Unifying Italy

1
Unifying Italy

• Essential Questions and Responses

2
Obstacles to Italian Unity

• What were some of the early obstacles that
  Italian Nationalists faced before uniting?
• Certain regions had greater local ties to
  provinces/regions rather than to a future Italy
• Congress of Vienna empowered monarchs and foreign
  rulers (Austrian/French, etc.)

3
Obstacles to Italian Unity

• Why did Mazzini create Young Italy?
• In order to create a secret society that would
  seek to create one, free, independent, republican
  nation known as Italy
• Create a strong Nationalist group that would
  orchestrate unification of Italian people from
  different regions

4
Obstacles to Italian Unity

• Why did Italian Nationalists want a unified
  Italy?
• Made sense because of geography
• Would help economically, especially because it
  would end trade barriers and stimulate industry
• Italians shared a common language and history
• To return to the glories of ancient Rome

5
The Struggle for Italy

• How did Camillo Cavour impact the Risorgimento
  (Italian Nationalist Movement)?
• He was a crafty, liberal politician who also
  practiced realpolitik
• Reformed Sardinias economy, improved
  agriculture, industry, and trade
• Gained favor with Napoleon III, and allied with
  him to oust Austrian rule in Northern Italy

6
The Struggle for Italy

• How did Giuseppe Garibaldi impact the
  Risorgimento (Italian Nationalist Movement)?
• Longtime Italian Nationalist, recruited a
  military force of 1,000 Red Shirts
• Accepted weapons and ships from Mazzini, and led
  his Red Shirts to take control over Sicily and
  Naples
• Turned over control to King Victor Emanuel II to
  unite northern and southern Italy

7
Challenges Facing the New Nation

• What divisions existed in Italy after the country
  unified?
• The North was considerably wealthier than the
  South
• Regional rivalries made political decisions
  difficult
• Hostility existed between Italy and the Roman
  Catholic Church

8
Challenges Facing the New Nation

• How was the new Italian state constructed
  politically, and what problems did this pose?
• Constitutional monarchy with a two-house
  legislature
• The King apponted members of the upper house and
  had veto power over the elected, lower house.
  This gave the monarchy the power
• Radicals challenged the new Italian government
  for further reform, even suffrage

9
Challenges Facing the New Nation

• How did Italians progress economically after they
  formed their one, unified state?
• Industries started to flourish in the north,
  bringing factories, cities, and thus,
  urbanization
• Reformers sought improved education and working
  conditions
• Italians were granted the right of emigration,
  or to exit the country and leave for other
  countries such as the United States, Canada, etc.