Unification of italy & germany

1. Chapter 8: Section Unites Italy Unification of italy & germany

2. Introduction • While nat’lm destroyed empires it also built them • Italy was one of the nations to form • Between 1815 & 1848 fewer Italians were willing live under foreign rulers • Italians looked for leadership from the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia • WHY? (1) it was the largest city-state and (2) it had a liberal constitution

4. Cavour leads Unification • Cavour was named as prime minister by King Victor Emmanuel II • He used skillful diplomacy & alliances to gain control of northern Italy • For ex, he convinced Napoleon III to go to war with him against Austria to drive them out of No. Italy • The 1858 war was very successful. • They took all of No. Italy except Venetia.

5. Giuseppe Garibaldi • As Cavour was uniting the North, a small army under Garibaldi began uniting the South • Known as the Red Shirts • Began in Sicily and marched north • Garibaldi agreed to unite areas he conquered with kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia • The “Red One” willingly stepped aside

6. Unified Italy • In 1866 Venetia became part of Italy • By 1870 Italian forces had taken over the Papal states • With this victory Rome became the capital of the united Italy • The Pope would continue to live in a part of Rome known as the Vatican City.

7. German Unification • Germany achieved some unity in 1815 with the German Confederation of 39 states. • It was dominated by Austria then but Prussia was ready to step in and take it over and add more German states • Prussia had advantages over Austria. • (1) Unlike Austria Prussia had a primarily German population which unified it • (2) Prussian army was the most powerful • (3) Prussia had a liberal constitution

8. Bismarck Takes Control • Wilhelm I succeeded Frederick William as king • Liberal parliament refused him funds to double strength of his army • Wilhelm saw this as challenge to his authority and was joined in this view by the Junker class. • Wilhelm chose a conservative Junker, Otto von Bismarck, as his prime minister.

9. Wilhelm II & Bismarck

10. Bismarck • Bis was a master of what is called Realpolitik (the politics of reality) • It is known as tough power politics with no room for idealism. • His style was to get done whatever needed to be done in whatever way necessary including war if necessary. • Blood and iron speech on p. 262

11. Prussia Expands • Bismarck formed alliance with Austria and went to war against Denmark and took over two border provinces (Holstein & Schleswig) • The quick victory increased German nat’l pride among Prussians and won new respect from other Germans. • It lend support for Prussia as head of a unified Germany. • Prussia took over Schleswig

12. Seven Weeks War • Then Bismarck purposely stirred up border conflicts with Austria (realpolitik) & provoked Austria into declaring war in 1866. • Austr suffered devastating & humiliating blow • They lost Venetia which went to Italy & even more Germany territory • Prussia took control of northern Germany

13. Franco-Prussian War • Bismarck manufactures war with France in order to win over the Southern German states • They were Catholic & resisted domination by a protestant Prussia • But Bismarck creates the impression that the French foreign minister insulted the Prus king and France reacts to the deception by declaring war on Prussia • Prussia defeats France (captures Napol III)

14. Wilhelm Crowned Emperor • Empire called the Second Reich • Bismarck had achieved Prussian dominance over Germany by “blood and iron” • The unification of Germany had upset B/P established at Congress of Vienna • Britain & Prussia were the strongest econ & militarily. • France was in the middle with Austria & Russia lagging behind.