The Unification of Germany

and Italy

Nationalism – Intense feeling of pride or loyalty to one’s group or

nation. - Driving force behind unification effort

German Unification Early forms of unification

Junkers Influential aristocratic landowners

Persuaded Prussia’s leaders to do away with Tariffs (breaks down trade barriers)

Zollverein Economic Union Reduced tariffs, other trade barriers Made uniform system of currency, and

weights

PrussiaOtto Von Bismarck

Appointed Prime Minister of Prussia by King William I

Believed in strong government and powerful army

Realpolitik (politics of reality) Blood and Iron speech

War...if justified...could be used as a method of expanding German interests

3 Wars War Against Denmark (1864)

Dispute over Schleswig and Holstein Defeated by Prussia and Austria

Schleswig to Prussia Holstein to Austria

Seven Weeks War (1866) Prussia vs. Austria

Prussia wins Ended chance of Austria being in control of

Germany North German Confederation (1867)

North of Main River Southern States

Catholic

3 Wars (Continued)

Franco-Prussian War Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern offered

Spanish throne Cousin of William I of Prussia Napoleon III against this move

No Hohenzollern on Spanish throne

War begins July 19, 1870 Southern states join northern states Prussians easily defeat French (4 months) Gain access to Alsace and Lorraine (France

bitter)

Formation of an Empire German states officially united (1871)

technically separate…but united too(Kind of like our own 13 colonies)

William I Kaiser

Bismarck Chancellor

The Unification of Italy

Early Unification efforts Italian Nationalism

Risorgimento (resurgence or revival) Desire for national independence Spurs effort to unite Italy

Young Italy Giuseppe Mazzini (founder)

Leads uprising – Sicily (1848)

Piedmont (Sardinia)Count Camillo di Cavour

Count Cavour Appointed Prime Minister by King Victor Emmanuel II

Goals– Industrial Growth– Increase Piedmont’s national interest in

foreign affairs by siding with foreign powers – Not a military power (have to be more diplomatic

than Prussia)– Ex. - Supported France and Britain in Crimean

War

War with Austria France joins Piedmont against Austria

– Lombardy to Piedmont– Austria keeps Venetia

Cavour’s success leads to more rebellion in other areas

– Tuscany, Parma, Modena, Romagna demand to be joined with Piedmont

April 1860– Emmanuel II accepts the territories – Savoy and Nice are given to France

Southern Italy

Giuseppe Garibaldi– Leader of nationalist group (Red Shirts) in

Southern Italy– Exiled after being part of a revolt– Went to South America (Brazil) – becomes an

expert in guerrilla warfare– 1860 takes control of Kingdom of Two Sicilies

South is United with North 1861 Garibaldi yields to Piedmont New state of Italy proclaimed 1861

Venetia and Rome Italy allies itself with Prussia (at war

with Austria) Acquires Venetia

Rome acquired due to Franco-Prussian War

French troops pull out of Rome

Emmanuel II moves capital from Florence to Rome

Italy formally recognized as independent state in 1871

Similarities and Differences Ways the two unifications are similar:

Timing –similar time frame (1815-1871) Why? Congress of Vienna v. Enlightenment

Use military to achieve goals (involved in multiple wars) Two major kingdoms/prime ministers lead way for

unification (Prussia/Bismarck and Piedmont/Cavour) Split between North and South

Ways they are different: Prussia has much stronger military force than Piedmont –

Piedmont must rely more on alliances Italian unification involves multiple leaders (Mazzini, Cavour,

Victor Emmanuel II, and Garibaldi) and various nationalist groups to rally people. Not that German unification does not involve multiple leaders but Bismarck is the dominant figure in German unification.