The Revolutions of 1848-49

Sicily and Naples [January]

Tuscany [February]

Piedmont [March] Papal States [March]

Lombardy & Venetia

[March]

Political changes [1848]

Pius IX- A Liberal Pope?

• His early reforms gave hope to liberals

• Political prisoners were released

• Censorship was ended• A National Guard was

formed• The Consulta was set

up

How did all this affect people?

• Metternich was alarmed – especially after Pius complained that the presence of Austrian troops in Rome was illegal

• Pius then suggested a customs union• There were demands in other parts of Italy

for political change• The limited changes that were made only

encouraged bigger demands

What were the causes of the Revolutions?

• Political agitation was heightened by economic problems 1846-7

• Poor harvests had led to food riots north and south

• In the south peasants had lost land to enclosure• In the north there was under employment for

textile workers• The Sicilian Revolt was a protest the cruelty of

Ferdinand II

Uprising in Sicily

Sicilians unhappy with rule from Naples

Rebels looking for autonomy

Demand for 1812 constitution

Provisional govt set up

National Guard establishedIndependence declared

‘King Bomba’ regained control

Events in Sicily triggered demands for concessions in Naples

Ferdinand forced to agree because Pius IX refused to let Austrian troops cross his borders

Great excitement amongst Italian nationalists!

Increasing political activity in other Italian states

Conservative constitutions issued in Tuscany and Piedmont – the Statuto

Pius IX followed suit but his constitution was very limited

Problems for the Austrians

• Austrians in Lombardy not prepared to offer reform

• Tobacco boycott in Milan• Metternich sacked Revolution!• Barricades set up in Milan• Radetsky withdrew to Quadrilateral• Debate amongst Milanese over what to do next• Conservatives suggested union with Piedmont

Piedmont goes to war

• Charles Albert did not like popular movements

• After some delay invaded Lombardy

• Joined by troops across Italy including from Naples & the Papal States

The Papal Allocution

• Pius seemed to be the natural leader

• Did not want to upset Austria

• Issued the Allocution• Condemned war with

Austria & rejected idea of an Italian confederation

Defeat for Piedmont

• Initially Charles Albert was successful• Then situation changed• Radetsky won convincing victory at Custozza• After an armistice was agreed Charles Albert

persuaded to attack again!• Result was another resounding defeat at Novara• Charles Albert abdicated in favour of his son

Consequences of defeat

• Charles Albert had boasted ‘Italia fara da se’ – defeat proved him wrong!

• Pius IX had shown himself NOT to be the natural leader of Italians

• Those who favoured a moderate political ideology were found wanting – a more radical approach was needed

The Roman Republic

• Pius IX had reluctantly granted a constitution in 1846

• Fled to Gaeta following murder of new PM• New government under Galletti passed a

number of reforms• Constituent Assembly elected triumvirate• Reforms continued by men like Garibaldi

& Mazzini

The end of the Roman Republic

• Republic had few friends in Italy

• Main threat was to come from France

• Louis Napoleon Bonaparte anxious to win Catholic support

• Despite heroic efforts by Garibaldi the French were victorious

Why did the Revolutions fail?

Austrians toostrong

Lack of effectiveleadership

Foreign intervention

The PapalAllocution

Little unity ofpurpose

Lack of popular support