FACTORS THAT FAVOURED THE UNIFICATION OF ITALY AFTER 1850 OR FACTORS THAT LED TO THE FINAL UNIFIC A1 ION OF ITALY BY 1870

FACTORS THAT FAVOURED THE UNIFICATION OF ITALY AFTER 1850 OR FACTORS THAT LED TO THE FINAL UNIFIC A1 ION OF ITALY BY 1870

The Italian Unification that was frustrated by so many obstacles was able to succeed between 1850s and

1870. This was because problems that had hindered successful unification were addressed from 1850- 1870. The efforts of patriotic Italians and the changes in the international situation favoured the unification process and that is why it succeeded, in other words, the factors that favoured the unification of Italy can be attributed to internal and external factors. These were;

1. The role of the Carbonari and Mazzini's Young Italian, Movement laid a foundation for the unification of Italy. Although the Carbonari and the Young Italian Movement collapsed, they nevertheless strengthened the spirit of nationalism amongst the Italians through their political philosophy of unity and independence. They also de-campaigned Austria's domination of the Italians and inspired the Italians with a revolutionary spirit against Austria. Mazzini through the Young Italian Movement politicized the Italians about the benefits of a united Italy and the disadvantages of a divided Italy under Austria. This reduced the past ignorance and negative 0attitude that had hindered the struggle for unification. All these made it easier to mobilize the Italians for total unification by 1870.

2. The collapse of the congress system was a blessing in disguise for the success of the Italian Unification.

It left Europe divided without a concerted effort (spirit of togetherness) to suppress the Italian revolutionaries who were challenging the Vienna Settlement of 1815. This is partly the reason why no foreign power assisted Austria in suppressing Italian unification after 1850. Otherwise if the congress system existed after 1850, the Congress Powers would have helped Austria to suppress the Italian unification movement that was a challenge to the Vienna Settlement, which the congress system was to protect.

3. The downfall of Metternich in 1848 also favoured the unification of Italy. Metternich had used a complex policy of diplomacy and force to frustrate any unification attempt by the Italians. However, he was forced to exile by the pressure of events due to the 1848 revolutions. Although he returned in 1851, he did so as a common man and never held any public office. Metternich's downfall weakened Austria s control and influence in Italy and provided a line of weakness for the triumph of Italian nationalism and thus unification.

4. The failure of the 1848 revolutions (in Italy) was yet another blessing in disguise for the Italian unification process. It made the Italians to learn lessons and exposed their traitors. Their failure in 1848 taught them of the need to have a strong army and economy plus foreign assistance that were addressed later 1850. The failure of the revolution also discredited Mazzini and his republican ideas.

The Pope was exposed as a traitor and his supporters lost trust in him. These made the supporters of Mazzini and the Pope to shift their loyalty and support to Victor Emmanuel II of Piedmont. This solved the problem of disunity that had belated/ delayed the unification process by 1848.

5. The role of capable and reliable leaders was of paramount importance in the Italian unification after 1850. By 1850, the Italians were frustrated by unreliable leaders like Charles Albert and Pope Gregory TVI. However, the emergence and role played by Victor Emmanuel II and Cavour after 1850 settled the leadership problem once and for all. Cavour embarked on socio-economic reforms that strengthened Piedmont economically and made her able to shoulder the burdens of Italian unification. He also re organized, re-armed and trained the Piedmont's army that was used to fight Austria out of Italy. Above all, Cavour sought for foreign assistance by involving Piedmontees's soldiers to help the allied powers against Russia in the Crimean war. This made the Italians to gain French assistance in 1859. Victor Emmanuel unlike his father Charles Albert was a liberal, constitutional and a pro-unification King. He is the one who led the unification of Italy after the untimely death of Cavour in 1861. His role led to the liberation of Venetia and Rome that completed the unification process

6. The strengthening of Piedmont's economy by Cavour was of great assistance to Italian unification. By 1850, the unification of Italy had failed due to economic backwardness and lack of a leadership state.

However, by 1855, Cavour had built roads, railways and promoted trade and industrialization of Piedmont.

Piedmont therefore had enough resources and that is why it was possible for her to successfully lead the other poorer Italian states in the unification.

7.The unification of Italy was also favoured by Piedmont's military strength. Military weakness had been great obstacle to Italian unification but this was addressed by Cavour's military reforms. He enlarged Piedmont's army, equipped, trained and modernized them. It is this reformed and modernized Piedmont's soldiers that defeated Austria in 1859 and 1866 and hence favouring the unification of Italy. It would be unfair to disregard Garibaldi’s effort in this respect. He proved more than anybody else as the most successful commander who commanded all the battles, through which Austria was defeated and forced out of Italy.

8. The role of foreign powers after the Crimean war was influential in the Italian unification. France helped Italy in the liberation of Lombardy in 1859, Britain's neutrality helped Garibaldi to successfully land at port Marsalla to liberate Maples and Sicily; Prussia assisted in the liberation of Venetia in 1866 and indirectly Rome in 1871. The positive attitude and role of foreign powers unlike before 1850 was therefore great boost to Italian unification.

The revival of the past glory (Risorgimento) also facilitated the course of Italian unification. The Italians had a common culture and historical background. They were once part of the Holy Roman Empire where they had led the world in Art and Literature. They also remembered that their past ancient glory was due to unity under one leader. This inspired them with a superiority complex against foreigners hence this gave them courage and morale to fight for their freedom and unity.

10. The election of a liberal Pope Pius IX in 1846 encouraged liberalism and nationalism throughout the Italian peninsular. This shook Metternich right from 1846 and this is why he confessed that, We were prepared for anything but a liberal Pope, now that we have got one, there is no answering for anything.

