Unification of Italy

Question 1

At which convention did France and Piedmont meet post unification? What was agreed there.

Answer 1

September Convention, 1864. Napoleon agreed to evacuate Rome in return for switching the Italian capital from Turin to Florence.

Question 2

What happened in Turin as result of the S… Convention?

Answer 2

Riots in Turin, 23 people died. Victor Emmanuel sacks Italian PM Minghetti.

Question 3

What was the order of Italian Prime Minister’s after Cavour?

Answer 3

Ricasoli (1861-2), Ratazzi (1862), Farini (1862-3), Minghetti (1863-4), and La Mamora (1864-6)

Question 4

What did Garibaldi set up in 1862?

Answer 4

Society for the Emancipation of Rome

Question 5

What happened after Garibaldi attacked Rome in 1862?

Answer 5

Ratazzi was forced to stop him with troops so as to not upset the French, but was seen an anti-Italian nationalism and was soon sacked.

Question 6

What was wrong with the Italian electoral system and king post unification? (4)

Answer 6

The government was made up of Piedmontese nobility and educated middle class, 2% of population could vote (155000 voters), Victor Emmanuel kept the title of “the second” rather than VEI of Italy.

Question 7

What changed legally after unification? (2)

Answer 7

A single criminal legal code was adopted (except for Tuscany) and civil law code unilateral from 1865. School/Universities case under state control to create unified education.

Question 8

What changed militarily after unification? (2)

Answer 8

Unified Italian army formed and modernised under Prussian guidance, a unified navy.

Question 9

Why was the Pope opposed to unification? (3)

Answer 9

Lost 2/3 of his land, temporal power destroyed, spiritual power under threat from Darwin’s theories and theologians.

Question 10

What was in the Syllabus of Errors, early 1860’s?

Answer 10

1. Church would retain Educational and all cultural/scientific control
2. Reject all ideas of tolerance for other religions.
3. Reassert temporal power
4. Criticised political ideologies, e.g. Liberalism and Marxism
5. Would not accept progress and modern civilisation

Question 11

What was Italy doing to the Church, and how did it respond?

Answer 11

Italy made the Church increase taxation to the state and in 1866 demanded a hand over of property. Pope declares Dogma of Papal Infallibility in July 1870.

Question 12

Problems in the South regarding Piedmontisation?

Answer 12

Voting systems corrupt, e.g. In Nice the “no” slips against unification weren’t brought to voting stations. 1859 Casati Laws made primary education compulsory, yet didn’t happen in South due to majority were illiterate.

Question 13

Legal Divisions in Italy?

Answer 13

Naples legal system was changed by 53 decrees in 2 days. Lombardy promised its own constitution, but this was swept aside. Tuscany retained customs and laws due to Baron Ricasoli.

Question 14

How many provinces in Italy?

Answer 14

53 provinces, each governed by a prefect.

Question 15

How did Cavour treat the South and Church?

Answer 15

Contempt. Never traveled further south than Tuscany. Education payed for by attacking church, dissolution of 2382 monasteries.

Question 16

What helped lead to the Brigands War?

Answer 16

Increased taxes to pay for 2.5 billion Lire debt caused by War and agents of King Francis II (Bourbon) stirring up trouble. Conscription introduced, leading to 25000 men fleeing to the hills in 1861.

Question 17

How many and who joined the Brigands?

Answer 17

820000 Brigands in the Neapolitan provinces. Unemployed, disillusioned, former bourbon soldiers.10000 convicts who escaped during Garibaldi’s campaign.

Question 18

How did Piedmont mobilise it’s forces against the Brigands?

Answer 18

Deployed an army of 120,000 men. In 1863 there were 90,000 engaged in peace keeping.

Question 19

What did Baron Ricasoli say of Rome and Venetia?

Answer 19

“we claim Rome as our national capital and Venetia as integral part of our national soil”

Question 20

What did Garibaldi set up to retake Venetia?

Answer 20

The Italian Freedom Association, 1861. He would be acting president in 1862.

Question 21

How did Italy first try and utilise Garibaldi against Austria?

Answer 21

Ratazzi met Garibaldi to discuss possible action in Greece, Serbia, and Dalmatia.

His follower, Nullo, would be arrested on the Austrian border in 1862. Garibaldi would attempt an armed uprising in 1862 and again in 1864.

Question 22

In the Austro-Prussian war, what were the opposing sides forces?

Answer 22

Italy: 250,000 men, 12 ironclad ships.

Austria: 130,000 men, 7 ironclad ships.

Question 23

What corruption plagued the Italian military?

