How important was foreign intervention in the unification of Italy by 1870?

HOW IMPORTANT WAS FOREIGN INTERVENTION IN THE UNIFICATION OF ITALY BY 1870?

BY ABUBAKAR A ABUBAKAR

By 1870, after years of struggle, the Italian state was finally united. Unlike German unification Italians were not to be responsible for the entire process of national unity. Other powers were to play their parts in helping Italy unite. Some nations played a greater part than others, and therefore it will be necessary to address contributions of countries like France, Britain and Prussia.

French intervention and of course that of Napoleon III played enormous roles during the various stages of the Italian unification. In 1849, France dispatched its forces to topple the new republican government of Mazzini and restore the Pope. This of course destabilised nationalists’ aspiration of a united Italy. In 1858, Cavour and Napoleon arrived at what is known as a gentleman’s agreement held at Plombieres in which France will support Piedmont with two hundred thousand troops in the event of war between Austria and Piedmont. Both men also agreed that after this war with Austria which hopefully will oust the Austrians from Italian territories, Italy will become a federal state made up of the kingdom of north Italy, the central duchies, Rome and the south Italian kingdom with the Pope as its president. In 1859, the war was fought and Napoleon III honoured his words and supplied Piedmont with two hundred thousand men against the Austrians. However in the same year, Napoleon III came to terms with Austria (also known as the Villa Franca armistice) and he agreed to pull out of the war, thus the actualisation of the proposed Italy as a federal state did not occur but there was progress as Lombardy was united with Piedmont.

The British also played a part in the process of national unity in Italy though not as much as France did. Following the will of the central duchies to be united with the kingdom of Piedmont and Lombardy. Through diplomacy Britain was able to persuade Napoleon III to agree so that plebiscites can be held in the central duchies to certify their determination to be united with Piedmont. This was a great step as this was to lead to the existence of the north Italian kingdom.

The unification of south Italy with north Italy was a responsibility ...

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The unification of south Italy with north Italy was a responsibility the Italians took upon themselves. Garibaldi, an adventurer that was able to conquer south Italy (of course with the secret support of King Charles Albert). After his adventure he finally surrendered his conquest to the Piedmontese King. In 1861, we see the unification of both the north and south Italy.

Other factors that also contributed to the unification of Italy were foreign events that occurred outside Italian territory. In 1866, the Austro Prussian war took place in which Italy was an ally of Prussia, though Italy took part in the war in which she lost both battles she was involved in, but Prussia’s victory in the war led to Italy’s acquisition of Venetia from Austria. The final process of national unity in Italy was to occur during the Franco Prussian war in which France had to recall her troops that were garrisoned at Rome since 1849, back to France in order to help in the war against Prussia. As a result of this Rome was vacant and under no foreign influence or occupation thus the Italians once again took it upon themselves to complete the process of national unity. At this stage the complete unification of Italy has been achieved even though there was still division amongst the people of Italy.

The unification of Italy would not have been possible without foreign support but nonetheless the Italians were solely responsible for the unification of south Italy. So far the most contributory factor amongst the both the foreign and internal factors is the French support against the Austrians that ensured their permanent expulsion from the Italian territory of Lombardy which we can say triggered other events that led to the completion of the process of unification.

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Natalya Luck

24th of Oct 2014

This is a well focused answer that explores the key reasons for unification and makes judgments about their importance. Explanations are brief in places though so more evidence would have enhanced the answer. 4 Stars.

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