Unification of Italy

1830 - 1870

• Between 1830 and 1848 Italians tried several times to overthrow foreign monarchs, but were unsuccessful

• Italy was eventually unified through two efforts, one in the north and one in the south.

• The motivation for Italian unification was increasing nationalism

Italian Unification

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one’s country, its language, culture and history

Italian Unification

•The Italian kingdoms were divided into 9 states at the Congress of Vienna

• Giuseppe Mazzini– The “heart” of Italian reunification– Starting in 1831, he wrote many articles and gave speeches in favor of Italian reunification

The beginnings of Italian Unification

Encouraged people to see themselves as

part of a nation

• Count Camilo Benso di Cavour– The “brain” of Italian unification– Prime Minister of Sardinia– Worked to improve economy– Used money to strengthen Sardinia’s army– From 1852 - 1859, he gradually took over the

northern states of Italy

Northern Unification

• Giuseppe Garibaldi– The “sword” of Italian

unification– His army was nicknamed

the “Red Shirts”– Led his army to victory

over French forces in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies from 1860 - 1861

– Gave the territory to the King of Sardinia

Southern Unification

• “Red Shirts” (Garibaldi in center)

Southern Unification

• 1861 – Northern and Southern Italy are united

• 1866 – the northern province of Venetia is added

• 1870 – Papal States are added to Italy– Rome is made the nation’s capital

• Italy was unified and King Victor Emmanuel of Sardinia was declared its king.

Italian Unification

Italian unification was accomplished over several decades

• Review: For Italy in the 1800s, nationalism had positive effects. How could nationalism sometimes have negative effects?

Italian Unification