“To what extent was the unification of Italy due to the weakness of Austria?” Throughout Europe between 1815 and 1848 swept feelings of nationalism and a desire for unification, including the states collectively known as Italy. This lack of identity was underlined when Count Metternich said “Italy is just a geographical expression.” Nationalism promoted the belief in one language, one culture and the pride in one’s identity. Before unification, life in Italy was frustrating for those who wanted unification. The North and the South states were economically different; the pope influenced the central states. Nevertheless, the process began from 1861 and by 1871 boundaries had been settled.
Cavour did many things and has many contributions to Italy. But the main aim was not unified Italy. He hoped that Piedmont would be strong enough to assume the leadership of Italy in the event of another wars with Austria, France and the House of Hapsburg of Austria. Many facts and evidence could see that Cavour did not want a unified Italy. He tried to prevent it and the "unification" was only Piedmontization (tried to extent the influence of Piedmont).
Both Count Camillo Cavour of Italy and Prussian Prime Minister Otto Von Bismarck brought their respective nations to unify in their own respective ways. In 1852 Cavour, the Prime Minister on Piedmont, he looked onto other liberal Italian principalities. His greatest contribution was his establishment of diplomacy; the negotiations between states. Meanwhile Prime Minister Otto Von Bismarck had a different view on the unification on his country; he was against diplomacy and remained scornful towards liberals. “The great questions of the day will not be settled by means of speeches and majority decisions but by iron and blood” (Bismarck).
Metternich aimed to stop the revolution in Naples from spreading to other parts of the country, as it was obvious, as it was the first major uprising that it had the potential to be big enough to damage the Austrian rule in Italy, King Ferdiand had promised a constitution which was not being granted when they wanted and General Pepe was appointed as leader of the revolutionists and he was to be made leader of the new government. At the Congress of Troppau it was decided between some of the biggest countries in Europe that the uprising would be stopped at the King of Naples would be restored, for this to happen there were various steps. The entire operation was master minded by the Austrians. The Austrian troops marched into Naples and suppressed the uprising with the backing of Russia and Prussia, the suppression was very vicious and they restored King Ferdinand’s monarchy, which was very much in favour of Austrian help. During 1821 there was another uprising in Italy in Piedmont, this was the battle between Charles Albert and
Italian Unification Outline Intro- Italy was unified by Piedmont in 1870. Foreign intervention played a somewhat moderate role in Italian Unification, it is evident that the Unification of Italy was dependent on several main factors; the spread of nationalism by Mazzini and Carbonari, the works of Cavour and Garibaldi, the 1848 revolution and the support of other countries. Topic 1- Nationalism Mazzini and Cabonari were the main causes in the spread of Nationalism in Italy. Carbonari was a secret society that organized revolutions against Austrian rule; from 1820-1830 revolutions started in Italy. Although the results were ineffective it was effective in the sense of spreading Nationalism.
(Robson, 1992)” However, reviewing the economical, social and political issues this was not to be. After the Unification of Italy in 1870, despite some modernisation occurring, the country still fell behind the other major powers of Europe. The state of the Italian economy was a major problem facing the new Kingdom. It was in huge debt that it had inherited from the states that had been unified to make Italy. The Liberal’s did nothing to make it look like they would attempt to transform the economy, which remained backward and unprepared for World War 1.
This showed the world that the actions of this group should not be taken seriously. Instead of America taking militar action they responded with the Stimson Doctrine. With this doctrine the US would not recognize “Manchuko” because it was taken by force. Only slightly stronger than what the League of Nations did it had the same result; it did nothing to stop the aggression. The actions in Italy, Germany, and Japan just pushed the isolationist movement even more, to not be dragged into another foreign war.
Italian Unification, 1815- 1870 Background • After the Napoleonic wars and French rule 1796-1815 the fate of Italy was decided at the Congress of Vienna in 1815 by Austria, Prussia, Britain and Russia • The Vienna Settlement insisted Italy returned to the divided state system, absolutist rulers be restored, and that Lombardy and Venetia would be annexed and ruled by Austria • The absolutist rulers of states were told not to give into liberal and national demands, and Austria would give military support if it got out of hand. 1820-21 revolution- Naples, Sicily and Piedmont • SPAIN- revolution in Spain against absolutist monarchy started the domino effect. • NAPLES- the Cabonari, liberals and middle class demanded an end to absolutism, demanded constitutional monarchy, middle class involvement in politics and personal freedoms. • PIEDMONT- the Cabonari, liberals and middle class demanded an end to the reactionary ruler of Victor Emmanuel I and constitutional government • SICILY- before the 19th century Sicily had been independent of Naples, and they wanted independence back as many felt the king of Naples did not pay attention to Sicilian problems. 18131-33 revolution- Parma, Modena and Bologna (papal states) • FRANCE- revolutions in France create the domino effect, revolutionaries in Italy though the new liberal king of France would help them against their absolutist rulers and Austria • THE PAPAL STATES- the Cabonari, liberals and middle class demanded an end to absolutism, demanded constitutional monarchy, middle class involvement in politics and personal freedoms.
`The Italian Unification or Italian Risorgimento is known as the chain of political and military events that produced a united Italian peninsula under the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. These events can be broken down in five stages: Pre-Revolutionary, Revolutionary, Cavour’s Policy and the Role of Piedmont, Garibaldi’s Campaign in Southern Italy, and the creation of the Italian Kingdom. I. Pre-Revolutionary Phase: After the Napoleonic Wars and Napoleon Bonaparte’s second defeat, the major powers that has resisted met at a conference called the Congress of Vienna in 1815. The topic of discussion was to limit France’s power, set limits on nations so no one nation become too strong, and divide up the territory conquered up by Napoleon. In its negotiations, the congress returned domination of the Italian Peninsula to Austria.
Bismarck’s desire was to alienate France from European affairs, a France which had become resurgent and powerful after the Franco-Prussian war. In order to achieve this, he needed to remain on good terms with both Russia and Austria-Hungary, thus he formed the Dreikaiserbund (1873-1878). However, the significance of this alliance was not so great, as Austria refused to agree to any military help. Furthermore, both Russia and Austria-Hungary were rivals in the Balkans, thus making the relations between them and Germany volatile. A few years later, a crisis arose in the Balkans, as a result of which, the Dreikaiserbund was terminated.