German and Italian Unification This is about to
German and Italian Unification! This is about to get complicated……. .
Background on Germany Remember Napoleon? He marched across Europe on his way to Russia. On the way he took over many German states for France. Germany was not actually “Germany, ” it was just a collection of “German” states.
Congress of Vienna This was the Treaty that came after Napoleon’s defeat. It organized the German states into a “German Confederation, ” meaning that they were loosely tied together, but not a “Nation. ”
Otto von Bismark He was from Prussia and he had a vision of a unified Germany. He was made Prime Minister of Prussia, which is the highest position under the King (King William I). In 1862 he makes his “Blood and Iron” speech. He says that a unified Germany will only be obtained by war.
Realpolitik (ray AHL poh lee teek) Bismark was a master at this. It was a political theory that was based on the needs of the “state. ” Power is more important than principles.
He has Prussia fight 3 wars. He makes an alliance with Austria and they fight together to get back two German provinces that were under Denmark control. They win easily and divide up the territory amongst themselves.
Next he fights Austria Then, he stabs Austria in the back and attacks them. Prussia dominates Austria and wins within 7 weeks. This gains him territory that Austria had controlled. He is slowly uniting the German States!
Franco-Prussian War France was the biggest threat to Prussia, militarily speaking. King William I (the Prussian, Bismarck’s boss) wrote a letter to Napoleon III (leader of France). Bismarck got ahold of the letter and doctored it up to make it appear like William had insulted Nap III!
War This makes Napoleon III very angry and he declares war Prussia, which is EXACTLY what Bismarck wanted! Prussian forces defeat the French in a matter of weeks. This victory persuades the other German states to unify with Prussia and form “Germany. ” King William I took the title of Kaiser (Ky zur).
Unifying Italy had also been a collection of “Italian” states. Austria controlled most of the states in the North France controlled most of the states in the South
Nationalism takes hold Just like in Germany, nationalist societies developed that called for Italian unification. Giuseppe Mazzini founds the Italian Nationalist movement He says “Ideas grow quickly when watered by the blood of martrys. ”
Camillo Cavour He becomes Prime Minister in Sardinia and he believes in Realpolitik. He makes a secret deal with Napoleon III (France) to attack Austria. With France’s help, he succeeds and wins back some of the Italian states.
Garibaldi Giuseppe Garibaldi was a nationalist in Sicily. He led a force of men into Southern Italy and started to make his way up to Rome. This makes Cavour nervous because Garibaldi is having a lot of success and Cavour sees him as a rival.
Victor Emmanuel He was the King who was Cavour’s boss. Cavour urges him to send troops down to Rome and stop Garibaldi When they meet, however, Garibaldi surrenders his territory of Sicily and Naples to Victor Emmanuel so that Italy could be united.
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