Nationalism is the belief that an ethnic group should have its own national state and government. E. Napp

Since the Middle Ages, Italy had been a collection of kingdoms and city-states. E. Napp

Italy was ruled by Austria. From the early 1800s, much of Italy was ruled by Austria. E. Napp

The Pope controlled central Italy. E. Napp

of Italian unification. His writings inspired nationalists. Giuseppe Mazzini founded an organization called “Young Italy”. It was a secret society for Italian unification. Mazzini was the “soul” of Italian unification. His writings inspired nationalists. E. Napp

Mazzini’s writings stirred up revolts but the revolts were quickly put down. Mazzini had to flee Italy. E. Napp

Garibaldi was the “sword” of unification. Giuseppe Garibaldi worked with Mazzini and was also exiled. Garibaldi was the “sword” of unification. E. Napp

He organized an army for unification. His soldiers were known as the “Red Shirts”. E. Napp

In 1852, Count Cavour was made Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Piedmont and Sardinia by King Victor Emmanuel. E. Napp

Austria while Garibaldi’s armies Cavour provoked a war with Austria while Garibaldi’s armies moved north across the peninsula. Cavour was the “mastermind” of unification. E. Napp

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

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

By 1871, unification had been achieved. The Pope’s territory had been reduced to the Vatican. E. Napp

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