Italian Unification

Italian Unification

The Internet definition of Risorgimento is the “Italian unification or

Risorgimento is a political and social process that brought to the

unification of the Italian peninsula into a single nation, between

19th and the beginning of 20th century”

During the early years, secret societies, such as the Carbonari,

appeared and carried on revolutionary activities.

The Italians shared a common and language and history due to the Roman

Empire and many Italians still had memories of the ancient unity and

glory which they once enjoyed. There were also nationalistic and

liberal feelings which rose when Napoleon unified Italy under his

rule.

Carbonari

This was one of the most influential revolutionary groups during the

Risorgimento. It was formed in the southern Italy in the 19th Century.

It was inspired by the French Revolution and its members were mainly

from the middle class and intellectuals. The middle class and the

intellectuals were the main classes to be part or have a view on the

unification. Since it was more economic then anything else, the

peasants and workers did not really care too much about the

unification.

After the Congress of Vienna divided the Italian peninsula among the

European powers, especially Austria, Carbonari spread into the Papal

States, the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the Duchy

of Modena and into the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. The government

feared them so much that anyone who was caught attending one of their

meetings would be condemned to death. Most leaders of the unification

movement were members of this organization.

The different aims of the...

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...anuel could finally take control over the Papal States and include

them in his newly formed State. Pope Pius IX refused to accept this

and became a ‘prisoner’ in the Vatican. His successors did the same

until the Lateran Treaty was signed, which stated that the Vatican

City would be created.

Venetia was obtained by promising Prussia that when they went to war

against Austria, Italy would stay out of the war. After Prussia won

the Austro-Prussian war, Prussia handed over Venetia to Italy.

France also played a role in the unification of Italy by firstly

protecting the Papal States and therefore keeping the unification from

occurring earlier. Napoleon III also formed an alliance with Sardinia

and therefore playing a double game. France also lost territory when

Garibaldi attacked Sicily and pronounced himself dictator.