Part of The Student Room Group

  • Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

To what extend did France help or hold back the unification of Italy from 1848-1870?

Extracts from this document...

Introduction

To what extend did France help or hold back the unification of Italy from 1848-1870? Before 1870 Italy was separated into seven different states, each one having their own ruler. The process of unification included many national as well as international political leaders. France was one of the main reasons why unification was established in 1870, as she helped Italy to win independence from Austria. However the French involvement during that period was not to help Italy unify, but replace Austria with French supremacy. French involvement in Italy often hindered unification, and in few cases proved to be ineffective. Unification of Italy was the bypass product of the French participation in France, and could have been put off for even longer if France wasn't forced to remove her troops from Italy by another nation. France was a significant factor, which enabled Italy to unify by 1870. Austria was the main dominating power in Italy during the period, and the only option for Italy to become a united country was to eject Austria first. ...read more.

Middle

Napoleon helped to crush Italy's main obstacle to unification- Austria. Once Austria's occupation of Italy ended, the states could unify. Although this would not have been possible without Napoleon's help, as Italy was too weak to face Austria on her own, Napoleon's involvement in Italy had its own drawbacks in the unification. Due to France's participation and engagement in Italy, unification was sometimes procrastinated. In 1849 Napoleon was responsible for destroying the Roman Republic and restoring the Pope to rule Rome. Roman Republic was the foundation for a unified Italy, and because Napoleon dissolved it he prevented unification taking place earlier. Furthermore, he guaranteed protection to the Pope until 1870 by ordering the Neapolitan troops to remain in Rome, precluding it form joining the rest of the united Italy. At Plombiers the agreement between Cavour and Napoleon was to replace the Austrian supremacy with France. France was promised to be given Niece and Savoy which resulted in less states being unified. Napoleon was not dedicated to the agreement at Plombiers, which aimed to drive Austria out completely, and pulled out from the war with Austria in 1859 too early, which shows his contribution in unification was not dedicated as Italy was left to face Austria alone. ...read more.

Conclusion

Although these factors were a significant obstacle in the unification of Italy, France's involvement hindered it more. The national social and economic problems emerged as a result of a forced government and started to be solved in the future; demonstrating it only prevented it initially. France's involvement however, was continuous, since 1848 the French tried to evict Austria but at the same time keep Italy weak in order to ensure French dominance in Italy as well as Europe. In conclusion, France helped to make Italy independent, and therefore aiding unification, by evicting Austria from the country, which wouldn't have been possible otherwise. On the other hand, French involvement resulted in hindering the process of unification. French wanted to establish their own supremacy in the country, and although it appeared like they were interested in aiding the unification as they assisted Italy in few battles against Austria, the real cause was different. This is evident when France refused to remove her troops from Rome, central to Italian unification, until 1870 when France was threatened with a war with Prussia. France helped unification, but it was not intentional, and overall her actions resulted in delaying the process. ...read more.

The above preview is unformatted text

This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our AS and A Level Modern European History, 1789-1945 section.

Found what you're looking for?

  • Start learning 29% faster today
  • 150,000+ documents available
  • Just £6.99 a month

or


Not the one? Search for your essay title...
  • Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

See related essaysSee related essays

Related AS and A Level Modern European History, 1789-1945 essays

  1. Who was more responsible for the success of Italian Unification up to 1861? Cavour, ...

    When the Crimean war broke out in 1853 a perfect opportunity was granted. Victor Emmanuel offered the British, French and Turkish alliance a force of 18,000 men to assist the cause, this was accepted and in return Piedmont was given a seat at the negotiating table (The treaty of Paris).

  2. Why did Napoleon lose the Battle of Waterloo?

    If Prussia had not arrived as Napoleon sent in the Old Guards he may have won the campaign. By postponing the battle until 11am Prussia was able to arrive at the battle scene in time to deliver the last blow to Napoleon.

  1. Why was Prussia able to win the war with Austria in 1866?

    This action by Austria had isolated her internationally she now had lost the friendship of Russia by remaining neutral and had not gained the friendship of Britain and France, is this perhaps what Bismarck had planned when he resisted Austria in the Bund over the Crimean War?.

  2. Facist Italy by John Whittam - review

    Rather, Fascism was anti-capitalist, anti-Marxist, and anti-intellectual. Fascism was considered a party of action and mass political movement. Fascism represented action. The movement was considered revolutionary because it was a complete overthrow of traditional society. The main emphasis was placed on nationalism; the belief that nations will benefit from acting independently rather than collectively, stressing national rather than international goals.

  1. Fascism in Italy

    Victor Emmanuel 111 refused to back the existing government and invited him to become President. Once he was Prime Minister Mussolini persuaded the king to let him rule as a dictator for one year and then pass the 'Acerbo Law'.

  2. Why did the war against Austria in 1859 result in the unification of most ...

    Also it was decided that the previous rulers of the Central Duchies (Parma, Modena and Tuscany) would eventually return to rule, respectively. Conversely, Italian unification still had a long way to go, as Austria was allowed to keep Venetia and Cavour handed over Nice and Savoy to France, when he returned as prime minister in 1860.

  1. Explain Why The Austrian War Of 1859 Was Important In The Process Of Unification

    Emperor Napoleon III's reception to the bloodshed and carnage witnessed in June led to him proposing a suspension on war on July 8. He did not favour such violent confrontations and met with Austrian emperor Franz Joseph only days later in Villafranca.

  2. GERMAN UNIFICATION

    This failed because once Napoleon was overthrown, the old monarchs were put back in place and any further attempts at unification were oppressed. The second attempt was made during the 1848 Revolution where the Frankfurt Assembly tried to install their Kleindeutsch plan in which the Assembly wanted to unify all German states, except Austria, under Prussia.

  • Over 160,000 pieces
    of student written work
  • Annotated by
    experienced teachers
  • Ideas and feedback to
    improve your own work