Failure of the 1848 Revolutions (LUCIA)

Question 1

What were the causes of the failure of the 1848 Revolutions?

Answer 1

LUCIA
Leadership
Unity lacking + Common aim lacking
International situation
Austrian military power

Question 2

What was the influence of Pius IX’s allocution 29 April 1848?

Answer 2

Caused General Durango’s troops to return to the papal states
Allowed Austrians entry into the papal states to restore the rule of Ferdinand II in Naples
Blow to neo-Guelphism followers (Vincenzo Gioberti)

Question 3

How was Charles Albert not an appropriate leader for Italy?

Answer 3

Ill-judged decision to fight Austria at the Battle of Novara
1848 he declares that nobody allowed into the Piedmontese army unless they delcare loyalty to him
His abdication proved his weakness
March 1848 - ‘go it alone’ misjudged decision to not involve a foreign ally or seek one

Question 4

How was unity/common aim lacking?

Answer 4

No call for national unity/common aim (Sicily against Ferdinand II repression/Lombardy against Austrian power/Piedmont to annex Lombardy)
Charles Albert’s troops didn’t trust General Durango or General Pepe’s troops
Conflict in what to do - Lombardy unsure whether to become independent or join to Piedmont

Question 5

How was the international situation a cause of revolutionary failure?

Answer 5

Italians were offered no help from other European nations
Austria and France both ended up with control
Poor decision from Charles Albert to not seek a foreign ally

Question 6

Why were the revolutions particularly disappointing?

Answer 6

The resignation of Austria minister of foreign affairs Klemens von Metternich wasn’t capitalised on

Question 7

How was Austrian military power a cause of the failure of the revolts?

Answer 7

Austria helped Ferdinand II to power
Austria defeated Charles Albert (Custoza/Novara)
Austria crushed Venetian Republic
Italian military lacking in numbers/professionalism/experience