Italian Unification North: Austria ruled Venetia and Lombardy
and dominated Tuscany, Modena, Parma & Lucca
South: Spain ruled Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
Kingdom of Sardinia: strongest Italian state and run by an Italian dynasty.
Factors Favoring Italian Unification
Common culture, history, traditions, language (though diff. dialects)
Common Religion: Roman Catholic Dislike for Austria who prevented earlier
attempt to unite
Roadblocks to Italian Unification Opposition by state rulers who were backed by
Austria, so wanted Austria to remain powerful Pope feared losing power over Papal States Disagreement over type of government once
united: democratic republic (favored by Mazzini), constitutional monarchy (favored by Cavour), confederation under Pope
Foreign Opposition: Austria would lose territory and influence France feared a powerful neighbor
Wars to Win Italian Unification Austro-Sardinian Wars (1859): Napoleon III helped b/c of
promise of Nice and Savoy, and Sardinia got Lombardy Conquest of 2 Sicilies by Garibaldi (1861): Kingdom of Italy
declared, but Rome not capital because in hands of Pope & protected by French troops
Austro-Prussian War (1866): Italy allied with Prussia and gained Venetia
Franco-Prussian War (1870-71): French troops removed from Italy to fight Germany, Rome now capital
World War I (1914-18): Italy claimed rest of land still under Austrian rule.
Alliance with Napoleon III Cavour saw Austria as the biggest
roadblock to unification Napoleon thought France could be
strongest nation in Europe of Austria weakened
Secretly agreed for France to drive Austria out of N. Italy in return for Nice and Savoy
Austro-Sardinian War 1859 French-Sardinian Army defeat Austria N. Italy hold revolts against Austria and
demands to be ruled by Sardinia Napoleon panics, not wanting a strong Italy Cavour had kept good relations with rest of
Europe, so Napoleon could not go to war with Sardinia
1860 N. Italy is annexed by Sardinia
The Brain Cavour– named prime minister to King
Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia He believes nationalism can only happen
through smart diplomacy and well-chosen alliances
The Sword Garibaldi was leading a small group of
nationalists in the south, with the financial support if Cavour
In 1860, he and his 1100 soldiers the “Red Shirts” won Sicily
In 1861, the Italian parliament met and named Victor Emmanuel II king of Italy
Italy is Unified! In 1866 Venetia joins Italy In 1871, Pope finally allows Papal States,
including Rome to become part of Italy. Final Unification
Realpolitik German plan for government that meant:
Calculating politics in which idealism played no part.
Utopian Socialism was its nemesis.
Factors Favoring German Unification
Common language, history, culture, traditions
Industrial Revolution: Roads, railroads, growing trade united German states
Zollverein– customs union, NO tariffs within German Confederation EXCEPT Austria
Roadblocks to German Unification Opposition by state rulers who feared
losing power Religion: Protestant North, Catholic South Jealousy & fear of Prussia; largest state Rivalry between Austria and Prussia over
control of smaller German states Opposition from France who feared a
powerful bordering neighbor
Austria v. Prussia 39 German states, including Austria and
Prussia formed a confederation Austria considered natural leader b/c
former home of HRE Prussia was more industrially developed Prussia had strongest army in central
Europe
Wars of German Unification Wars to win Unification
1863 v. Denmark for territory; Schleswig- Holstein 1866 Austro-Prussian War. Germans defeated Austria,
and were very lenient in treaty, to keep Austria as ally in future war with France.
1870-71 Franco-Prussian War. Only a war against a foreign enemy could unite Protestant North with Catholic South. Bismarck wanted Germany united!
1914-18 World War I
War with Denmark 1864 Bismarck fights a quick war with Denmark
to increase the feeling of nationalism and support for Prussia
Outcome: annex two small states, Schleswig and Holstein
Austro-Prussian War 1866 Bismarck’s cunning way managed to provoke
Austria into declaring war against Prussia– important that Prussia not appear the aggressor
Due to Prussia’s superior industrialization, their RR moved troops to Austria faster than Austria could defend itself
Superior equipment from industrialization proved no match for Austria
Results of War with Austria Austria is humiliated Lost some German lands to Prussia Forced to withdraw from the German
Confederation Prussia now controlled all of North
Germany Austria becomes Austria-Hungary 1867
Franco-Prussian War 1870 Bismarck deliberately gave misleading
stories to newspapers to provoke France into declaring war (Prussia the victim)
Purpose is to give N. German protestants and S. German Catholics a common enemy
France is defeated
Results of Franco-Prussian War Prussia humiliated France in the peace
treaty (keep an eye on the karma after WWI)
During the war even Napoleon III had been captured and held prisoner
Forced to pay 5 billion francs Took Alsace and Lorraine (France’s richest
coal and iron deposits)
Leaders of the German Unification Three major players:
The Soul: Kaiser Wilhelm II The Sword: von Moltke The Brain: Bismarck
The Brain & The Soul 1862 King William I chose Bismarck as his
prime minister. Bismarck was a exceptionally skilled at
realpolitik and wanted to unite Germany under Prussia.
Bismarck says unification can only by “Blood and Iron” (War and Industrialization)
Germany is Unified! January18, 1871--The Second Reich Will be ruled under Kaiser William I German industrialization quickly surpassed
even Britain to become the second largest producer of manufactured goods (after U.S.)