Causes of Italian Unification

Question 1

Nationalism

Answer 1

Nationalism was the main reason for the Unification of Italy.

This claim is advanced by Denis Mack Smith, who argued that “the driving force for Italian Unification was nationalism”.

To evidence this claim, he points to the increase in circulation of Nationalist pamphlets which increased from 100 in 1848 to 400 in 1861.

Young Italy, a secret society made by Mazzini. The fact that this group had 60,000 members by 1846, highlights the idea that nationalist ideas were promoted and accepted among Italians 

Mazzini wrote books such as the à “The Duties of Man”.

Young Italy played a key role in popularising the Nationalist forces à had a news publication called “Giovane de Italia”.  

Mazzini “II Risorgimento” à Had around 10,000 circulations by 1847 à Demonstrates that Nationalists were circulating messages of Italian Unity

  

Question 2

Perspectives on Nationalism

Answer 2

Criticism:
The strength of Nationalism can be challenged (it was overhyped) 

For example, there was a lack of Native Language à Peninsular made up of a range of languages.

The Italian language came from Tuscan dialect which was only spoken in Florence. 

Metternich only referred to Italy as a “geographical expression”. 
 

Counter Criticism:

Some might dispute the fact that Nationalism was not very strong considering the pieces of evidence below.

Cesare Balbo - Biblioteca Italiana – 1816 (created the first Italian dictionary)

Journal II Politecino produced between 1839 and 1845 to raise ideas about a common culture. 
 
It could be argued that these pieces of evidence demonstrate that whilst Italian nationalism was not the strongest it was going to be, there is an overwhelming amount of evidence for an increase in Nationalism.

Question 3

Garibaldi: 

Answer 3

Main reason why people say Garibaldi caused Unification: Figure of Italian Nationalism + Expanded Italy as a soldier.

Riall Lucy: Garibaldi’s “critical in shaping the idea of Italian nationalism played an important role in unifying the country.”

Examples where Garibaldi promoted the Unification of Italy:

• The expedition of 1,000 where he went to Sicily and Naples and conquered both in 1861.
• Garibaldi’s land acquisitions can also be seen in the fact that between 1861 and 1871 the population of Italy had risen from 22 million to 28 million. -à He was merging ‘lost Italians’ with Cavour’s Italy
• 1848 à he raised enough money to travel to genoa with 85 men to serve with the forces of Carlo Alberto in Lombardy 
• Garibaldi gave Southern Italy to Cavour to end up any à Selfless as a leader

 

Question 4

Alternative Perspectives on Garibaldi

Answer 4

He was overhyped as a military leader as evidenced by his losses: Battle of Metana 1867 à Garibaldi led 3k men to liberate Rome from Papal rule BUT ended as a Major L for Garibaldi  

Arguments can be made against the claim that Garibaldi united people à In his 1,000 man expedition à 64 of them objected to serving to the cause of Vitttore Emannuel II  

Should be realised that Garibaldi had some easy victories in the 1860s à NAPLES AND THE King were so frightened with Garibaldi that they put up little resistance  à Sicily helped by the general confusion on the Island à Peasants hated the Sicilians remember! 

 

Question 5

FI

Answer 5

• Unification occurred largely as a result due to France.
• Italy had a lot to gain from the 1858 Pact of Plombieres (where Italy and France agreed to invade Austria)
• Austrian power in Lombardy and Venetia would end 
• Italy would be a federation under the Pope, which France would protect. 
• There would be an enlarged Kingdom of Savoy-Piedmont that would include Parma and Modena and part of the Papal States 
• New and enlarged state of Tuscany. 
• Furthermore, Italy received a 2-million-dollar loan in 1855 from GB for the Crimean War (equivalent to 250 million)
• Whilst this was not intended to be used just for the War against Austria, it was certainly used in the War effort. 
• Another example, where Foreign Influence helped is when France withdrew their troops from Rome in 1870 to allow Italy to complete its Unification. 
• Finally, Italian Americans lobbied Americans to lend support for the Italian regime
• (1860) a group of Italian-Americans led by Colonel Giovanni Vincenzo Ferdinando de’ Bosio formed the Italian-American Committee in New York to support the unification of Italy. The committee raised funds for Garibaldi’s Expedition of the Thousand and sent volunteers to fight in Italy.