Italian+Unification+Outline

1. Obstacles to Italian Unification  A. For centuries Italy was an ununified battleground. I. The people of Venice considered themselves Venetians, those of Florence Tuscans, Naples Neapolitans, and so on. II. The invasion of Napoleon sparked thoughts and dreams of a national unification of Italy. B. Vienna’s Congress ignored nationalist’s dreams of unity. I. The unification was laughable to some, like Metternich, the prince of Austria, who controlled much of northern Italy. C. Nationalists organized secret patriotic societies. I. They focused their forces on getting rid of Austrian forces from northern Italy. II. Between 1820 and 1848 nationalist revolts exploded across Italy. III. But every time, Austria sent troops which crushed the rebels. D. Mazzini established a young Italy. I. Secret society II. The goal was to “constitute Italy, one, free, independent, republican nation.” III. He spent a lot of his life plotting and dreaming of a unified Italy. IV. In 1849 he helped set up the revolutionary republic in Rome but it was toppled by French forces.

2. The Struggle for Italy  A. Cavour becomes prime minister I. He believed in Realpolitik. II. He reformed Sardinia’s economy. III. Improved agriculture, railroads and supported commerce. IV. His long term goal was to end Austrian power in Italy. B. Intrigue with France I. Sardinia joined Britain and France against Russia: Crimean War. II. He negotiated a secret deal with Napoleon. III. With the help of France, Sardinia defeated Austria. C. Garibaldi’s “Red Shirts” I. Attention shifted to the Kingdom of Two Sicilies. II. Garibaldi recruited 1,000 red shirted men and went south and took control of Italy. D. Unity at Last I. Garibaldi turned over Naples and Sicily to Emmanuel. II. Southern Italy voted and approved of the move, and Emmanuel became king of all of Italy. III. Cavour died in 1861 but his successors completed his dream by acquiring Rome and Venetia during wars.

3. Challenges Facing the New Nation  A. Divisions I. Regional differences included the north being richer with more cities, and the south being poor and rural. II. There was hostility between Italy and the Roman Catholic Church. · Popes were encouraging Catholics to not cooperate with the government because the popes felt they were being held prisoner. B. Turmoil I. Under Victor Emmanuel, Italy was a constitutional monarchy with a two- house legislature. II. Socialists organized anarchists. III. Government extended suffrage and passed laws to improve social conditions. C. Economic Progress I. Despite its problems Italy did develop economically. II. Industrialization brought urbanization, and industries started popping up all over the north. III. Population explosion caused tensions. IV. An important safety valve was emigration.