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Italian nationalists wanted to end foreign rule and achieve unity but Metternich thought this was a laughable prospect. He thought Italy was a ‘ geographic expression ’ Many people spoke the same languages but didn ’ t feel unified. Patriots were determined to unify Italy which happened via Count Camillo Cavour. SETTING THE SCENE

OBSTACLES IN ITALIAN UNITY  Italy had been battleground for forge in and local princes  Warfare and foreign rule caused people to identify themselves with their region  The Congress of Vienna ignored nationalists  Austria took hold of northern Italy  Hapsburg monarchs took other Italian states  Nationalists organized secret societies and focused one expelling Austrian forces  Between 1820 and 1848, nationalist revolts exploded everywhere but were then suppressed by the Austrian troops

 In the 1830 s, Giuseppe Mazzini founded Young Italy to ‘ constitute Italy, one, free, independent, republican nation ’  In 1849, Mazzini tried to set up a revolutionary republic but was shut down by the French MAZZINI’S YOUNG ITALY

 Although Mazzini ’ s and others attempt at revolution failed, they planted seeds for future harvests.  These people believed a unified Italy made sense because of geography, common language, and history.  They reminded Italians of ancient Rome and the medieval papacy.  Other thought unity made sense economically as it would end trade barriers and stimulate industry. THE TIDE OF NATIONALISM

THE STRUGGLE FOR ITALY  After 1848, leadership of he Risorgimento, or Italian nationalist movement, was passed to Sardinia.  Victor Emmanuel II wanted to join other states to his own to increase his power.

 In 1852, Victor Emmanuel made Count Camillo Cavour his prime minister.  Cavour had liberal goals and was a practical, crafty politician who would do anything to achieve his goals.  He believe in Realpolitik and immediately tried to reform Sardinia ’ s economy.  His long term goal though was to end Austrian power in Italy and annex its provinces Lombardy and Venetia. CAVOUR

 In 1855, Cavour led Sardinia, Britain, and France in the Crimean War against Russia.  Sardinia had a voice at the peace conference and caught the attention of Napoleon III  In 1858, Cavour made a secret deal with Napoleon for aid should a war with Austria start.  A year later this war happened and with help from France, Sardinia defeated Austria.  Meanwhile nationalists overthrew Austrian leaders in Italian states and joined with Sardinia INTRIGUE WITH FRANCE

 Attention then shifted to the kingdom of the Two Sicilies in southern Italy.  Giuseppe Garibaldi wanted to create an Italian republic and readily accepted aid from Cavour  Garibaldi recruited 1,000 redshirt volunteers while Cavour provided weapons and ships  Garibaldi ’ s forces took control of Sicily and marched triumphantly north to Naples GARIBALDI’S RED SHIRTS

 Garibaldi ' s success alarmed Cavour as he fear the nationalist would set up his own republic  He then urged Victor Emmanuel to send Sardinian to take care of Garibaldi but Emmanuel instead linked up with Garibaldi  Garibaldi then turned over Naples and Sicily over and the Italians voted Emmanuel in as King  Rome and Venetia remained outside of Italy until Cavour ’ s successors made Italy united in 1870 when France withdrew their troops UNITY AT LAST

CHALLENGES FACING THE NEW NATIONS  Italy then faced new problems including  No tradition of unity  Little nationalism  Strong regional rivalries making national issues hard to solve

 Greatest regional differences were between the richer and more developed north and the rural and poor but heavily populated south  Tensions between Italy and the Roman Catholic Church further divided the nation  Popes resented the seizure of Papal states and Rome  The government granted the papacy the small territory of Vatican  Popes saw themselves as ‘ prisoners ’ and urged Catholics not to follow the government DIVISIONS

 Victor Emmanuel made Italy a constitutional monarchy with a 2- hosue legislature  Upper House - King - appointed members - could veto bills passed by the lower house  Lower House - Elected representatives  In late 1800 s radicals struggled against a conservative government, socialists organized strikes, and anarchists turned to violence  The government slowly extend suffrage to more men and passed laws to improve social conditions  Turmoil continued though so the government set out to win an overseas empire TURMOIL

 Despite problems, Italy did develop economically after 1900  They lacked natural resources but industries sprouted up bring urbanization  Reformers campaigned for better education  Population increases brought tensions that emigration to United States, Canada, and Latin America helped solve PROGRESS

LOOKING AHEAD Unification brought challenges but it also brought increases in strength. By 1914, Italy was much better off than in 1861 But Italy was hardly prepared though for the war that broke out that year that it was soon drawn into

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