1830-49 The Early Failures of Unification Flashcards
1
Q
What was Italy like before Napoleon’s invasion in 1796?
A
- peninsula consisted of a series of 11 separate states
- Piedmont ruled by the House of Savoy in Turin
- Lombardy ruled by representatives of the Austrian empire - it was economically advanced with a population of 130,000
- Venetia also under Austrian control
- Central Duchies governed by their own dukes but under satellite control of the Austrians with little freedom
- Naples ruled by the Bourbon family - largest and poorest state and relied on agriculture for its income
- Sicily also under Bourbon control
2
Q
How did Napoleon take over and change Italy in 1796?
A
- Napoleon gaines control of the Italian army, driving Austrians out of the peninsula
- divides the peninsula into 3 parts: France in the NW, the Kingdom of Italy, and the Kingdom of Naples - creating a sense of nationalism among the people as they united together
- resentment grew among the people due to conscription (battle with Russia 1812 saw 27,000-1,000 Italian troops, high taxation with 60% funding war)
- tricolour flag introduced to encourage nationalism
- two-chamber representative gov introduced in each state with french ideals on liberty and equality (gave taste of democracy)
- 90% rural population - malnourishment caused Pellagra - 95,000 cases in Vienna one year
3
Q
After Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo 1814, how did the Congress of Vienna change Italy again?
A
- Congress of Vienna in 1815 aimed to redistribute Europe - returning Italy to previous powers (giving much of it back to Austria)
- Piedmont remained independent from Austria and was restored to King Victor Emmanuel I
- Lombardy and Vienna joined to control Venetia
- Papal States returned to the Pope (but Austrian forces remained in the area)
- King Ferdinand I returned to Naples and Sicily
- Metternich (Austrian Chancellor) influences the peninsula and promoted conservatism and reactionary efforts
4
Q
What was Piedmont like from 1815-30?
A
- VEI was very reactionary, wanted to return to pre-Napoleonic times e.g. ploughed parks and removed gaslights introduced under Napoleon
- absolute monarchy under the House of Savoy
- strong army
- middle class officials and law courts under Napoleon were relaxed with old noble families
- former 18th century laws restored that favoured the noble
- Genoa, Nice and Savoy joined the kingdom
- introduced customs barriers, banned long hair and beards (too revolutionary), Catholic education with intolerance of other religions e.g. anti-Jewish laws restricting property ownership
5
Q
What was Lombardy and Venetia like from 1815-30?
A
- under direct Austrian control - part of the empire but with a separate gov
- the two richest provinces in 1815 - economically and culturally advanced
- 25% of Austria’s revenue provided by these states
- strict censorship imposed that suppressed any discontent
- education compulsory until age 12
6
Q
What were the Central Duchies like from 1815-30?
A
- Tuscany, Parma and Modena were ruled by Dukes but all satellites of Austria
- Parma: Duchess Marie-Louise repealed the Napoleonic code (national set of laws) and didn’t allow reactionary policies
- Modena: saw the return of reactionary Hapsburg Duke Francis IV who removes Italians holding office and replaced them with nobles, hated liberals but disputed with Austria - this isolated the region
- Tuscany: Ferdinand III was progressive, allowing some freedom of expression not seen elsewhere, which allowed the growth of the journal, Antologia, health facilities expanded, education improved esp for girls, Siena and Pisa universities improved
7
Q
What were the Papal States like from 1815-30?
A
- a series of popes known as the “zealots” established a tight control over gov, education and culture
- code napoleon was abolished and strict censorship imposed
- any suggestion at reform was blocked, the inquisition prosecuted and punished those with modern ideas
- jesuits attacked those to challenge the church
- jewish children forced into Catholicism, jews sent to ghettos - toleration for any belief other than catholic was forbidden
- developments in communication were hindered as railways and the Telegraph were refused by the Pope
8
Q
What was the Kungdom of the Two Sicilies like from 1815-30?
A
- Bouron King Ferdinand I returned to Naples and established an absolute monarchy
- cancelled the Sicilian Constitution if 1812 which had allowed people to have a say in government
- the ming refused the liberals demand of a new constitution
- rule was oppressive and reactionary, region riddled with disease and famine
9
Q
What were the main political groups/ideas in 1815-30?
A
- nationalism - people of the same race, culture and traditions should be united in an independent nation (some favoured a monarchy, others a republic)
- liberalism - people should have a say in government - best achieved through a representative assembly or Parliament that would be elected, wanted to establish laws that guaranteed certain rights
- radicalism - wanted social reform and redistribution of wealth, favoured a democratic republic and were prepared to use violence
- Metternich/Austrian view - did not want these ideas to spread as it would threaten their rule
- most of the population was parochial (concerned only with local loyalties or uninterested in who governed them)
10
Q
What were the 3 main secret societies from 1815-30?
A
- the Carbonari
- Federati
- Spillo Negro
- these were weak as small/scattered groups, unprepared to work together and lacked organisation
11
Q
What was the Carbonari?
A
- secret society fighting for a constitution and more rights from monarchs
- mainly in the south, with 60,000 members in Naples - 5% of the adult male population, however spread to Papal states and Piedmont
- swore allegiance to their leaders
12
Q
What was the Federati?
A
- secret society favouring a constitutional gov
- led by Milanese nobleman Confalonieri
- mainly in the north
- anti-Austrian but more moderate than Carbonari
13
Q
What was the Spillo Negro?
