Italy Before Unification

The separate states were: The Kingdom of Naples, the Papal States, Lombardy-Venetia, and the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Sardinia

Ruled by Victor Emmanuel II, was the only independent state in Italy.

Camillo di Cavour

Became prime minister of parliament instituted during the Revolutions of 1848. Rejected romantic nationalism of Mazzini. To gain support of liberals in Italy, Cavour reformed the government of his state by weakening influence of papacy, investing in public works like railroads and harbor improvements, abolishing internal tariffs, encouraging growth of industry, emancipating peasantry from vestiges of manorialism, and by making Sardinian government a model of progressive constitutionalism. He got Napoleon III to send an army into Italy to see if he could provoke a war with Austria. Napoleon had wanted to weaken Austria, so he’d consented to do so. He was promised Nice and Savoy in return for allowing Sardinians to annex Northern Italy. Austria declared war on Sardinia, and after a couple of victories, Napoleon pulled out of the war because of criticism at home and threats from the Prussians.

Mazzini

He aruged in his Duties of man that the nation was a divine device and an extended family, said Italy could be unified only through force.

Giuseppe Garibaldi

Invaded Sicily in 1860 with encouragement from Cavour. His thousand Red Shirts used popular support to defeat a Bourbon rulers’ force that was ten times the number. Subdued Sicily and Naples, Two Sicilies joined Sardinia, and in March 1861, Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed with Victor Emanuel II on the throne.

Italia Irredenta

"Italy unredeemed", meaning the Italian areas still under Austrian control

Zollverein

Customs union, it had opened most of the German states to a mutually advantageous trade, and Germany became a single economic unit.

Otto von Bismarck

"Blood and Iron" would unite Germany, and after involving Prussia in 3 wars, he did it. War against Denmark: he hoped to gain Schleswig. Defeated Denmark quickly, but Austria and Prussia had a fall out about who should get what. Austro-Prussian War: broke out when issue of Denmark remained unresolved. Prussians defeated Austrians in 7 weeks. Made surrender terms lenient so that Austria would ally with Prussia in coming war with France. North German Confederation: 1867, 21 states of North Prussia were united under leadership of Prussian king, with two houses, the Reichstag (lower house), and Bundesrat (upper house), to represent princes. Franco Prussian War: broke out after dynastic dispute over Spanish throne led to flurry of diplomatic exchanges between Prussia and France. Bismarck deliberately altered the wording of the Ems Dispatch, an account of the German king’s meeting with the French ambassador over issue. Napoleon III, declared war on Prussia in July 1870. Prussia defeated French, and taken emperor prisoner. Treaty of Frankfurt: May 1871, gave Alsace-Lorraine to Germany.

German unification

Baden, Bavaria, Hesse, and Württemberg, joined after flush of victory, and German empire was born in January 1871. Prussian king became kaiser.

Wilhelm II

Assumed throne in 1888, brought with him archaic notion of divine right of rule and a deep resentment of Bismarck’s personal power. 1890, he dismissed Bismarck. Up until WWI, dominated his chancellors. Upset balance of power and drove Europe closer to war.