“Italian Unification”
I.) Nationalism in Italy Congress of Vienna (post Napoleon) again divided Italy into multiple states 1. Austria rules city-states of Lombardy & Venetia 2. Spanish Bourbon family rules Kingdom of the Two Sicilies 3. Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia is largest & most powerful city-state
1815 -1848 sense of Nationalism rises in Italy Nationalism: devotion to the interests or culture of one's nation 1. Risorgimento = nationalist movement in Italy with goals of liberation and unification a. Carboni (coal burners)= nationalist secret society b. Giuseppe Mazzini = famous Carboni; creates the Young Italy Movement in 1832. Called the “heart” Goal: spread nationalist ideas 1. led rebellion in 1848 and 1849 (success in 1848 but loses gains in 1849)
II.) Sardinia Leads Unification King Victor Emmanuel II: leader of Piedmont-Sardinia; adopts a liberal constitution in 1848 Camillo Benso di Cavour: nationalist prime minister; wanted to increase political influence for city-state Called the “brain” of unification Goals: 1. control N. Italy for Sardinia a. War w/ Austria: France an ally Outcome: Gain Lombardy Austria keeps Venetia
Cavour turns south (Two Sicilies) by secretly supporting………..…. 1. Giuseppe Garibaldi = Italian nationalist; leader of “Red Shirt Army” conquers Two Sicilies and Naples Called the “sword” of unification 1860 Garibaldi & Emmanuel II meet in Naples & agree to join forces Outcome: Kingdom of Italy created
III.) Unification Plebiscites held throughout Italy vote for unification Meeting in Turin (1861) Victor Emmanuel II confirmed as king 1. 1866 Italy gains Venetia in war w/Austria 2. 1870 Rome’s citizens vote for unification Outcome: becomes capital 1871 Law of Papal Guarantees -Reduced Papal Holdings to Vatican -St. Peter’s and nearby buildings
IV.) Problems after Unification Italy still faced political, social, & economic problems: Illiterate population70% in 1870, 50% in 1900. Camorra of Naples & Mafia in Sicily held power based on codes of honor, not brand new Italian govt. Industry concentrated in triangle b/w Genoa, Turin, and Milan in the north Created a divide between rich north and poor south Pope didn’t recognize Italy