German and italian unification By: Rocky Hroch Period 6 1/18/12

Prompt 2008- Analyze the similarities and differences in the methods used by Cavour and Bismarck to bring about the unification of Italy and of Germany, respectively.

Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour 1810-1861

Italy Italy had never been united before 1850. There were three approaches to unification. 1. Giuseppe Mazzini’s centralized Democratic Republic based on universal male suffrage. 2. Vincenzo Gioberti’s federation of existing states under the presidency of a progressive pope. 3. A program of those who looked for leadership from the autocratic Kingdom of Sardinia.

Italy (Continued) In the 1850’s, Cavour worked to consolidate Sardinia as a liberal constitutional state capable of leading northern Italy. Used highways and railroads to gain support throughout northern Italy. Cavour worked for a secret diplomatic alliance with Napoleon III against Austria. In July 1858, Cavour got Austria to attack Sardinia in 1859. After a victory, Napoleon III abandoned Cavour and made peace with the Austrians at Villafranca in July 1859. Middle-class Nationalist leaders in central Italy called for fusion with Sardina. Cavour achieved his original goal of a northern Italian state but wasn’t done.

Italy (Continued) Cavour secretly supported Garibaldi’s plan to liberate the kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Garibaldi and his men outwitted the royal army and took them North. Cavour sent men down to meet them because he knew an attack on Rome would bring about war with France. The people of the South finally voted to join Sardinia. Garibaldi and Victor Emmanuel rode through Naples to seal the union of North and South.

Otto Von Bismarck 1815-1898

Germany Bismarck took office as chief minister in 1862. Bismarck reorganized the army. From 1862 to 1866 the voters of Prussia expressed opposition by sending large liberal majorities to parliament. Prussia and Austria defeated Denmark in a short war. Bismarck wanted to force Austria out of Prussia through war. The Austro-Prussian war of 1866 lasted 7 weeks. Prussia won the war by winning a decisive victory at the Battle of Sadowa in Bohemia. Germany was still divided after the war.

Germany (Continued) After the victory against Austria, Bismarck created a federal constitution for the new North German Confederation. Delegates to the upper house were appointed by the different states, but members of the lower house were elected by universal, single class, male suffrage. The final act in German unification was the Franco-Prussian war from 1870 to 1871. As soon as the war began, the south German states gave the north their full support. In January 1871, Paris surrendered and the south German states decided to join a new German empire. Germany was finally unified.