Nationalism
Germany and Italy
I can explain the unification of
Germany and Italy
GERMANY
• Early 1800s – no unified “Germany”
• German-speaking people lived in Prussia and
other states (Bavaria, Saxony, etc…)
• Napoleon’s raids had spurred German
nationalism and contempt for French
• Otto von Bismarck – “The Iron Chancellor” –
highest official of the Prussian monarch.
– Master of Realpolitik
• Realistic policies based on the needs of the state; power
is more important than principles
Otto von Bismarck
Bismarck
• Began process of German unification
– Built up Prussian army
– Annexed smaller, weaker German states
– “Started” the Franco-Prussian War.
• Why would he start a war?
• He knew other German states would unify against
France (Germans hated France since Napoleon)
Franco-Prussian War
1870
• Started over a disagreement about an heir to
the Spanish throne.
• He “edited” a telegram sent to him by the
Prussian king, William.
• Made it look like King Will insulted France.
Made Napoleon III furious. He declares war.
• Prussia beats France in 6 weeks
– How? Modern technology (telegraphs, railroads,
breech-loading weapons)
Franco-Prussian War
• Humiliating for the French
– Very quick defeat
– Forced to pay Prussia to leave
– Lose 2 border provinces: Alsace and Lorraine
• The huge Prussian victory led to the crowning
of Will I as “Kaiser” William I (emperor)
• 1871 – “Germany” becomes a unified nation
ITALY
• Had not been a unified nation since the days
of the Roman Empire
• People there spoke common language (Italian)
but lived in several city-states ruled by Austria
and other foreign powers.
• Reasons some wanted unification:
– Made economic sense (remove tariffs)
– Common language, history, culture
Nationalist Leaders
Giuseppe Mazzini
Victor Emmanuel II
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Count Camillo Cavour
Italy
• Mazzini-founded Young Italy in the 1830s
– A secret society
– Organized a revolution, but it failed. He was
exiled. Important: planted seeds of nationalism
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Cavour-became Prime Minister of Sardinia
King-Victor Emmanuel II
Cavour was a crafty politician like Bismarck
Secret alliance with France; provoked war with
Austria. Won and annexed some Italian
states.
Garibaldi and the Red Shirts
• Garibaldi –longtime nationalist – recruited
1,000 red-shirted volunteers.
• Invaded Sicily and conquered north to Naples
• Very patriotic, turned over his control to
Victor Emmanuel.
• By 1870, all of Italy was unified.
CRITICAL CONNECTIONS
• What connections can you make between
Bismarck and Cavour and an important
Renaissance guidebook?
• In what ways can the nationalist movements
of the 1800s be traced back to Napoleon and
the Congress of Vienna?
• How does France’s humiliation in the FrancoPrussian war contribute to future conflict?