Italian Unification

• [Italians] struggled, they still struggle, as do Poland, Germany, and Hungary, for country and liberty; for a word inscribed upon a banner, proclaiming to the world that they also live, think, love, and labour for the benefit of all. They speak the same language,... they kneel beside the same tombs, they glory in the same tradition; and they demand to associate freely, without obstacles, without foreign domination, in order to elaborate and express their idea; to contribute their stone also to the great pyramid of history. It is something moral which they are seeking; and this moral something is in fact, even politically speaking, the most important question in the present state of things. It is the organisation of the European task.

The Heart—Giuseppe Mazzini

The Brains-Camillo di Cavour(The Man with the Plan)

The Sword—Giuseppe Garibaldi

Is unification of Italy a good thing? Why or why not?

German Unification

Kaiser Wilhelm I

Otto von Bismarck

1864

• Austria & Prussia formed alliance

• Went to war against Denmark (North)

• Won the provinces Schleswig (Prussia) & Holstein (Austria).

• Why?

1866

• Bismarck stirred up conflicts with Austria on Schleswig-Holstein border.

• Austria declared war in 1866 (Seven Weeks War)

• Prussians (and Italy) beat Austria.

• Austria lost Venetia to Italy

• Prussia gained more northern territory. Finally-a contiguous country.

1870

• A few southern German states still not part of confederation….

• Bismarck made it look like French ambassador insulted Prussian king. (Ems telegram, Franco-Prussian War)

• Southern Germans join confederation