A
- secret society of the Papal states, calling for the end of repression of the re-established Papal rule
- anti-austrian
- wanted more liberal ideas
14
Q
Where were the revolutions of 1820-21?
A
- Naples
- Sicily
- Piedmont
15
Q
What happened in the revolution in Naples 1820-21?
A
- Ferdinand had increased censorship of all media (sparked revolution in the middle class)
- Carbonari started a widespread revolution
- Ferdinand was forced to sign a constitution (giving men right to vote and limiting King’s power) and a new gov was appointed
- Ferdinand stated he was forced to comply to this and asked Metternich to restore the absolute monarchy, Austrian forced entered the area, purging it with such brutality that the chief of police was dismissed
16
Q
What happened in the revolution in Sicily 1820-21?
A
- sought independence from Naples as felt neglect, government buildings were torn down and the Neapolitan governor was exiled to Naples
- however Naples refused independence and threatened war
17
Q
What happened in the revolution in Piedmont 1820-21?
A
- following news of Naples revolts, the Carbonari grew and formed revolutionary gov in Alessandria proclaiming independence as the “Kingdom of Italy”
- VEI abdicated and liberals sought Charles Albert as their new leader, however Charles Felix was first in line and sought Austrian support to defeat the liberals at the Battle of Novara 1821
18
Q
How did the Catholic church hinder unification between 1815-30?
A
- jesuits attacked anyone to challenge the church
- censorship strictly imposed
- the inquisition used torture and execution against heretics
- series of hard-line popes (zealots) had tight control over culture, education and politics
- Papal states were backward and economically poor, meant other areas didn’t want to involve themselves and unite with the area
19
Q
How did the Catholic church help unification between 1815-30?
A
- 90% Roman Catholic population meant widespread cultural similarity
- priests had immense political power over peasants - could preach the unity message
- pope meant international alliances
- people could unite over anger against the church - pushing for formation of secret societies e.g. Spillo Negro
20
Q
What were the 4 factors preventing political progress by 1830?
A
- political apathy and parochialism
- language and geography
- Austria
- the Great Powers
21
Q
How did Austria prevent political progress by 1830?
A
- Metternich set up a “postal convention”- each state’s foreign correspondence had to pass Austria
- Austrian secret police in every state and troops stationed to protect the pope
- Naples and Tuscany in direct alliance with Austria and couldn’t alter their governments without its approval
- family alliances in Modena, Tuscany and Piedmont (king was cousin to the emperor)
22
Q
How did political apathy and parochialism prevent political progress by 1830?
A
- every day living often more important than political affairs - 90% peasant population majority rely on subsistence farming
- widespread illiteracy, poverty, ignorance and superstition in South
- parochialism was common - localised outlook on politics
- patriotism seen as loyalty to a state and people wouldn’t describe themselves as Italian
23
Q
How did language and geography prevent political progress by 1830?
A
- only 2.5% spoke Italian, most spoke in regional dialects - including Mazzini
- French spoken in Piedmont, Latin in the Papal States Austrian rulers used German - created language barrier and sense of individuality rather than unity
- physical barriers e.g. Apennine mountains confined areas
- south very underdeveloped compared to north - was not in norths interest to unite and take on problems of the south
24
Q
How did the great powers prevent political progress by 1830?
A
- all major European powers had vested interest in maintaining the 1815 settlement
- Russia and Prussia united in the “Holy Alliance” in favour of suppressing revolution
- Britain and France in no position to help after immediate aftermath of 1815
- the balance of powers of the autocratic/democratic leadership in Europe meant neither wanted to start conflict
25
Q
Why did the 1820s revolutions fail?
A
1820s revolutions failed due to Austrian strength and revolutionary weakness
- however, following a french revolution in 1830, the new leadership of more liberal Louis-Philippe gave hope to revolutionaries for support of potential revolutions in Italy
26
Q
Where were the 1830-32 revolutions in Italy?
A
- Modena and Parma
- The Papal States
27
Q
What happened in the Modena and Parma revolt in 1830?
A
- led by Enrico Misley who wanted a united Italy under Duke Francis IV as king, free from Austrian control
- Francis heard of this and had Misley arrested
- Francis asked for Austrian support in future revolts and in his absence, Modena was taken over with a provisional gov
- in Parma, studnets started rioting in demand of a constitution from Duchess Marie-Louise, who fled and a provisional gov was established
- Francis IV returned with an Austrian army and revolutionaries were crushed in both states
28
Q
What happened in the Papal States revolution in 1830?
A
- professional classes organised revolts more against the church rather than for unity
- a provisional gov was formed in Bologna 1831 “The Government of the Italian Provinces” - promised an elected assembly, reformed finance system and a fairer legal system
- an Austrian army moved in and defeated the rebels, future minor uprisings continued and were violently suppressed by Austria
29
Q
What were the 6 reasons as to why the 1830 revolutions failed?
A
- localised
- moderates
- lacked popular support
- ill-equipped
- french failure
- austrian power
30
Q
Why did the 1830s revolutions fail due to them being localised?
A
- revolutions were all local affairs, none national - local plans and grievances were the most pressing concern
- communication and cooperation were limited e.g. Bologna refused to deplete their resources by sending help to Modena in 1831
31
Q
Why did the 1830s revolutions fail due to moderates?
A
- revolutions were led by the middle class who weren’t inclines to use violence and had fairly moderate aims, easily satisfied to revolutions were fairly un-revolutionary
