Cavour and the Italian War of 1859: The Unification of Italy Section 13.64:

Italian Nationalism: The Program of Cavour Several small and large states in Italy existed Reorganized by Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna The governments were content with their independence –but governments were distant from their people The people desired a nation that reflected the past glories of Italy and were generally disgusted with their govs (Risorgimento=resurgence)- Movement gained steam during French Rev and Napoleon –Mazzini promoted similar ideas Saw the cause of Italian unity with almost holy character GIUSEPPE MAZZINI

Barriers 1848 efforts failed when the Pope denounced the radical movement Austria’s far reaching influence was another barrier Outside assistance would be needed to separate Italy from Austria’s umbrella of control King Victor Emmanuel of the Piedmont (Sardinia) –Designs on surrounding territories Pius IX Francis Joseph

Camillo di Cavour King Victor Emmanuel’s (Savoy) minister Cavour was a Western liberal/ Realpolitik practitioner Directed an efficient government Built up the infrastructure (RR, docks) Limited the role of the Church Cutting down number of holidays, limiting right of church bodies to own real estate, abolishing church courts without consulting the Holy See Opened up free trade

Camillo di Cavour Opened up free trade Engineered the unification process Embraced the toughness of mind and the politics of reality Had no sympathy for revolutionary romantics like Mazzini was no fan of war but was OK with it to unify Italy under house of Savoy he took Piedmont in Crimean War Realized that ousting Austria required the help of France Supported France in the Crimean War Wanted to pit French against Austria

Napoleon III Was agreeable to war against Austria Had traveled Italy and participated in insurrections there in 1831 Saw himself as the apostle of modernity Italy was Bonaparte family’s ancestral home Believed in idea of “doctrine of nationalities” –Consolidation of nations meant progress

Napoleon III Would show France that he supported liberal causes (by fighting reactionary Austria) –Silence his critics Orsini’s assassination attempt An Italian republican who in 1858 attempted to kill Napoleon with a bomb this motivated Nap to make up his mind 1859 French troops move against Austria

Napoleon’s Quandary French defeat Austrian resistance But Prussia was mobilizing –Nervous about French sphere of influence Italy began to erupt with revolutionary activity local governments were overthrown Calls for unification with Piedmont were made –Napoleon is no fan of revolution Papacy was threatened so French soldiers were sent in to protect pope –French Catholics resented the loss of the Pope’s temporal power –Blamed Napoleon for this godless war –Napoleon III was fighting on both sides of the war Napoleon III made peace with Austria This stupefied Cavour

Franco-Austrian Agreement Piedmont received Lombardi Austria kept Venetia Offered compromise to the Italian unity question Created a federal union of existing governments with the Pope in charge Not what Cavour or the Piedmontese, or the patriots wanted

Franco-Austrian Agreement Revolution continued and drove out rulers of Tuscany, Modena, Parma, Romagna Piedmont annexed these territories and held a plebiscites Pope excommunicated leaders –Romagna had been part of Papal States Reps from north Italy (except Venetia) met in Turin in 1860 and held first parliament of the new and improved Italy This was supported by English and French

The Completion of Italian Unity 1860 Italy consists of three parts –Northern Piedmont –Papal States –Southern States (Kingdom of the Two Sicilies) ruled by Bourbon king in Naples Under the House of Bourbon Giuseppe Garibaldi from the Piedmont The Lafayette of Italy (Hero of 2 worlds) Soldier of fortune in Uruguay and the United States

The Completion of Italian Unity Organized “Garibaldi’s Thousand” or “Red Shirts” 1,150 personal followers Led them on armed expedition to southern Italy Cavour closed his eyes to Garibaldi’s bold move Garibaldi sailed south and attacked The corrupt and unpopular governments (2 Sicilies) collapse Garibaldi turned north toward Rome Potential move against the French in Rome and the Papacy threatened Cavour’s unification efforts

The Completion of Italian Unity Cavour anticipated Garibaldi’s move and sent troops southward while carefully avoiding Rome Garibaldi accepts Victor Emmanuel’s leadership and the north and south are joined with seceding Papal states Garibaldi now thought a monarchy was best solution for unification Rode in open carriage with Victor Emmanuel thru streets of Naples Plebiscites confirmed willingness to join

The Completion of Italian Unity 1861 Kingdom of Italy is proclaimed 1866 Venetia was added in return for Italian support of Prussia against Austria 1870 Rome was annexed after French troops withdrew during the Franco-Prussian War Italy was made by apostolate of Mazzini, audacity of Garibaldi and cold policy of Cavour

Persistent Problems After Unification Claims for an expanded Italy continued They want Trentino, Dalmatian islands, Nice, Savoy added Italia Irredentism-An unredeemed Italy –Irredentism has come to mean a vociferous demand for territory on nationalistic grounds Deep political differences between the Pope and the new nation of Italy continued

Persistent Problems After Unification Occupation of Rome 1870 (after French left) renewed Pope’s condemnation –they took the Papal states and he remained in Vatican secluded –Great differences between northern and southern Italy continued to exist North looks upon South as backward Few within Italy possessed the vote –Only 600 thou out of 20 mil can vote –Disenfranchisement fueled revolutionary discontent –Gradually the revolutionary movement shifted Marxian socialism, Anarchism, Syndicalism However Italy was united and an age old dream of recapturing past glory is closer to being realized