Italian & German Unification

Italian & German Unification

Italy (1859-1860)

1. Why wasn’t Italy united before 1850?

Antiquity: Roman Empire

1. Why wasn’t Italy united before 1850?

Middle Ages: competing city-states

1. Why wasn’t Italy united before 1850?

Congress of Vienna (1815): reorganized provinces

2. 1815-1848: 3 basic approaches to unification Approach #1:

Goal:  centralized democratic republic  universal male suffrage Advocate: Giuseppe Mazzini

FAILED (too radical)

Mazzini, writer/philosopher/politician

2. 1815-1848: 3 basic approaches to unification Approach #2:

Goal:  federation  pres. = progressive pope Advocate: Vincenzo Gioberti

Gioberti, Catholic priest

FAILED (Pope Pius IX opposed)

2. 1815-1848: 3 basic approaches to unification Approach #3:

Goal:  union under leadership of Sardinia-Piedmont Advocate: ??? WINNER!!! Victor Emmanuel, King of Sardinia-Piedmont (1849-1861)

3. Key Events Early 1860: unification of N Italy Late 1860: unification of N & S

1866: Venice added 1870: Rome added

4a. The Soul: Mazzini (1805-1872) The Duties of Man: “O my brothers, love your Country! Our country is our Home, the house that God has given us, placing therein a numerous family that loves us, and whom we love…”

The Idealist Patriot

4b. The Brains: Cavour (1810-1861) Unification of Northern Italy  1850s: strengthen Sardinia  1858-1859:

Quest to get LombardyVenetia from Austria! 1. 2. 3. 4.

5.

ally w/ France goad Austria into war Franco-Sardinian victory! France pulls support … separate peace w/ Austria: Italy gets Lombardy only Cavour resigns Noble Statesman in Sardinian Government, 1850-1861

4b. The Brains: Cavour (1810-1861) Unification of Northern Italy  1858-1859: Central Italy to the rescue – demand unification!  1860: 1. Cavour returns & France re-pledges support 2. N. Italy unified (w/o Venetia)

4c. The Sword: Garibaldi (1807-1882) Unification of North & South Red Shirts  1860: 1. 2.

3.

Military Leader

conquer Sicily plan to invade Papal States  stopped by Cavour Cavour orders plebiscite  S. states vote to join N

5. What did the new, unified Italy look like? Government:

Divisions between:

 parliamentary monarchy

 social classes (rich/poor)

(Victor Emmanuel)  regions (N/S)  limited suffrage

Germany (1871)

1a. Entities: Holy Roman Empire loose affiliation of

≈300 German states 800-1806 “First Reich”

1b. Entities: German Confederation loose affiliation of 39

German states 1815-1866 replaced HRE purpose: military

defense ineffective federal diet

met at Frankfurt under Austrian pres.

1c. Entities: Schleswig-Holstein  Schleswig-Holstein:  



mostly German Holstein = member of German Confederation ruled by Denmark

 1848 & 1864: WARS!

Denmark vs. Germany over control of S-H

1d. Entities: Zollverein  German customs union

founded in 1834 to ↑ economy  Prussia = leader  included all German states but Austria b/c Austria did not want to ↓ tariffs

2a. People: Frederick William IV  King of Prussia (r. 1840-1861)  1848:  

new liberal constitution accepts Prussian-led German unification

 1849: tries to be elected

emperor of unified Germany  1850: Austria & Russia

successfully oppose Prussia’s unification plans

2b. People: William I  King of Prussia

(r. 1861-1888)  1st German Emperor

(r. 1871-1888)

2c. People: Otto von Bismarck  1st German Chancellor

(1871-1890) … “Iron Chancellor”  Minister-President of

Prussia (1862-1873)  background: Prussian,

Junker, conservative  led German unification

3. 1st unification attempt: 1848 Revolution  Driving forces: 1.

2.

Liberalism: make absolutist Prussia a liberal constitutional monarchy Nationalism: unite Germany

 Events: 1.

2.

Constituent Assembly (Berlin) – liberal constitution for Prussia National Assembly (Frankfurt) – constitution for unified Germany

 Outcome: FAILURE!!!! 1.

2.

Fred Will IV makes conservative constitution for Prussia Austria opposes unification

4. Obstacles to German Unification A. Denmark B. Austria C. Conservatism vs. Liberalism in Prussia

4a. Denmark  Denmark vs. Prussia & Austria over control of S-H  First Schleswig War (1848) = inconclusive  How obstacle overcome: Second Schleswig War

(1864) = Denmark defeated

4b. Austria  Austria vs. Prussia over control of German

affairs   

Austria opposes Prussia’s 1848 unification attempt Austria refuses Zollverein membership Austro-Prussian War (1866)

 How obstacle overcome: Prussian victory in

Austro-Prussian War

4c. Liberalism vs. Conservatism in Prussia  Liberals: Prussian parliament  Conservatives: William I & Bismarck  Events:  1862: parliament rejects William’s budget  1862: William appoints Bismarck chief minister  1862-1866: Bismarck rules w/o parliament (“blood & iron”)  1866: indemnity bill  How obstacle overcome: liberals & Bismarck align in

common pursuit of unification

5a. Unification: Austro-Prussian War (1866)  Cause: 



Prussia wants to control northern German Confederation war to drive Austria out of German affairs

 Outcome:   

Prussian victory Austria withdraws ***creation of North German Confederation***

North German Confederation

5b. Unification: Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)  Cause: 



drive south German states to unify with the north France = common enemy

 Outcome:  

 

German Empire / “Second Reich” (1871-1918)

Prussian victory ***German unification achieved***  German nationalism harsh peace for France

6. What did the new, unified Germany look like?  25 states  parliamentary monarchy  strong national government:  emperor (Kaiser)  chancellor  2-house parliament 

Reichstag = lower house (universal male suffrage)