Italian Unification

What do you know about Italy?

Situation in 19 th C. Italy Centrally located in Southwestern Europe at the crossroads of trade and cultural diffusion Made up of many small kingdoms and principalities instead of one unified kingdom, leaving it vulnerable to attack The north was industrial and the south was agricultural, much like the US before the Civil War, and therefore the north and south did not trust each Was a constant victim of invasion and war After the Napoleonic conquests of the early 1800’s, many in Italy came to understand “united we stand, divided we fall”

Reasons for Italian Unification In 1830, nationalist leader Giuseppe Mazzini founded Young Italy, a nationalist group committed “to constitute Italy one, free, independent republican nation.” A united Italy made sense; it would end trade barriers among the Italian states and stimulate industry, as well as protect Italy against foreign invasion

Leaders of Italian Unification Giusseppe Mazzini- the “soul of the nationalist movement because he founded the Young Italy group Guisseppe Garibaldi- The “sword” of the movement because he was the leader of the Red Shirts, the military branch of the Young Italy movement. He squashed opposition to the movement Camilo Cavour- the “brains” of the movement because he convinced France to aid Italy in a war against Austria, then turned on France once the war against Austria was won

Effects of Italian Unification Italy becomes an imperial power, united under the leadership of Victor Emmanuel of the Savoy Family The Balance of Power in Europe has been tipped; Austria, France, and Britain are worried about the new competition Germany would follow Italy’s lead, forcing European powers to look outside of Europe for new areas to exploit for resources

Did you know…? The Italian Flag got its tricolor design from the Italian Kingdom of Sardinia; red and white from Milan (the head of the Italian Kingdoms), and green because green represented the military Italy's Queen Margherita visited the Pizzeria Brandi in Naples in The pizza maker on duty that day, Rafaele Esposito, created a pizza for the Queen that contained the three colors of the new Italian flag. The red of the tomato, white of the mozzarella and fresh green basil was a hit with the Queen and the rest of the world.