Nationalism Italian and German Unification

1. Nationalism Italian and German Unification

2. Italian Unification • Story of three men • Giuseppe Mazzini—publicist “The Heart” • Camillo Cavour—stateman “The Head” • Giuseppe Garibaldi—soldier “The Sword” • Until 1850 Italy was dominated by outsiders • Austrian Empire and Pope led opposition • Many different visions of a united Italy • Many were apathetic to idea

5. Nationalism • Movement spread by a secret society—Carbonari(coal-burners) • Influenced by French Revolution • Led revolts in 1820 and 1831 • Giuseppe Mazzini—prophet of Italian Nationalism • Formed new group called Young Italy • Campaigns for national Italian dialect

6. Unification comes by military and diplomatic means • Primarily under the leadership of the one state in Italy under Italian control, the Kingdom of Sardinia/Piedmont

7. Count Camillo Cavour • Prime Minister of Kingdom of Sardinia • Build Sardinia/Piedmont into modern economically sound state • Clear objectives for Sardinia- Politics of reality • Northern Italy under Sardinia’s control • Not interested in Southern Italy • Too different-poor and agrarian • Establish kingdom as a serious European power • Fights in Crimean war • Negotiates French support in war with Austria

8. Creation of a Unified Northern Italy • Prompted by Piedmont’s victory over Austria, several Italian revolt. • Tuscany, Modena, Parma and Romagna revolt and vote to join Piedmont. • By 1869, Italy consists of three region, a northern Italian Kingdom, the Papal States and the Kingdom of Two Sicilies

10. Giuseppe Garibaldi • Leader of a guerilla movement • Expedition of the Thousand (Red Shirts) • Venture south into Sicily to bring about revolution • Quickly overthrow the corrupt government of the Two Sicilies • Cavour now invades the south and “takes” (or is it “unites”?) the prize from Garibaldi.

11. Unification • By 1861, all of Italy except Rome and Venetia are united. • Leadership under King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia • Venetia will be added in 1866 • Rome seized in 1870.

13. Problems after Unification • Italy—poor w/ large illiterate population • Division between church and state • Economic divisions between the North and South • Localism too strong in many areas • Development of local strongmen • Little knowledge of and participation in gov’t

14. Solutions to problems? • Industry and trade were fostered by govt—transformismo • Improved ag methods dev’d • Gov’t encouraged emigration to US—ease over-popn due to high birthrate • High taxes pd to support growing Army and Navy

15. German Unification • The last big unification piece of the 19th century • Most important in Europe from 1848 to 1914 • Transformed the economic, military and diplomatic balance of power • The question of German unification would center around the two dominate German speaking countries of the period—Prussia and Austria • After 1848, Prussia was the increasing dominate power.

16. Otto von Bismarck Comes to dominate Prussian, then German politics from 1962-1890 • Prussian Chancellor from 1862 • One of most remarkable leaders of 19th century • Came from Junker class (noble landlord) in East Prussia • Practiced realpolitik, little faith in liberalism or nationalism. Practical, pragmatic. Any means necessary • Conservative, but willing to work with middle class liberals • Iron and Blood speech(1862)—willing to use force to unify Germany, strengthen Prussia

18. Early Steps to Unification • Existing Pieces • Zollverein—customs union • Maintained economic links • Excluded Austria • Frankfurt Assembly—Assembly of all German states to exchange ideas • Bismarck needed to establish dominance in the Prussian government • Weaken power of liberals • Issue of taxation for expanded army

19. Wars of Unification • War with Denmark(1864) • Dispute over Schleswig-Holstein • Supported by Austria • Joint occupation • War with Austria(1866) • Seven Weeks’ War • Provoked war in Schleswig and Holstein • Quickly defeated Austria and German allies • Austria forced to give up role within Germany

21. North German Confederation • Formation of the North German Confederation • Prussia annexes Hanover, Hesse, Nassau and Frankfurt • Sets up basis of political structures • Appearance of liberalism but in reality a military monarchy • 2 House Legislature-- Bundesrat and Reichstag • Little real power • Liberalism defeated by dream of unification

22. Franco-Prussian War • In many ways can be viewed as the first shots of World War I. • Napoleon III realizes after Prussian victories in Denmark and Austria that he must prevent German unification. • Bismarck’s goal was to complete unification by bringing into union the Catholic South German states.

23. Ems Telegram • Bismarck finds an diplomatic issue as excuse for war • Question of member of German Royal Family assuming Spanish throne • France opposes for strategic purposes (encirclement) • Pressures Wilhelm I to refuse • Pushes issue too far • Bismarck edits telegram from Kaiser –makes it appear as a German insult to France • Popular press forces France to declare war on Prussia—matter of honor

24. War • France is ill-prepared for conflict • Technologically backward compared to Prussia • War was over in 6 months • The states of Southern Germany joined the Northern German Confederation against France. • Prussians strike a devastating defeat on the French at Sedan • Captured 100,000 French troops • Take Napoleon III prisoner

25. Peace Terms • France forced to pay a humiliating price for defeat • 5 billion franc reparations • Alsace and Lorraine turned over to Germany • Important industrial region of France • Northern France occupied for three years • Plants the seeds for future year • French will vow revenge for embarrassment

26. Creation of a German Empire • Bismarck and Wilhelm I proclaim a German Empire at Versailles. • Another insult to France • German Princes remained heads of their respective states within the Empire. • Culmination of Bismarck’s activities • Consolidated German Empire: uniform currency and legal code • Suppress Catholics in South: Kulturkampf:restrict church , esp. in ed and clergy

28. Impact • Fact and manner of German unification produced long term effects on Europe • New German Empire far stronger than Prussia alone • Militarily, economically it is strongest nation in Europe • Blow to European liberalism • New state is a conservative monarchy • Major impact on Balance of Power • France and Austria weakened • Simmering French hatred • Germany will now become a defender of the status quo

29. Other Actions of Bismarck • Tried to suppress the socialists: • Socialists appealed to urban workers who resented low pay and bad working conditions. • Bismarck tried to suppress them forcibly 1878 w/ anti-socialist laws, but failed. • By the 1880’s, Bismarck began to undermine them by supporting social legislation to gain the support of the workers. • These programs incl. unemployment insurance & workers’ comp., and soc. Sec. payments for retired Germans.

30. Germany • 1888: William II (defender of divine right) became king and Bismarck remained the chancellor, until he was dismissed by William. • William II did the following: • Built up a strong army & navy • Encouraged industry & commerce • Encouraged imperialism and annexation

31. Austria-Hungary • Emperor Francis-Joseph tried to solve problems, they were too great for one ruler • Problems faced by the empire included: • The great number of national minorities which were living in the empire • Over-extension of the empire into areas, such as Italy • Failure to compete with the growing power of Prussia. • Absolutist, dynastic and agrarian liberal, nationalistic and industrial

32. Dual Monarchy • Revolts occurred in the Hungarian part of the empire between 1861 & 1867. • Defeat by Prussia and losses in Italy cause Austria to decl. in influence and power • 1867: Ausgleich: • Austria and Hungary under one monarch--Dual Monarchy (Austro-Hungarian empire) • Hungary given control of its own affairs and control over its own minorities, make its own laws • the Hungarians (Magyars) dominant over other nationalities in regiondoes not give autonomy to other minorities\ • Hungarians recog’d the emperor and accepted common policies for finances & foreign policy. Austria faced many revolts between 1860 & 1914