Italian Unification DBQ
Solid Theses
• The efforts of Mazzini, Cavour, and others to unify
Italy raised debate on how to best do so.
Resolutions proposed included unification under
a monarchy, unification under a republic, and no
unification at all.
• During Italian unification, debates over whether
Italy should be a monarchy or a republic were
prominent, and some advocated for the
continued separation of Italian states.
How can you fix this thesis?
• Italian unification was possible through
multiple ways, including a republic, monarchy,
or religious leader, but most important was
foreign entities must be removed.
Doc. 1 – do these POVs count?
1. Mazzini was a radical patriot, who believed
all people should be able to have a say in the
government, so that most likely affected his
public opinion.
2. Being exiled from Piedmont, Mazzini would
be looking towards unification because of the
corruption present in the Italian states not
under a unified government.
Doc. 2 – do these POVs count?
1. It is important to take into consideration that Cattaneo lived
in Lombardy which was under Austrian rule after the
Congress of Vienna. His beliefs must have been influenced
by Austrian rule and he may have been unaware of the
growing nationalist sentiment in central Italy at the time.
2. Cattaneo is both a philosopher and a political activist, so he
is not solely concerned about the politics. His role as a
philosopher may give him a better understanding of human
nature, so he is able to see a reason beside a political one, of
why Italy cannot unify as it will be challenging for the
people.
3. His tone displays his views of Italian
nationalists as foolish, calling unified Italy a
dream of many people but still a dream. He
believes that the centuries of Italian
separation cannot be helped and that people
will be loyal to their states rather than to a
unified Italy. He displays his views on the
futility of unification efforts by describing
them as people building their ideas on sand,
which means without a strong base and
foundation.
Doc. 3 – do these POVs count?
1. Because Gioberti is a priest and thus a
follower of the pope, it follows that he would
favor the pope as the civil head of Italy.
2. Gioberti himself being a priest, would likely
advocate for such a method, as his allegiance
lies directly with the pope. He would likely
think that the pope would be a suitable
leader as he holds him in reverence and is
loyal to him.
Doc. 4 – does this POV count?
• Since he was an upper class man, it is
assumed that he would side with monarch, as
other middle class and upper class people did.
Doc. 5 – does this POV count?
• In 1848, Pope Pius was forced out of Rome by
a revolution. The revolution scare made Pius
more conservative. Since he became more
conservative, he would oppose any new form
of government or change, which is exactly
what he is doing in his statement towards
Italy.
Doc. 6 – do these POVs count?
1. Manin was most likely expressing his true
opinion, as he was writing a letter to a friend,
and did not have a crowd to persuade or
please.
2. Daniele Manin mentioned this while sending
a letter to a friend which concludes that what
he was saying was truly his opinion and that
others shared this view as well if a politician
was thinking it.
Doc. 12 – do these POVs count?
1. Garibaldi is most likely a highly legitimate source
because he was popular among his supporters
and achieved this popularity with his beliefs,
meaning that his beliefs coincide with the beliefs
of the masses.
2. Garibaldi was the son of a sailor and came from
humble beginnings, and undoubtedly, he would
support a government that helped the poor.