Describe the Different Stages to Italian unification between 1856 - 1871
By Nikhil A Shah
There were three individual and intertwining phases during 1856-71 that led to the formation of a united Italy; the war of 1859 and the surplus of nationalist sentiment led to the establishment of a great northern state; Garibaldi’s conquest and the inclusion of Sicily and Naples and finally the Prussian wars of expansion in 1856-70 supplied Venice and Rome. All this happened in a more adaptable, elastic and positive international environment.
Consequently, the Crimean war crushed concert of Europe leaving Austria as the lone guardian of the Vienna settlement. Austria surfaced from the Crimean war alleles, economically inert, militarily overstretched and politically stagnant. In terms of the great powers, Britain embraced a semi detached role in European affairs and concentrated her efforts on empire and trade. To make matters worse for the Austrians, Russia withdrew their support for Austria in the east and instead she focused all her efforts on undo the Black Sea Clauses of the Treaty of Paris. Finally the French, under Napoleon III emerged as a political force in Europe. Napoleon’s foreign policy was based upon finding a stroke of international prestige (support either national or liberal cause in Europe). On top of all this, the Piedmontese having sent 18,000 troops to fight in the Crimean war, were given a seat at the Paris seat conference-in spite of Austrian objections. The presence of Piedmont at the Congress was in itself recognition of her new international status. Cavour carefully manipulated the great powers into believing that only a strong Italy could defend the world from the feared aspirations Napoleon III. In essence, it was fear of a democratic revolution, the need to weaken Austria, and England's desire to set up a strong Italian state as a counterweight to French influence that induced the European powers to assist the Piedmontese monarchy in convert Italy into a great northern state.
Combined with the war of 1859 the overspill of international sentiment was also crucial role in the unification of Italy. On January 14th, 1858, Napoleon III had narrowly escaped an assassination attempt; punishment for failing to liberate Italy. This was very significant in terms of Italian unification as later on that year Napoleon invited Cavour to confer with him and in July a secret meeting took place at Plombieres; ‘an agreement for a defensive alliance in case of attack by Austria’. After victory the King of Piedmont-Sardinia was to receive Lombardy and Venetia, so that his kingdom would extend from the Alps to the Adriatic. France's reward was to be the seizure of Savoy and Nice. For the rest of Italy, a Kingdom of Central Italy was envisaged, which together with Rome and Naples was to make up a federation of four states. Cavour, having gained the assurance of French support, then went to Prussia for support if a war with Austria was ever to come about. Bismarck told him that Prussia would not object, providing that the first blow was not struck by Piedmont. Tension ascended until on 1st January 1859 Napoleon III publicly expressed to the Austrian Ambassador his regret that relations between their two countries were not as blissful as he could have desired. A few days later the Franco-Sardinian alliance was signed- ‘Secret Treaty, and which Must Always Remain Secret, between Their Majesties the King of Sardinia and the Emperor of the French’ (Turin, 24 January 1859). Soon troops concentrated on both sides of the border, Italians in Piedmont, Austrians in Lombardy. At this threat to peace Britain offered her mediation while Russia proposed a congress of the Powers. The Russian suggestion was on the point of being accepted when, on 23 April 1859, Austria committed the blunder of sending Piedmont an ultimatum demanding demobilization within three days. Cavour, remembering the Plombieres agreement grasped the long awaited opportunity. The war of opened a new and promising channel for the devotion of to his native land. In his ranks was his fellow-patriot . The success of the French and Sardinians in during this war stirred Italy to its centre. The grand duke of fled to . The duchess of sought refuge in . Everywhere the brood of tyrants took flight. threw off its allegiance to the pope, and proclaimed the king of Sardinia dictator. In the terms of the truce between and the rulers of these realms were to resume their reigns if the people would permit, however they would not permit. All these revolutionist activities were not just due to , the organizer, , the soldier, and the ambitious monarchs of France and Sardinia but also more important than king and emperor was the renowned statesman , prime minister of Sardinia from . The war of was his work, and he had the satisfaction of seeing Sardinia increased by the addition of Lombardy, Tuscany, Parma and Modena. In essence the assassination attempt on Napoleon III, the Plombieres agreement, the causes, the war itself, and the consequences caused uproar of nationalist activity and feeling and ultimately all contributed to the first step towards the unification of Italy.
