Unification of Italy Flashcards
Why was Italy not unified in 1848?
People couldn’t agree how a unified Italy should be run: some wanted a republic, others a monarch, others a Pope led union
Charles Albert was only really involved to gain land; when he began losing, he signed an agreement with Austria to return to old borders
Pope Pius IX withdrew his support and troops, so other Italian leaders did so as well
The French army invaded Rome and the Austrians were too strong and crushed revolts
Why did the people of Piedmont-Sardinia want to unify?
Prime Minister Cavour focused on building up its independent economy and industry so it could become the strongest state. He put money into building better railways and tried to raise living standards. He encouraged people to become involved in parliament and used the press to spread propaganda and gain a consensus. He may have used bribery and threats, but he convinced people to want unification.
How did the Crimean war help the push for unification?
It broke out in 1853, with Britain, France and Ottoman Turks fighting Russia. Piedmont-Sardinia was asked to join the alliance against Russia, mainly so Austria would join too. They joined the war quite near the end, but it showed France and Britain their willingness to join an alliance. It also made Garibaldi think there was a renewed desire for unification, so he returned to Italy.
What was the Plombieres Agreement?
Cavour knew he needed France on his side and met Napoleon III secretly at Plombieres with a proposal. Piedmont would cause trouble in Modena, forcing Austria, which controlled the territory, to declare war. France would side with Piedmont in exchange for Nice and Savoy, and Victor Emanuel’s daughter and the Emperor’s cousin would marry.
How did the 1859 Austro Piedmont-Sardinia war go?
In April 1859 Piedmont prepared for war. Austria demanded they disarm, making them look as the aggressor. Piedmont refused and Austria declared war. Napoleon III mobilised its forces, but this took time. Piedmont was left on its own, but bad weather and poor Austrian organisation meant major fighting did not start yet. France and Piedmont won the first battles. Italian states joined Piedmont and Prussia joined Austria. This caused Napoleon III to panic and sign a treaty with Austria in July 1859. This caused Victor Emanuel II to also withdraw. Cavour was furious and resigned, but Piedmont gained Lombardy from Austria and kept Nice and Savoy.
What did Cavour do after the Austro Piedmont-Sardinia war?
He had resigned after the war ended, but by January 1860 he was back as Prime Minister. He offered France Nice and Savoy in turn for allowing Piedmont-Sardinia to annex the Italian states of Tuscany and Emilia. France agreed and they took them; it was the first real step towards Italian unification.
Garibaldi was angry that his birthplace of Nice belonged to the French and blamed Cavour. For a while people feared he might attempt to retake it, but an uprising in Sicily distracted them.
What did Garibaldi’s Thousand do in Sicily?
After an uprising in Sicily, Garibaldi gathered together an army of roughly 1000 volunteers and headed to Sicily to help the rebels. He landed his ships on its shores and marched towards Palermo. Poor farmers and peasants flooded into his army. The King’s army failed to drive the invaders at Palermo. Within 2 months, the unskilled, ill-equipped army had taken Sicily. Garibaldi declared himself dictator, in the name of Victor Emanuel II.
What did Cavour do after Garibaldi took Sicily?
He was worried about the power Garibaldi had over the people and the greater power he would gain if he took the southern states. He tried to persuade him to hand over Sicily to Piedmont to end the fighting. He got the King to write a letter expressing these wishes, even though it is believed that Victor Emanuel still supported Garibaldi. This did not stop him.
What did Garibaldi’s army do in Naples?
He sailed his army, now around 20,000 strong, to the shores of Naples, with the help of the British navy. Mazzini joined him. Less than 3 months after they arrived, they met the Neapolitan army in battle at the Volturno River, in the centre of Naples. He was victorious and now ruled the whole southern part of Italy.
What did Garibaldi do after he took Naples?
He publicly demanded that Cavour be removed from power. Although he kept his job, it drove a wedge between Cavour and Victor Emanuel II. The war should have ended, but Garibaldi announced they would also take Rome, linking his states with Piedmont’s.
What did Cavour do after Garibaldi said he would take Rome?
He thought France and Austria would fight them if they attacked Rome. He sent the Piedmontese army to take the northern Papal States and prevent Garibaldi from attacking Rome. When Garibaldi’s army arrived, two thirds of the Papal States had joined Piedmont and the rest rushed to join him. There was no longer any need to attack Rome.
What happened when Victor Emanuel II and Garibaldi met?
They met on 18th September 1860. There is a great deal of controversy about what happened and even the location was kept secret. By the end of the day Garibaldi had handed over control of his army and the land he had taken to Victor Emanuel II. Italy was unified in 1861, with Victor Emanuel as the first king.
How was Italy unified after 1861?
In 1866, Austria and Prussia went to war. Prussia promised to win Venetia, which was ruled by Austria, for them if it joined their side. Although the Italian army was not very useful, Prussia won and gave Venetia to Italy.
In 1870, France and Prussia went to war. While France was preoccupied, Italian troops marched into Rome unopposed and Rome joined the union. In July 1871, it became the capital of Italy.