Unlike other conservative Popes before 1846, Pius IX was kind hearted and sympathetic to the idea of Italian unification. He even granted a general amnesty to all political prisoners. This explains why Gioben preached for a united Italy under the Pope, which attracted more followers especially from the Catholic although the Pope himself defected in 1849, nonetheless, his earlier liberal ideas had stuck in the minds of the Christians who later participated in the unification process.

11. The role of the writers, philosophers and lecturers strengthened the unification spirit amongst the Italians.

They condemned the Austrian domination of Italy and wrote patriotic poems, novels and books against Austria. I or instance, Giacomo Leoparch's book, "My Prisons" exposed how Austrians tortured the Italians in prisons; Alessandro wrote in "The Betrothed", in which he showed Europe how Austria had reduced the Italians to the lowest and most degrading position in the world. These ideas increased and strengthened anti-Austrian sentiments (feelings) amongst the Italians. This prompted many Italians to fight for unification.

12. The change of leadership in France and Britain favoured the unification of Italy. In France, Louis Philippe who pursued a non-interventionist foreign policy was replaced by Napoleon III in 1848.

Napoleon III supported the unification of Italy from 1859. In Britain, the new Prime Minister, Gladstone an. his foreign secretary John Russell greatly supported the unification from i860. Both Napoleon III and Gladstone designed the 1860 Referendum through which the central Italian stales were amalgamated with Sardinia to form the United Kingdom of Italy in 1861. Had it been the conservative Louis Philippe (for France) and Salisbury (for Britain), the Italians would not have made such achievement in the unification of their country.

13. The rise of Bismarck in Prussia and his role in the unification of Germany helped to complete the unification of Italy by 1870. In 1862, Bismarck was appointed the prime minister of Prussia by the new king, William 1. This promotion gave Bismarck a flat form to systematically and successfully isolate and defeat Austria plus France that were enemies in the unification of both Germany and Italy. In 1866, Italian troops joined Prussians to fight Austria in the Austro-Prussian war in which Bismarck isolated Austria from European powers. It should be noted that although Italian troops were defeated by Austria in the war, Prussia's overwhelming defeat of Austria at the battle of Sadowa ended the battle: out of which Bismarck rewarded Italy with Venetia. It should also be traced that Bismarck's isolation and the consequent defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 -1871 is what helped the Italians to easily occupy Rome. The war forced Napoleon III to withdraw the French troops from Rome (that had blocked the liberation of Rome since 1849); made it possible for Italian troops to invade Rome and make Rome part of a united Italy, hence completing the unification in 1870.

14. The role of Felice Orsini also favoured the unification of Italy. In 1859, Orsini an Italian exile in France attempted unsuccessfully to assassinate Napoleon III (and his wife) for his reluctance to assist Italians against Austria following the 1859 pact of Plombieres. Although Orsini was arrested and martyred, his action and last words of "Vivie Italie" (long live Italy) bullied Napoleon III, made him to change his attitude and assist Italians with troops in the liberation of Lombardy in 1859. This only came because the plot made Napoleon III and his family members to live under constant fear of being assassinated for his failure to honour the 1859 pact of plombieres in which he had promised to help Italians in the liberation of Lombardy and Venetia.

15. The role of Italian National Society was instrumental in the unification of Italy. In 1857, Cavour, Dr Manin, Lafarina and Pallvicino formed Italian National Society that was used for mobilisation of Italians for unification.. It became a forum for Italian patriots and nationalists to popularise the advantages of a united Italy as opposed to the disadvantages of a disunited Italy under Austria. Thus, Italian National

Society was used to politicise Italians negatively against Austria, which helped to reduce past ignorance that had hindered the unification.

16. The overwhelming patriotism of Italians themselves also facilitated the unification process by 1870.

The unification was massively supported by middle class in the urban centers, peasants, nobles and members of Italian national society. This support made it very easy for Cavour and Victor Emmanuel II to mobilize Italians against Austria i.e. in 1859 and 1866. It was also because of patriotism that in 1860 Italians in central Dutchies of Parma, Modena. Tuscancy and Romagna revolted on their own and voted for a union with piedmont in the referendum that was held to determine their fate

17. The Crimean war of 1854-1856 was a significant event that favoured the unification of Italy (from 1856 onwards). In the war, Cavour tactfully sent the Piedmont's troops to fight alongside Britain and France to show solidarity and get support against Austria since Austria declined to participate in the war.

At the Paris peace conference that concluded the war, Cavour raised the issue of Italian unification to allied powers. This changed the British and French attitude that had hitherto been negative to favour the unification of Italy. Consequently, Britain promised to give moral support while France pledged to give military assistance that was done in 1859. Thus, the Crimean war tilted the balance of power in favour of

Britain and France and left Austria isolated without allies against Piedmont. The war also gave Piedmont s troops military experience that was used to fight Austria in 1859 and 1866.

NB) When the Piedmont's troops complained of mud in Crimea during the war, Cavour wrote back that Out of this mud! Italy will be made! This was because Cavour was well aware of the military and diplomatic significance of the Crimean war in the unification of Italy.

18. The Franco-Prussian war of 1870 was the final event that favoured the Italian unification. It forced Napoleon UI to withdraw the French soldiers from Rome. The French troops were stationed in Rome to protect the Pope against the Italian revolutionaries of 1848-49, They had blocked the liberation of Rome but as soon as they were withdrawn from Rome. in 1870, the Italian nationalists occupied it and declared a united Italy at St. Florence in Rome.