Unification of Italy Nation Building Nationalism The desire
Unification of Italy Nation Building
Nationalism • The desire of a group of people united by language, religion, culture to form a nation
Why? • The need/want for unity in Italy stemmed from the French Revolution • Under Napoleon Italy was combined into larger states • (unlike the first map you have completed) • Growing nationalist sentiment in Italy after tasting unification
Problems Facing Unification: Geography • Apennine Mountains separated East and West • Po river divided North and South
Problems of Unification: The Church • Pope wanted control of the Papal States • Unwilling to give up land
Problems of Unification: Leader? • Other states could not agree on who would lead the nation • Lack of a strong leader or royal blood • Common disagreement between all states
Problems of Unification: Outside Influences • Other European nations did not want a strong Italy • Feared its power as a full nation • Some European nations had control over Italian states • Austria: Northern Italy • Spain: Western Italy
Cavour (Northern Italy) • Prime Minister or Sardinia • • Brilliant Economist Controlled 20 percent of the population of “Italy” 27 percent of exports Built canals, reformed trade and land use • First successful leader of unification • Knew he needed outside help to rid Italy of foreign rule
Crimean War: 1852 • Sardinia (under Cavour) joined Britain and France in their war against Russia
Crimean War: 1852 • Sardinia (under Cavour) joined Britain and France in their war against Russia • War was fought over territories in the declining Ottoman Empire • (Turkish Islamic Empire)
Crimean War: 1852 • Sardinia (under Cavour) joined Britain and France in their war against Russia • War was fought over territories in the declining Ottoman Empire • (Turkish Islamic Empire) • Because Sardinia helped with the war they received favour from France
War with Austria: 1858 • Cavour sows nationalists discontent in Lombardy • Eventually riots and rebellions break out • Austria declares war and sends troops to attack Lombardy • French send troops to aid Sardinia • Make a deal to aid Sardinia in return for Savoy and Nice • Austrians driven out of Lombardy
The Dominoes start to fall • The states of Tuscany, Modena, Parma, and the Papal province of Romagna all begin to move towards Sardinia • Held plebiscites (popular votes) deciding whether to join Sardinia • By 1860 All of Northern Italy except Venetia belongs to Cavour and Sardinia
Why do the dominoes fall? • Nationalism
Southern Italy
Unification: Southern Italy • Nationalist sentiment growing in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies • Ruled by the Bourbon House of Spain
Giuseppe Garibaldi • Dashing military commander who wanted nothing less than a completely unified Italy • In 1860 formed a 1000 man volunteer army called the “Red Shirts” • Had “unofficial” approval from Sardinia • Attacks the kingdom of the Two Sicilies • Aimed to drive out the Bourbon rulers
War! • Garibaldi and the Red Shirts land on the island of Sicily and conquer it in a daring campaign • They then sail to the mainland thump the Bourbon forces there • He then turns his army north to the Papal States in the middle • Cavour intercedes with a Sardinian army • Worried that attacking the pope would anger the French who is under their protection
Cavour and Victor Emmanuel • Convinces Garibaldi to turn over Sicily and Naples to Sardinia • By the end of 1860 Cavour controls all of “Italy” proper except: Venetia and Rome • In 1861 parliament representing all of the controlled territories meets and proclaims Victor Emmanuel (the king of Sardinia) the King of Italy • Side note: 3 months later, just as the unification is about complete Cavour dies. Suck.
Afterword 1866 -1870 • In 1866 Italy joins Prussia in a war against Austria • Austria loses and cedes Venetia to Italy • In 1870 Prussia and France go to war and France withdraws its troops from Rome, leaving her undefended • Italians enter the city and a vote is held vote for annexation to Italy
Unification of Italy: • complete
- Slides: 24