Unifying Italy Mr Divett Disjointed Italy Italy had

Unifying Italy Mr. Divett

Disjointed Italy • Italy had not been unified since Roman times. • Camillo Cavour started to bring unification to Italy.

Obstacles to Italian Unity • Invasion of Napoleon sparks interest in national unity. • The Congress of Vienna ignored Italy’s desire for unification: – Many Italian states belonged to Hapsburg empire. – Naples and Sicily belonged to a French Bourbon ruler. • Patriotic revolts exploded across Italy.

Young Italy • In the 1830 s Giuseppe Mazzini founded Young Italy. • Goals of Young Italy: – Form a republic – Gain independence • Mazzini helped set up a republic in Rome. • It was soon toppled by French forces.

Mazzini

Nationalism Takes Root • Nationalists still wanted a unified Italy. • Arguments for a united Italy: – Common language – Geography – History – Economic benefit (end of trade barriers)

Struggle for Italy • After 1848 leadership of the Risorgimento passed to Victor Emmanuel II. – Constitutional monarch of Sardinia – Kingdom of Sardinia consisted of Piedmont, Nice, Savoy, and Sardinia. • Victor Emmanuel II started joining other states.

Victor Emmanuel II

New Prime Minister • In 1852, Victor Emmanuel appointed Camillo Cavour prime minister. • He acted to improve Sardinia's economy. • He accomplished this by: – Building railroads – Promoting free trade – Improving agriculture • He sought to end Austrian power in Italy.

Camillo Cavour

Intrigue With France • In 1855 Sardinia joined Britain and France against Russia in the Crimean War. • Sardinia won no territory, but was able to: – Have a say in the peace conference – Gain the attention of Napoleon III • Cavour negotiated a deal with Napoleon that he would support Sardinia in a war against Austria.

War With Austria • Cavour provoked a war with Austria. • With France’s help Sardinia defeated Austria and annexed Lombardy and some northern Italian states. • These states joined up with Sardinia.

Garibaldi’s “Red Shirts” • Guiseppe Garibaldi wanted to make an Italian republic. • In 1860 he had an army of 1, 000 red shirted volunteers. • He took control of Sicily with ease. • He was successful with the cooperation of Cavour

Garibaldi

Red Shirts

Italian Unity • Cavour urged Victor Emmanuel to send Sardinian troops to stop Garibaldi from becoming too powerful. • Instead, Victor Emmanuel joined forces with Garibaldi. • They united and voted to approve the new Italy and crown Victor Emmanuel II king of Italy

Italian Unity • Cavour died in 1861. • Italy became an ally of Prussia in the Austro. Prussian War. • They won Venetia. • In the Franco-Prussian War France withdrew from Rome. • Italy became united for the first time since the fall of the Roman empire.

Franco-Prussian War

Challenges • Italy was not used to being united. • Rivalries existed between states. • Sources of division: – North was rich, South was poor and rural – Hostility between Italy and the Roman Catholic church

Turmoil • Italy was a constitutional monarchy under Victor Emmanuel. • There were two legislative houses, one of them being elected by the people. • That being said, few people could vote. • Anarchists took to rioting. • Eventually suffrage was extended to more men.

Economic Progress • Despite its struggles, Italy began to have economic prosperity. • Big cities started to spring up and working conditions were not amazing. • This led to widespread emigration.

Italian Emigration