Answer 23

Admiral Persano only led the fleet due to corruption and bribery. He even got seasick on the ships.

VEII assumed personal control of the army. General Cialdini said “the king is wholly ignorant and incompetent”.

Question 24

What trouble did the Italian Army face against Austria?

Answer 24

Only 25% of the army ever reached the front

24th June, Italian forces fought at Custozza but disintegrated after panic and confused orders.

Question 25

What trouble did the Italian Navy face against Austria?

Answer 25

Persanos fleet destroyed at the Battle of Lissa; losing 3 ships and the “Re d’Italia”, pride of the navy.

Claimed at Persanos court martial the fleet had fired 1450 shells and not scored one major hit.

Question 26

What further problems did the Austro-Prussian war incur afterwards?

Answer 26

Great debt needed to be repaid by nationalising church land in 1867 and by introducing the unpopular Grist Tax in 1868.

Question 27

Why did France defend Rome?

Answer 27

Louis Napoleon failed to act to protect the Pope in 1860, leading to Catholic backlash.

A vote in March 1861 saw to it the keeping of French troops in Rome. This resolve was strengthened with Garibaldi’s failed attempt in 1862.

Question 28

What did Garibaldi do about Rome in 1862?

Answer 28

Gathered 4000 men and marched on Rome. Italian govt forced to take action so France wouldn’t get involved.

29th August Garibaldi is stopped and shot in the foot.

Question 29

What did Garibaldi do about Rome in 1867?

Answer 29

Escaped house arrest in Caprera and sailed to the mainland. Hoped to start uprisings but failed.

France sent an army equipped with breech loading rifles back to Rome and Garibaldi was defeated at Mentana on November 3rd, 1867.

Question 30

What made France leave Rome?

Answer 30

Franco-Prussian war in 1870. As Italy wouldn’t join without Rome, Austria wouldn’t join without Italy.

France forced to withdraw Roman garrison to fight Prussia.

Question 31

How does the Italian govt take advantage of France leaving Rome?

Answer 31

PM Lanza gained a formal agreement with Spain, Austria, and other Catholic states in Germany to send Italian troops on Rome.

Question 32

How did VEII initially attempt to take Rome?

Answer 32

Sent a Count with a personal letter to the Pope offering a face-saving proposal. The Pope reacted angrily, and the count left the next day.

Question 33

How did to the Italian Army attempt to take Rome?

Answer 33

General Cadorna advanced slowly on Rome on the 11th of September, hoping for peaceful entry. Reached Aurelian Walls 19th September, placing Rome under siege.

Question 34

How did the battle to take Rome and the vote after go?

Answer 34

49 Italian soldiers and 19 Papal troops died.

Plebiscite held, 133681 to 1507 in favour.

Question 35

How was the Pope treated after the taking of Rome?

Answer 35

May 1871, Law of Guarantees:
Recognised Papal power, grant of £129,000 per annum.

Pope declares himself a “prisoner of the Vatican”.

Question 36

How was the civil service of Italy organised?

Answer 36

30,000 bureaucrats, 3,100 in Rome.

The Carabinieri (military police) ensured work of the govt was guaranteed. Supported by 18,000 local police.

Question 37

How large was the Italian army in 1871?

Answer 37

15,000 officers.

215,000 soldiers

2 million in reserve.

1/4 of total expenditure was on the armed forces.

Question 38

What were some economic problems in the South?

Answer 38

Hampered by lack of capital and skilled labour.

Agriculture was main industry but unproductive.

Power was lacking due to lack of water from Rivers.

Removal of tariffs which protected southern industries caused widespread deindustrialisation.

Question 39

What were some social problems in the south of Italy?

Answer 39

22.7% died before their first birthday.

50% before their 5th birthday in 1871.

In 1871, 120,000 Italians immigrated to the Americas.

Question 40

What was the right left divide of Italian politics in 1871?

Answer 40

Those on the “right” were generally Northern and aristocratic supported monarchy.

Those on the “left” were generally middle class and Southern, anti clerical.

Question 41

What did Mazzinians try in 1870?

Answer 41

A Mazzinian called Barsanti led an attack on army barracks in Pavia, against the monarchy and for a republic.

He was arrested and executed despite a petition of 40,000 calling for his pardon.

Question 42

Define Irredentism

Answer 42

Promotion of the unification of geographical areas in which indigenous ethnic Italians and Italian-speaking persons formed a majority or substantial minority.

Question 43

Who were Irredentists

Answer 43

Republicans who wanted to free Italians under Austrian rule in Trentino, Istria, and Trieste.

Others wanted a new imperial power over the Mediterranean.