General facts Flashcards
When was the Crimean War? What happened? Significance?
January 1855
Cavour got Piedmont involved.
Some see this as a ‘masterstroke’ by Cavour.
Persuaded VE11 to send 18,000 Piedmont troops, guaranteed peace treaty at the end.
Piedmont contribution limited , didn’t play key role despite 2000 (30 from wounds), rest from cholera.
Won gratitude of allies.
After the Crimean War, allies respected Piedmont. Provide an example.
December 1855
Austria threatened to enter war on the allies’ side but Russia immediately sued for peace.
When was the Congress of Paris? What happened? Significance?
1856
Cavour’s attendance showed Piedmont’s growing diplomatic status.
Italian question once a main talking point! Now a diplomatic issue.
French and British grateful to Piedmont, and “owed them one”.
What did Cavour do in 1857 for government stability?
Sacked Rattazzi.
Streamlined government- made himself PM, foreign minister, and finance minister.
La Marmora reformed army.
Cavour developed infrastructure in Piedmont. Examples?
1855: Built 1st steam ship “The Sicilia”.
End of 1850s: Piedmont= 819km railway.
When and what speech did VE11 deliver? What did it do?
January 1859 after French fail at Battle of Solferino.
‘Grido Di Delore’
Inspired nationalists, provoked 1859 war.
Provide an example of VE11 being a figurehead.
In plebiscites, people voted for the annexation to the ‘constitutional monarchy of VE11’.
How much money did the French invest in Italian railways?
280 million franks.
Which 2 Frenchmen were significant in investing in Italian projects? Example?
Laffite and Rothschild.
1857 Mount Cenis tunnel, encouraged by Napoleon 111.
When and what was the Pact of Plombieres? What happened? Significance?
21st July 1858
VE11 and Cavour talks with Napoleon for French intervention to rid Austria from Lombardy/Venetia.
France get Nice/Savoy in return for troops.
Agreed to send 200,000 troops if Piedmont could raise 100,000- VE11 struggled.
Where and when did France play the key military role?
1859 won Magenta and Solferino.
17,000 Allied causalities, 21,000 Austrian.
Who and what ended the 1859 war?
Napoleon and VE11.
1859 Treaty of Villafranca: Piedmont no role.
Austria gave France Lombardy who later gave it to Piedmont.
Left Venetia in Austrian hands.
How did Britain diplomatically help progress towards unification?
John Russell + Lord Palmerstone published support for Central Duchies independency… gave Cavour confidence so returned as PM 1860.
No-intervention policy in Italian affairs… e.g., 1860 Garibaldi’s Expedition of ‘The Thousand’.
When and why was the Nationalist Society formed? Significance?
1857
As an alternative to Mazzini’s republicanism.
Encouraged other states to join via newspapers, meetings etc.
Had Cavour’s approval so could make nationalism popular.
Aided social unification.
What did the Nationalist Society do with the Central Duchies?
When Austria were occupied by the French and couldn’t protect Central Duchies, Nationalist Society moved into them.
Encouraged a pro-Piedmont uprising.
Caused state leaders to flee + pro-Piedmontese govt to form
However… reversed after 1859 Treaty of Villafranca.
What did Garibaldi do in 1860?
To liberate Sicily, gathered 1,200 volunteers and set sail with ‘The Thousand’.
Worked with peasants, bandits + local mafia to gain Sicily from Naples.
United south geographically.
Handed over the south to VE11 at Teano, proclaimed him as the ‘first king of Italy’.
What was Piedmontisation? Examples?
Standardised economy, coinage and weights/measures… fostered economic unity.
Piedmont constitution became the Italian one.
February 1861: Naples legal system changed by 53 decrees in 2 days- rushed south.
Lombardy promised autonomy but swept aside: La Marmora used emergency decree to ignore this.
Provide 3 examples of Piedmontese politicians not understanding the south.
1859 Casati Law: made primary education compulsory, didn’t occur in south as many illiterate.
1869 Grist Tax: targeted poor, used mainly to fund public works in North.
Tariffs removals: stripped Southern industry of protection. Couldn’t compete with north.
Due to Piedmontisation, discontent in South increased. What happened in Brigandage war?
Piedmont deployed army of 120,000 to deal with 82,000 Brigands.
More Italians died than in all unification wars.
When did VE11 become legal King of Italy? What happened to the flag? What ideas were promoted?
1861.
Nationalist tricolour adopted as Italian flag.
Risorgimento ideas promoted.
What aim did the Kingdom of Italy declare in 1861?
To have Rome as it’s capital.
When did the Kingdom of Italy capture Rome? What happened?
1870.
Entrance delayed, only occurred after Napoleon rid French troops.
VE11 set up residence in Quirinal Palace, marked capital.
BUT… 2 courts: 1 in Quirinal Palace + 1 at the Vatican…. papacy influence.
After Rome capture, what happened to the army?
Divided into army regiments from mixed states.
Rotated every 4 years to ensure no divided loyalty.
When did Garibaldi create a society? Name? What happened?
After Cavour’s death, August 1862- Society for the Emancipation of Rome.
Attempted to attack Rome.
Rattazzi forced to stop him to not upset French but seen as anti-nationalist and sacked. Embarrassing!!