Unification of Italy

“Under a Native Prince”

Factors Hindering Unification

• Must unify 9 separate Italian states• Geographic division (North and South very

different)• High rate of poverty and illiteracy• Opposition to unification from Austria, France and

the Pope• Congress of Vienna gave Austria and France much

power in Italy• How to unify (Republic, Const. Monarchy, or

Federation under the Pope???)

Hindered by multiple states and Austria

3 leaders of Italian Unification

• Mazzini --- “The Soul”

• Garibaldi --- “The Sword”

• Cavour ---- “The Brain”

Mazzini

• “The Soul”

• Revolutionary republican• founder of Young Italy (nationalist group)• Inspiration for unification - lays the

groundwork of Nationalism

Garibaldi• “The Sword”

• revolutionary republican

• mercenary in South America

• Red Shirts – (volunteers who helped Garibaldi)

Symbol of the Red Shirts

Kingdom of Piedmont/Sardinia

• Kingdom had a monarchy– Victor Immanuel II - a native prince

Count Cavour• “The Brain”

• becomes prime minister of Sardinia; builds up Sardinia economically

Steps in unification - all orchestrated by the Brain!!!

• 1) Cavour makes an alliance with France against Austria

• France’s Napoleon III agrees to help them in war against Austria. Napoleon does not favor Italian unification but hopes to weaken Austria

• Sardinia hopes to get Lombardy & Venetia• France would get Nice & Savoy from Sardinia

• 2) Sardinia gains Lombardy, but not Venetia because France backs out (but still wants payment from Sardinia) by signing Treaty of Villa Franca with Austria

• 3) other northern Italian states revolt against their rulers - vote to join with Sardinia - so Northern Italy united under Sardinia

• 4) Garibaldi (paid by Cavour) liberates Kingdom of Two Sicilies from foreign ruler; marches north with his 1000 Red Shirts

5) Cavour convinces Garibaldi to give Sicilies to a United Italy under Victor Emmanuel II - unites northern &

southern Italy

Garibaldi

Victor Immanuel II

•What’s left to

unite??

Venetia & Papal State of Rome

6) Venetia added in 1866 when Prussia defeats Austria (NOTE: tie in w/ German Unification wars)

7) Rome added in 1870-71 when France withdraws

troops from Rome because of Franco-Prussian

War

Rome made Capital of New Italian Nation-

State

But Pope objects: Vatican separate

Problems after Unification• Weak economy but high taxes• Mafia forms due to corruption in govt. • No experience with democracy• Pope forbids Catholic participation in govt. • Alliance with Germany• Multiple political parties • Unstable govt. leads to mass emigration • Scramble for colonies for prestige

(Imperialism)