1. German & Italian Unification Nationalism in Action
“I have discovered the art of deceiving diplomats. I tell them the truth and
they never believe me.”
“The great questions of the day will not be settled by means of speeches and majority decisions but by iron and blood.”

2. German Unification (1815 - 1871)
The Who’s Who of German Unification
Background (Prior to 1864):
• Congress of Vienna 1815: Sets up German Confederation:
- Loose union of 39 states
- Dominated by members Aust.
& Prus.
- Weak govt. & no unified
military
• Zollverein 1834: free trade zone includes all except Aust.
• Revolution of 1848: Germ. nationalists fail to unify Germ.
• Otto von Bismarck 1862: PM of Prus. / goal to unify Germ. w/
“ iron & blood” = Realpolitik
It’s not me. I have no soul.
Johann Fichte
“The Soul”
Helmuth von Moltke
“The Sword”
Kaiser Wilhelm I
“The Crown”
Otto von Bismarck
“The Brain”

3. German Unification (1815 - 1871)
4 Steps Toward Unification:
1. Danish War 1864: Prus. defeats & takes land from Den. = Germ. nationalism.
2. 7 Weeks War 1866: Prus. defeats Aust. = Aust. out of Germ. Confed. & loss of land
to Prus.
3. North German Confed. 1867: All of N. Germ. united w/ Prus.
4. Franco-Prussian War 1871: Prus. wins = loss of land for
Fr. & S. Germ. States join Prus. to form Germ. or 2nd Reich

4. Italian Unification (1815 - 1871)
Background (Prior to 1858):
• Congress of Vienna 1815: It. left divided & mostly under total foreign control.
• Giuseppe Mazzini 1831: forms nationalist group Young Italy = goal to unify It.
• Revolution of 1848: Attempted united Italian republic fails
• Count Camillo di Cavour 1852: PM of Sardinia / goal to unify Italy through diplomacy & alliances = Realpolitik
The Who’s Who of
Italian Unification
It’s not me. I have no soul!
Giuseppe Mazzini
“The Soul”
Giuseppe Garibaldi
“The Sword”
Count Camillo di Cavour
“The Brain”
Victor Emanuel II
“The Crown”

5. Italian Unification (1815 - 1871)
4 Steps Toward Unification:
1. Austrian-Sardinian War : Cavour allies w/ Fr. to defeat Aust. & gain control of much of N. Italy.
2. Giuseppe Garibaldi 1860: Leads successful revolt in S. It. & It. united under Sardinian king Victor Emanuel II.
3. Austrian – Prussian (7 Weeks War) 1866: It. allies w/ Prus. and wins Venetia from Aust.
4. Law of Guarantees 1871: It. gains control of Papal States and Rome w/ Fr. departure. Pope not happy!