Italian Revolution of 1848 Flashcards
What was the Risorgimento?
The movement for Italian unification during the 19th century.
Why was Italian unification difficult before 1848?
There was little agreement on Italy’s future and no clear plan for unification.
Who were the Carbonari?
A secret society of mostly middle-class Italians (officers, teachers, lawyers, students) opposing absolutist rulers and Austrian control.
What did the Carbonari want?
They had mixed aims: some wanted regional reforms, others wanted a unified, democratic Italy. All opposed absolute monarchs and Austrian rule.
Who was Giuseppe Mazzini?
A passionate Italian nationalist and republican who wanted a united Italy and founded ‘Young Italy’ in 1831.
What were Mazzini’s beliefs and methods?
He believed all Italians could rise up, used propaganda and rebellion, and even envisioned a united Europe.
Why was 1848 a turning point in Italian revolutionary history?
Earlier efforts failed, but 1848 saw coordinated revolts across Italy with real hope of success.
Why was Pope Pius IX important to the 1848 revolutions?
He was seen as liberal and introduced reforms like freeing political prisoners and reducing censorship, raising hopes for unity.
What economic crisis triggered unrest in Italy before 1848?
Poor harvests in 1846–47 caused food shortages, high prices, and suffering, especially among workers.
How did revolutions elsewhere in Europe inspire Italians in 1848?
Revolutions in Paris and Vienna (especially Metternich’s fall) created a sense of opportunity in Italy.
What happened in Naples and Sicily during the 1848 revolutions?
Initial gains were reversed; King Ferdinand suppressed revolts by September 1848, and Sicily was retaken in spring 1849.
What was the outcome of Piedmont’s wars against Austria?
Piedmont was defeated twice by Austria (Custozza 1848 and Novara 1849); King Charles Albert abdicated in favor of Victor Emmanuel II.
What happened in Tuscany in 1849?
Austrian troops restored the Grand Duke after his temporary removal.
How did events unfold in Parma and Modena?
The original rulers were restored with Austrian military support.
What role did the Pope play in the failure of the Roman Republic?
Pius IX fled Rome, denounced the republic, and called for help; French troops crushed the republic and restored papal authority.
Who defended the Roman Republic and how?
Garibaldi, a guerrilla general, led heroic resistance, but French and Neapolitan troops defeated the republic.
What happened in Venice after 1848?
Venice became a republic and resisted Austria but surrendered after a siege in August 1849.
Why did the 1848–49 revolutions in Italy ultimately fail?
Austria recovered and had superior forces, France sided with Austria, and revolutionaries lacked unity and peasant support.
What role did France play in Italy’s failed revolutions?
France, under Louis Napoleon, supported the Pope and helped crush the Roman Republic.
Why didn’t Italian peasants support the revolutions?
Liberal revolutionaries didn’t prioritize social reforms, so peasants saw no benefit and often welcomed back old rulers.
Why was cooperation among revolutionary groups weak?
Revolutions were focused on local goals, not a national effort, leading to poor coordination and lack of inter-state support.
What was the political result of the failed 1848 revolutions in Italy?
Most constitutions were revoked, old rulers returned, and Austria tightened its control.
How did Pope Pius IX change after the revolutions?
He abandoned liberalism and led a reactionary regime backed by French troops.
What was learned from the failures of 1848–49 in Italy?
That force, not idealism, was needed to defeat Austria — leading to the rise of Piedmont as the main hope for unification.
