To what extent was the growth in Italian nationalism due to resentment over foreign
rule1815-50?
Intro
Italy in the early 19th century was a series of states with little common bond ruled
over by a series of different rulers. She was known as a mere geographical expression.
Up to 1815 she was ruled by France, however after this the majority of states were
dominated by Austria. Yet between 1815-1850 there was a growth in nationalistic
feeling and in 1848 she had her 1st war of independence and it is a source of debate
why. Some argue it came from resentment of foreign rule, first from France and
from Austria. However it is important to consider other factors which also
contributed including those who appreciated foreign rule. The role of Mazzini and
secret societies in raising awareness and finally cultural factors, literature and music
of the time which prompted nationalistic feeling.
On the one hand resentment against foreign rule angered many + caused a sense of
nationalistic pride. In 1799 France conquered Italy as part of Napleon’s expansion in
Europe. This fuelled nationalistic pride because the peasants resented being
conscripted and fighting in the Napoleonic wars, they also resented raised taxation to
pay for the wars was. This showed Italy was a weak country and they showed their
resentment by creating secret societies to fight to expel the French.
In 1815 Austria defeated France and at the Congress of Vienna Austria took control of
the majority of Italian states and swept away the changes introduced by napoleon.
This was important in causing nationalistic feeling as it made clear that Italy divided
was weak and so easily subject to foreign interference.
Austria’s general rule of Italy, she brought in secret police, there was a heavy
Austrian military presence in the north, especially Milan. Young men were
conscripted for 8 years in the Austrian army. This inspired a sense of nationalistic
pride because it was unpopular and made the Italians want to rule by themselves.
Therefore foreign rule by France and Austria led to resentment and this caused a
growth in feelings of nationalism
However French ruled led to many benefits and gave a model for unity.
He promoted a common language, Tuscan he introduced a parl;iament and one law
throughout Italy and also a common currency. He broke down custom barriers
between states and unified italy into 3 parts. The middle classes benefited from these
changes as trade became easier and they got positions of power in the parliament. It
was the Middle classes which called for unity and worked for nationalism in 1815-50,
therefore it is not valid to argue that foreign rule only inspired nationalistic feeling
through resentment. While foreign rule may have inspired nationalistic feeling the
work of Mazzini and secret societies also played a role.
Mazzini known as the most dangerous dangerous man in Europe contributed to
nationalistic feeling by acting as source of inspiration and showing change was
possible. On the one hand he wrote many leaflets and phamphlet abot Italy being
united as a republic, this was important in making people feel nationalistic because he
wrote 50,000 which could spread the message amongst many people. Not only this he
also created Young Italy in 1831 which was group made up 60,000 people which
fought for Italian unity. Clearly having 60,000 members would indicate that M was
very important in making people feel nationalistic and willing to work for it. On the
other hand, the importance of M has been overageareated, although he was a prolific
writer 80% of the population were unable to read which limited his impact. Also he
spent most of his time in exile in france or Britain or in prison which limited his
impact. Finally M was 2 extreme for many to have wide appeal. Therefore M did have
a role, but mainly amongst literate people in the towns, the cultural factors also
created nationalistic feeling amonst those who could read.
The cultutre of the time was known as the romantic period and aimed to inspire
sentiment and nationalist feeling, although like M was limited to the literate.
Monzoni’s books about peasants suffering uder the aristocracy were important in
inspiring nationalistic feeling because it became a best seller and Italians could
identify and compare themselves to the peasants. By writing in Tuscan he promoted
unity through a semi official language.Poets Foscola and Leopardi also promoted
nationalisti feeling by writing poems which exaggerated Italy’s past to give a sense of
pride and heritiage. Grantd howevere their works were limited to those who could
read. Finally Opera on the other hand had a wider appeal, VERDI wrote operas with
the theme of patriotism and were used to inspire nationalistic feeling by the audience
throwing flowers int eh colours of the Austrian flag onto the stage and the actors
would stamp on them.
In conclusion resentments over foreign rule did help to a fair extent. Because it
created asense of grievance and annoyance which led many to want a free and united
Ityalty. On the other hand foreign rule from Napoleon acted as a source of inspiration
and showed many the benefits of a united italy and had genuine support. Not only
this, people felt nationalistic because there were people like Mazzini and young Italy
who actively encouraged and promoted the idea of a united Italty. Finally for some
educated minority they felt nationalic pride because of the books and poems which
they read. Therefore it was a combination of factors which made people feeling
nationalistic however it was limited to a very small part of the population, people that
were educated and lived in urban areas where these ideas were being spread.