Napoleonic-Italy when Austria controlled most of the peninsular. Their aim was to return ‘Italy’ to the stability of the 18th century and to reduce French influence. Italy was returned to a system of separate states, each under its own ruler and system of government, which suited the Austrians as it kept the area relatively weak, which allowed them to influence the states and repress revolutionary ideas. Ninety per cent of the population was dependant on some type of farming, many were illiterate and the power of the Roman Catholic Church was strong. Life was bad for the poor so there was a great deal of political apathy because everyday living was far more important for most Italians than political affairs. They had no say in the running of the country, as this was just a privilege reserved for the rich and elite, and during the revolutions of 1848-49 they were not included, which was a huge mistake as they could have been a valuable asset. To a majority of people ‘patriotism’ meant loyalty to a state rather than to Italy
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