1. Overview of the process
Unification of Italy
Overview of the process

2. Unification
Napoleon- “Italy is one nation. Unity of customs, language and literature must at a period of more of less distant unite her inhabitants under one government, and Rome without doubt will be chosen by the Italians as their capital”
1800’s- a dream of Italian nationalists
1860- Dream had come true
How the heck does that happen????

3. Italian Flag designed in 1797

4. Nationalism
After French rule (1815), intellectuals became much more interested in Italian History and culture- proving to them that they were in fact a cultural nation
European philosophers at the time saw language as the distinctive essence of a national group- Academics ruled that Italians spoke “variations” (dialects)- Tuscan Italian was the common written language

5. Nationalism- The Issues
Could local discontent with the existing rulers be converted into enthusiasm for a national state?
Could Italian nationalism override loyalty to a particular region or state?
Just how much mass support could nationalism generate?- intellectual elite? Industrial workers and peasants?
Were there variations of the idea of Italian nationalism- all of Italy? Just the North? Unified by Rome?
Would nationalism be strong enough to overcome the existing (Austrian) rulers or would Italians need to enlist international support for their cause?

6. This paintings illustrates the unification of Italy
This paintings illustrates the unification of Italy. Specifically, the revolution of The curiosity with which the battle is depicted is a commentary on the commitment revolutionaries felt towards their cause

7. Revolutions
Three sets of revolutions , , and Moderate protests in the 20’s and 30s to oppressive rule- Austrian army was too strong plus… initial success as the rulers took off, republic was set up in Rome and Piedmont under Charles Albert declared war on Austria (and the Pope was looked to as the new head of a federation of Italian states) Austrians were too strong and French troops restored Papal authority in Rome It would appear that the revolutionaries were too weak, to disjointed and that the only real chance seemed to be from Piedmont

9. Piedmont and Unification
Under King Victor Emmanuel II and the PM Camillo Cavour (1850s) 1859 War with Austria leads to the Kingdom of Northern Italy (nationalism or Piedmont imperialism?) Giuseppe Garibaldi defeats the Austrians in Southern Italy and hands the south over to Victor Emmanuel II in 1861, hence the Kingdom of Italy Piedmont expansion or Italian Unification?

10. Historiography 1. Risorgimento- revival or awaking in Italy
Italy became a nation not as a result of war but through its own growth and the abilities/action of the historical actors at the time
The essence of this interpretation is that Italians co-operated and EARNED their own liberation from oppressive rule
2. Skepticism- the consequences after 1861 are not good- how can there have been a preordained movement since the country succumbs to Mussolini in the 1920s
The revolutions were very unharmonious and it took foreign help to defeat Austria in 1859 (the French)- and Cavour and Garibaldi hated one another, they did not CO-OPERATE

11. Italian Politics in 1815
Liberals- right to a say in government, therefore called for representative government (elected NOT by the people but by property owners)
Rule of law, basic rights protection (speech, trial, etc…), generally non-violent, middle class and opposed absolutism and republicanism
Radicals- extremists, social reforms and a fairer distribution of wealth, members of secret societies and believed that all political power should rest with the people (universal suffrage, but not peasants)- opposed to monarchies

12. Italian Politics in 1815
Nationalists- people (race, language, culture and tradition) should be united with clear geographical boundaries and not subject to any foreign rule Many called for a republic- split between being aggressive or non-violent- and the big problem was whether they supported an Italian Peninsula movement or just the north Metternich’s view- reactionary (negative towards nationalism or liberalism)- “dangerous passions”. Austria was not a nation state therefore the idea of nationalism was against his politics There can be no Italy and therefore no Italians, the peninsula should be weak and divided and controlled by Austria Many intellectuals in Italy agreed, saw too many difficulties to nationhood, loyalties were still most important, not national loyalty

13. “separated as they are by ancient and ingrained hatred”-
Piedmont ambassador to Russia in 1818 in regards to the idea of Piedmont uniting with Genoa