Cavour was not so much the architect of unification, but a politician reacting to events as they unfolded. How far do you agree with this statement? Flashcards
Cavour is often described as what?
a master of realpolitik
Cavour, rather than an architect, was what two things?
Pragmatist and Opportunist
When did Cavour make actions that suggests that he was an opportunist?
1859 and 1861
When does Cavour demonstrate a more planned approach?
1850s
To Agree with the statement, that he was a politician reaction got events as they unfolded, what needs to be discussed?
1) Plombiers
2) Villafranca
3) Garibladi’s southern expedition
4) Mazziniian uprising in the 1850s
To disagree with the statement, that he was the architect of unity, what needs to be discussed?
1) domestic political development in the 1850s
2) diplomatic development in the 1850s
3) economic development in the 1850s
When was Plombiers?
July 1858
What about plombiers demonstrates that Cavour was just an opportunist?
Cavour was keen to unify the North, but was prepared to give away Nice and Savoy to the French in order for this to happen and gain support from the French. A truly nationalist architect would be gravely concerned about the loss of nice and savoy to a foreign power
When was the treaty of villa franca?
July 1859
What was the treaty of villafranca that armistice for?
The 1859 second war of italian independence
What did the treaty of villafranca come after?
Napoleon sued for peace following combined losses from both sides of 40 000 at solferino
Who was excluded from the treaty of villafranca and the subsequent treaty of zurich?
Cavour
As he was excluded from the treaty of Villafranca, what did Cavour do?
Resign in protest
When did Cavour come back following his resignation over the treaty of villafranca?
21st January 1960
Why was Cavour using the opportunism of the treaty of Villafranca to enact self-determination?
Because he knew that he would gain support from the British for doing it
When Cavour was using the National Society to annex the central duchies following the Treaty of Villafranca, what could it be said that he was borrowing?
Borrowing the Mazziniian language of popular change to support his own ends, rather than using it for a set of goals or principles
Cavour understood that the National Society votes int he central duchies could be fixed in what way?
Corruption, intimidation and bullying
Cavour’s understanding that the National Society votes in the central duchies could be fixed by corruption, intimidation and bullying suggests what?
that he was not trying to pursue a goal of a democratically unified state, but simply trying to serve the most efficient was of governing and appealing to foreign powers such as Britain under Earl Russel and Lord Palmerston.
What could be said was Cavour’s primary motivation for the National Society’s votes?
To gain favour with the British
When Garibaldi set off from Genoa in May 1860, what did Cavour not envisage?
That a unified Italy would include the South
What does Denis Mac Smith argue about Cavour’s relationship with Garibaldi?
Cavour was not wedded to unity at all and was simply concerned about Mazzinians gaining government in Sicily
Who was the first agent that Cavour sent to Sicily and when was he expelled?
LaFarina 7th July 1860
Who was the second agent that Cavour sent to Sicily?
Depretis
Who was the admiral that Cavour got to try to organise a pro-Piedmontese insurrection in Naples?
Persano
What did Depretis fail to do?
To stop Garibaldi crossing the straights of Messina
