1848-49 Revolutions Flashcards
Causes of revolutions- Growth of liberalism
- liberalism became popular with middle class as they wanted representation
- reforms of pope Pius, customs union with Tuscany which promoted free trade
- statuto in 1847 then piedmont invaded Lombardy in 1848
- carbonari liberal ideas for a constitution revolt in Salerno
Causes of the revolutions- nationalism
- piedmont accepted Lombardy’s proposal of an alliance as they unified to fight Austria.
-Sicilian nationalism as they rejected offer of autonomy from Ferdinand II - cultural influences of the Risorgimento
Causes of the revolutions - repressive rulers
- Austrians we’re very oppressive in Lombardy and Venetia, and resented by the people for high taxes which caused the five days of Milan
- Ferdinand II oppressive rule in Naples as Sicilian people hated him blaming the cholera outbreak on him
Causes of the revolutions - pope Pius
- allocation stating that the war didn’t have his blessing and condemned Charles Albert, angered liberals in the Papal States
- anti liberal count Rossi is pm in Papal States but is murdered forcing the pope to flee
Causes of the Revolution - socioeconomic issues
- 90% of the population were subsistence farmers, so wheat and maize shortages in 1846 and 47 led to much discontent
- Sicilians hated Neapolitan rule and blamed for cholera outbreak
- living standards in towns was very poor and Austrians drove taxes very high
How many people did the cholera outbreak kill in 1836
65 000
Revolution in Palermo
Began in 1848 as peasants clash with troops and take over the city rejecting Ferdinand II offer of autonomy as they demanded a constitution, a militant provisional government in Sicily was established to stop peasants from rioting. Declares its independence from Naples
Revolution in Salerno
Caused by Palermo revolution, carbonari killed bourbon officials and burnt public records, a mass demonstration in Naples eventually caused Ferdinand to grant a constitution
What caused the five days of Milan
- Milanese people boycotted Austrian tobacco due to the high taxes and resentment
- revolutions in Vienna and popular unrest caused Metternich to resign.
The five days of Milan events
Barricades are thrown up as revolutionaries begin revolts, radetzky withdraws Austrian forces, this leaves a power vacuum in Lombardy which cassati forms a provisional government with the protection of Charles Albert.
Revolution in Venice
Demonstrations in Venice caused prisoner Daniel manin to be released and a Venetian st marks republic was declared.
Why did Charles Albert join the revolution
He feared intervention from France and the threat of revolutions spreading to piedmont, he also recognised the Austrian weakness with domestic revolutions and Metternich resignation.
Pope Pius allocation
Didn’t want to upset Austria so didn’t support the war and condemned charles Albert as the aggressor, he also stated he never wanted to lead a United Italy.
What factors weakened Charles Albert forces
- the popes allocation caused many soldiers of durangos papal army to leave the fight
- Ferdinand II re established his autocratic rule and ordered his army back under general Pepe
- Charles Albert refused men to fight for him that wouldn’t swear allegiance
- threat of 30000 French troops on piedmonts border
Which battle was a victory for Charles Albert
Goito
What happened when radetzky persuades the Austrians to let him go to war
He was confident at holding the quadrilaterals and defeated Charles Albert at customary and expelled them from Lombardy.
Armistice of salasco
Charles Albert agreed to give up Lombardy but retain all Piedmontese territory
What happened when Charles Albert tried to fight Austria again in 1849
Persuaded by gioberti Charles Albert went to war but was crushed at the battle of novara and abdicated afterwards, piedmont also paid 65000 in reparations to Austria
Revolution in the Papal States
Count Rossi is murdered by a mob and Pius flees, revolutionary government is established under leadership of galetti and they introduce tax reform as well as a constituent assembly elected.
Roman republic
Is established by the constituent assembly and a triumvirate is formed with Mazzini, armellini and saffi who introduce many liberal, democratic reforms removing power of the church.
French intervention in Rome
Louis Napoleon seeks to gain favour with the pope so sends troops to crush the roman republic, 20000 French troops enter the city and reclaim the city for the pope.
Counter revolution in Venice
The city is besieged and forced to surrender by Austria as they have taken the rest of Venetia back.
Counter revolution in Naples and Sicily
Ferdinand reclaimed his rule in Naples by closing down the constitutional parliament and ordered his forces to retake Sicily which they did after a force of 20000 was sent and an intensive bombing campaign.
Reasons for failure - foreign intervention
- weakened austrian force in the quadrilaterals led by radetzky still crushed alberts army at custozza and novara, as well as retaking Venice, they were too strong to be challenged
- France defeated the Roman republic with 20000 troops and remained in Rome, to gain favour with the papacy.
Reasons for failure - lack of international support
- gioberti believed France would support piedmont in 1849 war
- Britain although sympathetic didn’t get involved only as mediators
Reasons for failure - reaction of the papacy
- Pius allocution stopped much support for Charles alberts army and divided his forces
Reasons for failure - piedmonts weakness
- Charles Albert didn’t accept any recruits who didn’t swear loyalty to him
- divisions in his army due to regional differences
- lack of military strength and experience with effective leadership
Reasons for failure - lack of unity in revolutions
- reason for revolution differed depending on area as some aimed for constitutions, some for removal of Austrians, Venice and Milan rallied to Charles Albert for protection
- lack of mass peasant support in revolutions in Italy as they concerned with survival not politics
- in Sicily moderates turned against peasants after revolution as their views differed as they threw them off land and didn’t reform any land
