UNIFICATION OF ITALY
Historically, Italy was a number of small kingdoms. However, beginning in the 1820s until final unification
in 1871, a few individuals were able to help Italians unite nationally and drive out the Austrians in the
north and Spanish in the south thereby creating the state of Italy in 1861. Yet, final unification did not
occur until the Papal States (they feared a loss of power) eventually joined Italy in 1871. Those
individuals responsible for unification are listed below.
Count Camillo Cavour:
Napoleon III:
•
Giuseppe Garibaldi:
Red Shirts:
Victor Emmanuel II:
Papal States:
UNIFICATION OF GERMANY
Since the days of the Holy Roman Empire, there were hundreds of German states. However, the
Prussian Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck was able to unite the Germans under the banner of
nationalism in a war he provoked against France in 1870. Having previously achieved economic
unification, Germany gained political unification with the defeat of France in 1871. .
Otto von Bismarck:
Realpolitik:
"...[not by speeches] but by blood and iron.":
Franco-Prussian War:
Kaiser Wilhelm (William) I: