Unification of Italy and Germany By Benjamin Brizzolara
Unification of Italy and Germany By Benjamin Brizzolara Period: 4 1/13/2012
Prompt: �Analyze the similarities and differences in the methods used by Cavour and Bismarck to bring about the unification of Italy and Germany.
Background: In Italy � Nationalism is sweeping across the Italian States, the goal of a unified Italian Nation captivated many Italians. � A leader for unification came from the Kingdom of Sardinia, strengthen by the passing of a liberal constitution by its monarch Victor Emmanuel (Fair degree of civil liberties & parliamentary gov. -1848) � Early attempts of unification: � Radical patriot Giuseppe Mazzini, wanted Universal male suffrage and the will of the people controlling gov. � Catholic priest Vincenzo Gioberti , wanted a federation of the states under presidency of the pope � Leadership of the autocratic kingdom of Sardinia. Piedmont (this option is perused)
Into: Cavour Count Camillo Benso di Cavour (1810 -1861) • Sardinia-Piedmont Politian: limited and realistic • Worked in secret with Napoleon III in attempt to drive Austria out of northern Italy (succeeded, Lombardy is received in 1859) Ø Napoleon abandoned Cavour in 1859 (resigned) • Cavour’s achievements were positive, nationalist in central Italy called for fusion with Sardinia • Returned to power in 1860 due to the moderate nationalist movement in central Italy • Northern Italian State (Cavour's original goal) is reached
Intro cont. Garibaldi Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807 -1882) v. Superpatriot, by 1860 he emerged as an independent force in Italian politics (radical revolutionary nationalist) v Cavour is neutral to Garibaldi’s nationalism and republicanism (though he supported him secretly) v. By May 1860, Garibaldi along with his guerilla fighters (Red shirts) sought to “liberate” the kingdom of Two Sicilies, they succeeded in gaining the Sicilian peasantries aspirations of nationalism, and took Palermo (Garibaldi is popular all across southern Italy) v. Cavour, in fear of a war with France, the radical Garibaldi sacking Rome in the name of liberty and his popular appeal, organized local offices within the conquered territories v Garibaldi did not oppose Cavour, the people of southern Italy now wanted to join Cavour and Sardinia
Political Cartoon Garibaldi (left) and Cavour (right) making Italy (1861) *Unification is starting to take shape*
Course of Gradual Unification
Success! � With Garibaldi now in check, Cavour successfully steered the new kingdom of Italy from popular nationalism towards a new conservative direction. � Government is ruled as a parliamentary monarchy under Victor Emmanuel (neither radical nor democratic) � Cavour uses diplomacy, skillful maneuvering and popular appeal in unifying Italy � However: A social/cultural gap still remained between the industrial north and stagnate agrarian south Garibaldi and Emmanuel “seal the deal”
Background: Germany before Bismarck � Aftermath of 1848 - German states are locked in a political deadlock � German Customs Union (Zollverein) causes more tension between Austria and Prussia by 1848 � 1848, Prussia emerges with a parliament (somewhat), liberal middle-class rules it by 1853 � William IV seeks military reform (bigger defense budget and higher taxes), liberal middle-class representatives in parliament wants society to be less militaristic - rejects military budget (1862) � William sets up a ministry led by Bismarck to defy Parliament that same year.
Otto von Bismarck (1815 -1898) Policies ØFlexible and pragmatic in his polices Ø“One must always have two irons in the fire” v Kept his options open in policy after policy ØFashioned the “blood and iron” concept – using force to seek reform. Because of the events of 1848, Bismarck believed that the liberal middle class would parliamentary consent prefer national unity under conservative v “Might makes right” leadership ØBismarck wants Austria out of the • During the war with Austria, way, before the Austro-Prussian War Bismarck identified Prussia’s fate with Bismarck maneuvers Prussia away from the “national development of causing a global war (neutralizing Germany” attracting more of the France and Russia) forcing Austria into liberal party within parliament to his a war on its own (when it came) belief v Reorganized army without
Bismarck cont. –Wars and Unification Austro-Prussian War of 1866 Franco-Prussian War (1870 - Ø Lasted 7 weeks v Technology: utilizing railroads and Ø Patriotic war with France would cause breech loading needle guns Ø Austria defeated at the Battle of Sadowa Ø German Confederation is dissolved, Austria withdrawals from German affairs After the War North German Confederation is set up with Prussia as its leader (Bismarck’s original plan from the beginning of the war) Bismarck becomes chancellor of Prussia with William I as its president � Bismarck makes peace with parliament, passing a new federal constitution By 1866 German unity was insight. 1871) Southern German states to fall into Bismarck’s pocket Ø Using the issue of Napoleon III or William I becoming king of Spain as a diplomatic excuse, in 1870 war begins Ø Southern German states join Prussia (as Bismarck had hoped) and defeated the French army at Sedan on September 1, 1870 • Paris falls in January 1871, ending the war • Southern German states join the new German Empire Ø Bismarck is harsh: France is forced to pay for the war and cede Alsace and Lorraine to Germany • French and German relations are forever tainted after 1871 • German Unification is finally completed
Course of German Unification
Political Cartoon Bismarck wants to prevent major powers from allying with France (bottom left)
Methods: Differences Cavour � Limited and realistic ideals � Used mostly diplomacy and popular appeal � Manipulated a revolutionary nationalist – Garibaldi – in the final stages of unifying Italy � Allies himself with Napoleon III for support � Italy is united on paper, a gap still remains between north and south culturally and economically Bismarck � “Blood and Iron” � Using force to gain reform – “might makes right” � Used extensive patriotism and nationalism to unify the German States and to expand Prussia � Primarily using the military in the path to unification � Sided with the liberals, eventually gained liberal support � Accomplishments gave the German people pride in there nation and as a people.
Methods cont. -Similarities �Steered popular nationalism into a conservative direction �Used armed forces as a stepping stone towards unification �Originally wanted a “Northern” state, jumped at the chance of national unification �Both keep there options open �Both ministers use some form of “blood and iron” (Cavour using Garibaldi, Bismarck using the Prussian army) �Italy and Germany are ruled under a conservative parliamentary monarch
Conclusion The similarities and differences in the unification of Italy and Germany is placed on what was available to the two ministers: the army, powerful allies, and the cry for nationalism. Cavour, a clever diplomat and devote realist who skillfully maneuvers the Italian government in and out of polices, and Bismarck who used his method of “Blood and Iron”, the Prussian army along with fierce nationalism of the German people. Making unification possible, successful, and ultimately a reality
- Slides: 16