* Austria is still the dominant power * Italians turn to the Italian state of Sardinia- Piedmont for leadership in achieving unification * The movement for Italian unification and the freedom from Austrian control became known as Il Risorgimento – resurgence or rebirth Not strong enough to defeat Austria on its own, so makes an alliance with French emperor Louis- Napoleon to unite northern Italy

Southern Italian states turn to Guiseppe Garibaldi to unify them Garibaldi and his Red Shirts use guerrilla warfare and gain control of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies Garibaldi then conquers Naples and makes a victorious march up the Italian Peninsula March 17, 1861 the new kingdom of Italy is proclaimed under King Victor Emmanuel II

* Two territories left: * Venetia – in the hands of Austria * Rome – supported by French troops * Italy gains control of Venetia as a result of a war between Austria and Prussia * In 1870 French troops withdraw from Rome to fight the Prussians * Rome is named the capital of Italy

* Germans turned to Prussia for leadership and unification since Austria is against the idea of a unified Germany The true architect behind German unification is Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck – Conservative who supported the king, believed it was Prussia’s destiny to lead the German people to unification – Practiced realpolitik = philosophy about gov’t was the practice of tough power politics rather than idealism.

Austro-Prussian War 1866 Bismarck had to get rid of Austrian power since Austria was the leader of the German Confederation Used a conflict over the territory Austria received from the war with Denmark, to provoke Austria into declaring war Bismarck blamed Austria for the war, sense of nationalism – Prussia defeated Austria in seven weeks The German Confederation was dissolved and the northern German states joined with Prussia

Franco-Prussian War 1870 – Dispute over the candidacy of the throne of Spain King Wilhelm’s cousin is on the list and France refuses to be surrounded by Prussian power on both sides Bismarck takes advantage and maneuvers France into declaring war on Prussia – He sends a letter to Parisian newspapers making it sound like the Prussian king has insulted France They lose to Prussia in six weeks

The Prussian army crosses into France and at the Battle of Sedan captures the French army, along with Napoleon III * Paris surrenders and the Second French Empire falls * January 18, 1871 at the Palace of Versailles, Wilhelm I is proclaimed Kaiser (emperor) of a unified German empire Unification of Germany and Italy is achieved by armies and wars The unification of Italy and Germany greatly upset the balance of power in Europe

Year State Person(s) Wars Italy Germany