The Unification of Italy and Germany In this lesson, students will be able to identify the actions of the following individuals as well as define the term “Blood and Iron”: Count Cavor Giuseppe Garibaldi Otto Von Bismarck “Blood and Iron” E. Napp

Nationalism is the belief that each ethnic group should have its own national state and government. For centuries, Italy had consisted of smaller states. Italians wanted unification. E. Napp

In 1852, Count Cavour became the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Piedmont or Sardinia. With French help, Cavour drove the Austrians out of Northern Italy after a war in 1859. E. Napp

Cavour then annexed most of the other states of northern and central Italy. E. Napp

The nationalist leader, Giuseppe Garibaldi, overthrew the king of Naples in the south. He then joined Naples to Cavour’s enlarged Piedmont. E. Napp

By 1860, Italy had become a united kingdom. E. Napp

National unification failed to end the cultural and economic divisions that separated Italy’s north and south. E. Napp

Like Italy, Germany consisted of many smaller states. German liberals had failed to unite their nation in the revolutions of 1848. E. Napp

used skillful diplomacy Prussia was one of the largest German states. Its Prime Minister, Otto von Bismarck, used skillful diplomacy and Prussian military power to achieve German unification. E. Napp

Otto von Bismarck followed a policy of “blood and iron” to achieve his goals. E. Napp

“The greatest questions of the day will not be settled by speeches and majority decisions but by iron and blood.” Otto von Bismarck E. Napp

Germany achieved unification in 1871. The Prussian king became the Kaiser (emperor) of all Germany. E. Napp

Although there was a national assembly, it was controlled by conservative Prussian landowners, not the working people. E. Napp

Questions for Reflection: Define nationalism. Who was Count Cavour and what did he do? How did Giuseppe Garibaldi help Count Cavour? Why did Otto von Bismarck believe in a policy of “blood and iron”? Describe German unification. E. Napp