History - Unification of Italian States

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Italian Unification as a result of Foreign Aids The Italian Unification was a result of foreign aids from France, Prussia, Britain and also Russia by helping to gain Italian states and by helping indirectly. Firstly, the Italian Unification was a result of foreign aids from France because France wanted to gain prestige. To do this, France helped gain Lombardy and Duchies of Italy. When France saw the strength of the Piedmontese army in the Crimean war 1854, France agreed to help Piedmont against Austria. For this agreement, both countries signed the Pact of Plombieres in 1858 where if Austria attacked Piedmont, France will send 200,000 troops to help. In return, if Piedmont wins, France will gain Nice and Savoy while Piedmont will gain Lombardy and Venetia. During the Austro-Piedmontese war 1858, Austria was defeated in the battles of Magenta and Solferino. France also backed out of the war due to heavy casualties and the opposition by the French Catholics. This led to both countries to sign the Treaty of Villafranca in 1859 where France handed Lombardy to Piedmont. France also helped gain Duchies of Italy by giving full support through preventing the old rulers from returning to their territories. This resulted to the plebiscite in March 1860 where Duchies of Parma, Modena, Tuscany and Romagna agreed to be annexed to Piedmont. Thus, the foreign aids from France helped made the Italian Unification successful by gaining Lombardy and Duchies of Italy to unite with Piedmont. Secondly, the Italian Unification was a result of foreign aids from Prussia because Prussia needed Piedmont’s help during war against Austria. To do this, Prussia helped gain Venetia if Piedmont agrees to help Prussia against Austria. This was under the secret alliance that they created in 1866 where Piedmont agreed to join the Austro-Prussian was. The terms were, if Piedmont helped,
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