The Unification of Italy and Germany

1
The Unification of Italy and Germany

• The Finale

2
Topics of Discussion

• How did Italy unite? What was the ideology of
  nationalism?
• How did Germany unite? What is the importance of
  blood and iron?
• What is the Paris Commune and why is it
  important?

3
Consequences of 1848

• Nationalists realized that a strong military
  force was required to create new states
• WHY!!
• Abandoned ideas in the name of Realism!
• What is Realism?
• prioritizes national interest and security,
  rather than ideals, social reconstructions, or
  ethics.

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Consequences of 1848 cont

• Nationalism intense in Italy, Germany and
  Hapsburgs lands, and Balkans
• Map of Europe transformed by Nationalists
  movements (p. 232 in textbook)
• Italy and Germany were nation-states

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Unification of Italy
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Unification of Italy

• Italy was a geographical expression in
  1850..NOT A UNITED COUNTRY
• What does this mean?

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Unification of Italy

• State of Piedmont had been defeated in wars with
  Austria
• It was only constitutional state of Italy
• Count Cavour-liberal man, admired France and
  England, served as Prime Minister of Piedmont
  throughout 1850s
• He was very loyal to Piedmont but not so
  nationalistic to being Italian (he spoke better
  french!!)

8
The Crimean War 1854-56

• Russia versus Turkey, and some other states were
  involved
• First war between major powers since 1815
• Began as dispute over Ottoman Empire

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The Crimean War 1854-56

• Russia had Expansion policy, wanted outlet to
  Mediterranean Sea (France and Britain didnt
  have, would be advantages)
• So What..?? Why is this important?

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Crimean War and Cavour

• Cavour intervened on the side of Britain and
  France and earned international credit
• Piedmont sent troops to fight Russia, and Russia
  was defeated
• Piedmonts participation earned Cavour a seat at
  peace talks which he could raise questions about
  Italian unification

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Congress of Paris- 1856

• Representatives of the great powers in Europe-
  France, Great Britain, the Ottoman Empire (known
  today as Turkey), Sardinia, Russia, Austria, and
  Prussia
• Cavour won seat at the Peace Conference for
  Peidmont (with help of Napoleon III)

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Congress of Paris- 1856

• Russians were prevented from expanding
• This war showed international conflicts still
  existed
• Cavour demanded Italys national ambition

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Risorgimento- Revival of Italy

• Cavour became first person to use Realpolitik-
  Politics of Reality
• He turned to Napolean III and gained Frances
  support!

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Pact of Plombieres

• France and Piedmont agreed to make war on
  Austria!!!
• France would take Nice, and Savoy and in return
  they would help Piedmont get Lombardy and Venetia
• However, Austria declared war first

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Continued

• Piedmont was able to take over Lombardy
• Venetia remained Austrian
• Italy was able to take over the south (not Rome)
• War didnt last because France withdrew because
  the pressures from French Catholics (Napoleon
  ended his support to Piedmont)

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How did Italy complete the process?

• During the Franco-Prussian, Italy united with
  Prussia against Austria- Rome was taken from
  French as they were busy fighting a war!!
• Unification was work of small group of elite
  nationalists

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Unification of Germany
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Unification of Germany

• Germany was a patchwork of independent states
• These independent states each had own laws,
  currency, and rulers
• Nationalists wanted Germany to be one unified
  land, one people, one constitution
• Prussia led fight for unification of these states

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The Zollverein- Economy

• 1st major step in German unification
• Tariffs imposed by the German states- costly to
  trade, increase in prices
• Tariffs hurting farm sales
• 1818, King of Prussia persuaded to abolish
  tariffs within his territories
• 1834, German states agreed to treaties that
  resulted in a customs union called Zollverein

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Importance of Zollverein..?

• Made prices lower
• Industrialization spread in the German
  Confederation because of free markets for goods,
  and competition from foreign competition
• States adopted uniform systems of weights,
  measures, and currency

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What happened politically?

• Each state continued to act independently
• After February revolution, strong nationalistic
  and democratic movements emerged within
  Confederation
• Elections held in Frankfurt to unify Germany
• Drafted constitution that provided for hereditary
  monarchy with powers limited by a popularly
  elected legislature

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Why Prussia?

• Napoleon's rule inspired nationalism in German
  states
• German nationalism favored Prussia
• Almost everyone was German in Prussia
• Austria, ruled by Germans, mixed nationalities(
  Romanians, Italians, Hungarians)

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Background Info

• Prussia was strong from 1700s
• Napoleon I defeated Prussia early in life
• 1813 Prussia played a part in defeating Napoleon
  and became 1 of 4 great powers
• Austria was Prussias greatest German rival

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Unification of Germany

• King William I took over for his father, Prussia,
  asked for money to rebuild army
• Constitutional Deadlock- tension between
  parliament and crown
• King asked Otto Von Bismarck to be first minister
  (believed in monarchial ideas)
• Wanted Germany to be extension of Prussian
  Government and institutions

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Embarked Realpolitik

• Prussia joined Austria in war against Denmark-
  Germany gained Schleswig/Holstein
• Bismark used Prussias economic position to unite
  German states against Austria
• Intellectuals who failed in 1848 followed Bismarck

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Continued

• Austria needed to be defeated before Germany
  could uniteRealpolitik was used
• Strong Prussian military, better then Austria was
  needed
• Diplomatic alliance with Italy

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Austro-Prussian war, 1866

• Prussia was victorious, in 7 weeks
• Bismarck wanted German unification he declined
  totally defeating Austrian military
• Creation of North German Confederation
• Weakened Austria forced to give into Hungarian
  minority
• Hungarians given interior self-government
• Austria-Hungary became dual monarchy!

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Continued

• Franco-Prussian War 1870- defeat of Napoleon III
  so balance of power shifted
• France not as powerful! Napoleon III fled to
  EnglandFrench primacy over in Europe!!!
• Bismarck took final steps in German Unification
• King of Prussia became the Emperor of German
  Empire

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Paris Commune

• Frances rapid defeat at Germanys hands made one
  last revolutionary outbreak
• Napoleon III fled to England, Provisional
  government took control
• Municipal elections led to creation of the
  commune- dominated by radical socialists and
  democrats
• Government troops fought back rebels bloody
  week
• Social revolution was put in the minds of ruling
  class