Garibaldi was the most significant leader in the process of Italian Unification

Question 1

Intro:

Answer 1

Garibaldi was the most significant –> Cavour hugely significant as well as Mazzini for sowing seeds of thought for united Italy

Question 2

Garibaldi?

Answer 2

• 1860 “Expedition of the Thousand”

Overthrew bourbon dynasty

Symbolic of unified hatred for nationalist rule

Hatred shared by all classes

Gained massive popular support

Resulted in Sicily being conquered

Significant territorial gain

Question 3

Counters to Garibaldi?

Answer 3

Garibaldi may have been a very good soldier so he was good at land acquisitions, but he was not fit as a leader for Italy

Report to cavour on situation in Sicily in June 1860

“no one believes him capable of running a government” –> Suggests Garibaldi was not that fit of a leader

HOWEVER, does that actually undermine his significance?

Question 4

Cavour?

Answer 4

Pact of Plombieres (21 July 1858)

Secured France as an ally against Austria

Economic reforms –> Heavy investment in railroads –> reduced tarrifs –> promoted trade and infrastructure in Italy –> 800km of track constituted 1/3 of the peninsula’s total.

Encouraged interdependence and interconnection of Italian states

Cavour’s economic policy –> 300% TRADE INCREASE

Question 5

Counters to Cavour

Answer 5

• 200 k French Troops whereas only 100k Piedmontese troops
• Italy conceded Nice + Savoy to France –> Major hit to nationalism
• Cavour had a lack of national uprising

Question 6

Mazzini

Answer 6

Young Italy (1831)

• Ruled Papal states in ‘49 –> Abolished death penalty, tax reformed to aid, clerical monopoly on education was ended
• Overthrew absolutist monarchy + popular liberal reform

Question 7

Mazzini

Answer 7

Young Italy (1831)

• Ruled Papal states in ‘49 –> Abolished death penalty, tax reformed to aid, clerical monopoly on education was ended
• Overthrew absolutist monarchy + popular liberal reform