Italy 1861-1871 Why was Italy united in 1861? How far did the system of government established in 1861 help to unify Italy? How united and how Italian was Italy by 1871
How and Why How- 1820 s, 1830 s, Mazzini (Young Italy), Charles Albert/Piedmont(?), Gioberti, Balbo, Pope Pius IX, Allocution, 1848 Rebellions (Sicily, Milan, Papal states, etc.), Rome Republic 1849, Charles Albert (again) War with Austria, 1850 s Riots in Lombardy (Mazzini), Cavour, Piedmont Liberalism, The Crimean War, Plombieres, War of 1859, Villafranca, Uprisings in North/Central Italy, Treaty of Turin (Piedmont annexation), Garibaldi and Sicily/Naples, Piedmont invasion of Papal States, Garibaldi hand over to V.E. II Irrudenta 1866 and 1871
Why? Forces of nationalism were stronger than those against (?) 1820 s/30 s and 1850 s- very different place (Italy) Piedmont - building a modern and liberal state, intentions were clear - wars with Austria, Ambitious leadership in Cavour and Victor Emmanuel II Greater support for the nationalist cause- National Society and the fall of Mazzinian ideas- less divided ideas about nationalism Mazzini accepted the need for help from Piedmont but hated pretty much everything else Garibaldi
What about the People Not a lot of active popular support for the idea of a single Italy (the proof is the lack of success of popular Mazzinian revolts) Plebiscites vote though were pretty popular.hmmm Truthfully most Italian historians will agree- Italy was not unified by the people, but by politicians and revolutionaries The forces for stability were also weak and getting weaker (so it was just good timing?) Napoleon III- had Napoleon opposed any of Piedmont s actions after 1859 Britain?
The Heroes The extent to which the various individuals involved contributed has been a source of historical debate Mazzini (ideology), Garibaldi (Military and Popular leadership) and Cavour (Political Leadership)- originally regarded as complimenting each other- hard to keep that idea today Few wanted Italy to be what it became but as consequences arise so too must aims- The Kingdom of Italy is a great example or lesson of the law of unintended consequences
Irrudenta The Kingdom of Italy had not unified the people- divisions were more pronounced (North and South, Rich and Poor- limited franchise) 1861-1870- kind of an anti-climax Austria occupied Venetia and France still occupied Rome- Italy could never be united or free without these places Garibaldi and Mazzini will try and finish what they had started- Cavour is dead Once again plots and plans (Mazzini tried to encourage uprisings in Rome, Garibaldi tried to develop some schemes to attack Austria)
Aspromonte, 1862 Garibaldi returns to southern Italy, gathers 3,000 men- Rome or Death Not sure what Victor Emmanuel was doing (supporting privately?) There is no Cavour to deal with Napoleon either- France and Austria demand that Garibaldi be stopped- Italian Army sent in to stop him Disaster for the Garibaldians, himself wounded and arrested (he would be saved by conspirators who forged documents saying Aspromonte was Mazzini s fault) Garibaldi, grabs himself a bag of macaroni and heads for the island of Caprera
War with Austria 1866 Venice is acquired as a result of the struggle between Austria and Prussia- Bismarck Bismarck proposed an anti-austrian military alliance with Italy (if a war would break out in 3 months...and then it did, hmmm ) The war was a disaster for Italy- defeated at Custoza (Garibaldi led a small force and was minimally successful)- Prussia ends the war- Austria had already agreed to give Venice to France (??) Venice had been tossed to Italy as a penny might be thrown to a beggar
Mentana 1867 Mazzini, Victor Emmanuel and Garibaldi all focussed their attention on Rome Garibaldi gathered 3,000 men and marched on Rome- Napoleon III orders French troops to mobilize in Rome (Breech-loading guns) Mentana- Garibaldi loses heavily and is arrested and sent to Caprera as a form of exile French army stays in Rome as part of the Papal States- Italy is still not united
Rome 1870 Once again Prussian help for Italy- Prussia and France go to war in 1870 (long story) Napoleon III orders his troops back to France- therefore a vacuum exists- what will fill it? The biggest issue in politics, even today Victor Emmauel II arrests Mazzini (in Sicily) and Garibaldi was confined to Caprera (Garibaldi actually fought for France against the Prussian as the head of a unit) Italy sends troops into Rome to quell the threat of revolution (?), a plebiscite is held and voila, Rome is part of Italy (becomes the Capital- minus the Vatican)