Essential+Questions

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Mazzini was determined to build a new, united Italy. To Mazzini, a united Italy made sense because of geography, a common language, and history. Nationalists reminded Italians of the glories of ancient Rome and the medieval papacy. To others, unity made practical economic sense, because it would end trade barriers among the Italian states and stimulate industry. =====

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One obstacle for Italy is for centuries, Italy had been a battleground for ambitious foreign and local princes. Frequent warfare and foreign rule took place in Italy. Another obstacle Italy faced was The Congress of Vienna ignored the nationalists who hoped to end centuries of foreign rule and achieve unity. In fact, to Prince Metternich of Austria, the idea of a unified Italy was "laughable." At Vienna, Austria took control of much of northern Italy. These obstacles made unification difficult, because Italy was being controlled by other people, including Austria (who took control of northern Italy), Hapsburg monarchs (who ruled various other Italian states), and the French Bourbon ruler (who was put in charge of Naples and Sicily). Italy couldn't be unified, because they had no complete control, and were being controlled by foreign rule. The powerful rulers and leaders taking control of Italy at the time didn't want/favor the idea of a unified Italy, therefore they had the power to stop unification. =====

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One step that Italian leaders took to unify Italy/ignite nationalist feelings (in the people) was after Guiseppe Mazzini founded young Italy, his main goal was "to establish Italy, one free, independent, republican nation." Therefore, he spent much of his life dreaming and plotting ideas of a united Italy. Another step Italian leaders took was that Mazzini helped set up a revolutionary republic in Rome. Though, French forces soon toppled it. Another step taken to unify Italy was after 1848, leadership of the Risorgimento (Italian nationalist movement) passed to the kingdom of Sardinia. To add, another step taken was in 1852, Victor Emmanuel made Count Camillo Cavour his prime minister. This was important, because once in office, Cavour moved first to reform Sardinia's economy. He improved agriculture, had railroads built, and encouraged commerce by supporting free trade. His long-term goal was to end Austria power in Italy. =====

4) What military steps were taken in order to free Italian people from oppressive rule?
There were several military steps taken in order to free Italian people from oppressive rule. One step is in 1858, Cavour negotiated a deal with Napoleon, who promised to aid Sardinia in case it faced war with Austria. However, a year later, Cavour provoked that war. With France's help, Sardinia defeated Austria and annexed (took over) Lombardy. Also, another step was in 1860, Garibaldi had recruited a force of 1,000 red-shirted volunteers (nationalist group), and (with the help of Cavour providing weapons and ships) Garibaldi and his "Red Shirts" traveled south to Sicily, where Garibaldi's forces eventually won control of Sicily, and eventually after captured Naples.

5) What nationalist groups were formed and created in order to strengthen the unification movement?
Like Mazzini, Garibaldi wanted to create an Italian Republic. Though, he did accept aid from the monarchist Cavour. By 1860, Garibaldi had recruited a force of 1,000 red-shirted volunteers (which was a nationalist group formed and created in order to strengthen the unification movement). Cavour provided weapons and allowed two ships to take Garibaldi and his "Red Shirts" south to Sicily. Garibaldi's forces won control of Sicily, crossed to the mainland, and marched triumphantly north to Naples, which they eventually acquired as well.

6) What challenges did a united Italy face when they finally were brought together as a nation- state?
﻿ A challenge united Italy faced was Italy had no tradition of unity. Few Italians felt ties to the new nation. Strong regional rivalries left Italy unable to solve critical national issues. A challenge Italy faced was divisions. There were major regional differences between the north and the south. The north was richer and had more cities, while the south was rural and poor. Another challenge/problem was hostility between Italy and the Roman Catholic Church, which further divided the nation. The government granted the papacy (the office or authority of a pope) the small territory of the vatican (the official residence of the pope in Rome). Popes, however, saw themselves as "prisoners" and urged Italian Catholics (almost all Italians) not to cooperate with their new government. Another challenge/problem that was faced was Italy was in turmoil. Under Victor Emmanuel, Italy was a constitutional monarchy with a two-house legislature. Although the lower house consisted of elected representatives, only a small number of men had the right to vote. Then, in the late 1800's, unrest (a state of dissatisfaction, disturbance, and agitation in a group of people) increased as radicals (on the left) struggled against a conservative government. Socialists organized strikes while anarchists turned to sabotage and violence. Slowly, the government extended suffrage (the right to vote in political elections) to more men and passed laws to improve social conditions. Still, the turmoil did continue on.

7) What role did Napoleon play in the Unification of Italy?
Napoleon played a role in the unification of Italy by helping Cavour if he faced war with Sardinia. Cavour negotiated a deal with Napoleon, and Napoleon agreed to aid Sardinia in case it faced war with Austria. However, Cavour provoked that war (and they defeated Austria and annexed Lombardy).

8) Explain the viewpoint of the liberals and the conservatives with regards to Italian Unification.
The viewpoint of the liberals was that they wanted change. They wanted governments to be based on written constitutions and the separation of powers. They spoke out against divine-right monarchy, the old aristocracy, and established churches. Most of them favored a republican form of government over a monarchy, or at least wanted the monarch to be limited by a constitution. Also, the liberals defended the natural rights of individuals to liberty, equality, and property. They also eventually supported the principle of universal manhood suffrage (giving all men the right to vote) later on in the century. To add, they strongly supported the laissez- faire economics. The viewpoint of the conservatives was that they wanted things to stay the same, and wanted to preserve traditional ways. If things had to change, it must change slowly. Conservatives agreed to work together to support the political/social order that existed before Napoleon and the French Revolution. Conservatives also wanted to restore royal families to their thrones they had lost when Napoleon swept across Europe. They supported a social hierarchy, which lower classes respected and obeyed their social superiors, and supported a monarchy form of government. Under Victor Emmanuel, Italy was a constitutional monarchy with a two- house legislature. Even though the lower house consisted of elected representatives, only a small number of men had the right to vote. Then, in the late 1800's, unrest increased as radicals (on the left) struggled against a conservative government. Also, socialists organized strikes while anarchists turned to sabotage and violence.

9) How does Nationalism unify the people of the Italian States?
First of all, nationalism is the pride, passion, loyalty, and support in your nation/national group. This time period of Italian Unification showed the Italians' strength, support, and loyalty towards their nation. Many Italians joined together and worked together in order to accomplish their final goal of unifying Italy. Unification was brought about by the efforts of a strong state and furthered by their several leaders. The Italians went through many challenges and took many steps to unifying Italy (and had to go through a lot to create a united Italy). People of the Italian states took many steps and went through many challenges together to //acquire new territory//, and went through it all with several different leaders in to process of acquiring more and more land every time (which are all steps towards becoming a unified Italy). The people of the Italian states came together as one (nationalist group) in order to overcome any challenges that they faced, as well as worked together to reach their goal of a united Italy, which shows they had pride and support for their nation. For example, the some of the Italians came together as the 1,000 Red Shirt Volunteers, and all worked together, united, as one, in order to eventually win control of Sicily and Naples. Another example is the Crimean War in 1858, when Sardinia joined Britain and France against Russia. Although Sardinia did not win territory, they still had to go through this challenge together. Another example is, during one of their challenges they faced, which was the Franco- Prussian War in 1870, France was forced to withdraw its troops from Rome, but the Italians still had to go through this challenge/change together, unified, to overcome and eventually acquired/conquer Rome (which eventually becomes the capital of Italy). Also, the Italians had to overcome the challenge of the Austro- Prussian War, when Italy negotiated a deal with Bismark, and acquired Venetia. After this, Italy was finally a united land at last.