How and Why the Piedmont-Sardinia Played an Important Part in Italian Unification
Piedmont-Sardinia played a colossal role in the achievement of national unity in Italy. Piedmont’s determination and commitment to the endorsement of its own interests, inadvertently paved the way for Italian unification. After 1848, the ideas of Gioberti, Mazzini and other such republicans no longer seemed feasible and Piedmont was recognized as the hope of liberal Italy. After the 1848 revolutions the old regimes had survived but they were still clearly vulnerable and too dependent on the weakened Austria. On the other hand, Piedmont had a constitution and a liberal government. Only in Piedmont had the 1848 Constitution
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However, Piedmont’s interests, be it economic or political coincided with those of most other regions in Italy. One of the most significant undertakings was the campaign for the building of railways. It was clear to men like Cavour (who in the 1840s was active in providing rails for the Turin-Genoa line, and in helping to found banks to fund the operations) that railways would transform the Italian economy by linking the various regions together and creating new trading opportunities. Even D'Azeglio (prime minister of Piedmont before Cavour [1852]) was noted to remark that railways, which started with the Lombardo-Venetian line in 1835, “would provide stitching for the Italian boot”. The campaign for railways was not only economical but it was also political. Railways needed a common gauge, coordinated timetables and so forth and it made the existing custom barriers seem even more ridiculous: the trains could not stop every several …show more content…
This also improved Piedmont’s position with the French. Piedmont earned a place in the Paris peace Conference where Cavour made sure that the problems existing in Italy were addressed and he urged liberal reforms to be implemented to prevent revolts that were likely to occur otherwise.
At a secret meeting that followed after this, between Napoleon III and Cavour at Plombieres, they agreed to wage war against Austria if a suitable pretext could be found in which they could fight. I was agreed that the Austrians would be completely driven out of Italy and that Piedmont would receive Lombardy and Venetia to form the new Kingdom of Upper Italy, and that France would be given Savoy and Nice in return. When Piedmont finally succeeded in provoking the Austrians to war, France kept her end of the bargain and sent 200,000 troops to the aid of the Piedmontese. France and Piedmont defeated Austrian armies at Magenta and Solferino, but by then the French were having second thoughts about continuing. The war had been very costly. Not only had they lost a lot of soldiers, they also lost a lot of
The Extent to Which the Lack of Popular Support was the Main Reason for the Weakness of Italian Nationalism in the Period 1815-1848
Railroads first appeared around the 1830’s, and helped the ideas of Manifest Destiny and Westward expansion; however, these were weak and didn’t connect as far as people needed, thus causing them to be forced to take more dangerous routes. On January 17th, 1848, a proposal was sent to Congress by Asa Whitney to approve and provide federal funding...
Italy achieved her unification in 1870. She had a constitutional monarchy like that of Great Britain, but democratic society failed to develop in Italy because the government was controlled by corrupt politicians, called the party bosses. They controlled the elections by bribing the voters. Once they were in power, they were more interested in achieving personal gains for themselves than in solving the social and economic problems of the people. As a result of this political corruption, Italy remained a poor country. Industrial progress was slow. Italy was poor in natural resources and lack of fertile land. Many of the farm laborers were landless and were often unemployed, so millions of Italians were forced to emigrate.
To begin with, this is determined by Italy's weak and foreign expansion policy. In 1871, the long-torn apartness of Italy achieved unity, providing favorable conditions for the development of capitalism. But the reunification is completed from top to bottom, retaining a large number of feudal remnants, which seriously hindered the further development of the Italian economy, resulting in the backwardness of Italy, mainly in three aspects: First, backward agriculture, food production is extremely
The transcontinental railroad would eventually become a symbol of much-needed unity, repairing the sectionalism that had once divided the nation during the Civil War. The construction of the transcontinental railroad was also an extension of the transportation revolution. Once commodities such as gold were found in the western half of America, many individuals decided to move themselves and their families out west in search of opportunity. Not only did the railroad help to transport people, but it also it allowed for goods to be delivered from companies in the east. In the end, the American transcontinental railroad created a national market, enabling mass production, and stimulated industry, while greatly impacting American society through stimulated immigration and urbanization.
In the end, the transcontinental railroad changed the American landscape both physically and culturally. It formed the foundation for the industrial economy, it produced new business practices and management style of large workforces. It helped established government regulations, taxation and support of public transportation. Above all it drastically changed the American lifestyle, changed where people lived, how they shopped, how they ate, and how they worked.
whose aim was to free italy from foreign rule, as well as to unite and strengthen the Italian city
Some say there is a plethora of differences between the Italian and Northern Renaissance, while others say there are only a handful of differences when comparing the two. There are many more differences than similarities when one compares the two. They are both completely different because in Italy, much of the literature was nonsecular, while in Northern Europe the writing was centered around humanistic ideals, the North held on to Gothic architecture, while the Italian Renaissance reflects the rebirth of Classical culture, and In the Italian Renaissance, artists realistically painted and sculpted humans in elaborate settings, while the Northern Renaissance used wooden panels for painting.
Fortunately, he managed to flee from the blood-ravaged war where he settled in the island of Caprera for a while. After a rush of drama, Garibaldi corrupted his political link with Mazzini, and had formed a conjunction with Victor Emmanuel II, the king of Italian region ‘Sardegna’ (Sardinia), and his cultured premier, Conte Camillo Benso di Cavour. In some time, Garibaldi was the heroic gemstone of Italy, after hundreds of Italians linked their mateship with the Sardinian monarch. This forced him and his “blood-for- nothing but-Italy” (“sangue per niente ma Italia”) inspired guerrilla to violate against the Alps in the year of 1859. In the war-drama year of 1860 he met with a turbulence of revolt and war against Sicily and formed a military-based democracy, just as he wished. Garibaldi soon conquered and warred of the Naples territory, which he then handed his conquests in force of Victor Emmanuel in 1861 and returned to his home region of
The first phase of Roman expansion involved unifying Italy. Before the Romans involved themselves in the rest of Italy, the peninsula was made of numerous city-states. Rome would go its neighboring city-states and give them two options: “...join us or die…” (Hamric). The vast majority of nations
When southern speaks of the growth of government he speaks of a system which advantages were based on geography. “It was no accident that after the confusion of the 10th century the strongest governmental units appeared where there was least in the way of marsh, mountain or forest to separate one community from another – … which added to his misery in one way – saved him from the misery of organized tyranny.” The governmental set up of early Italy although run by tyrants like Frederick II seemed to be set up as our modern government is today. The tendency to encourage an individualistic personality and break off one’s self as an individual resulted in many kinds of self-expression some of them even aggressive. In these times it was obvious that the Italian peninsula had a great deal of tyrant rulers. Burckhardt adds a quote that “Absolute power, with its temptations to luxury and unbridled selfishness, and the perils to which he was exposed from enemies and conspirators, turned him almost inevitably into a tyrant”. The despots Burckhardt speaks about were not granted the freedom of individuality. Starting in the fifteenth century however the character of the despot began to be
For centuries, what is now Italy was broken up into much smaller city-states. In many cases, hugely powerful city-states had one family that was in charge of the state, while maintaining the appearance of a republic. This included the Sforza family ruling Milan, and the Medici family of Florence (McKay et al. 360). The Medici, a family
Some of these changes were the building of highways, canals, docks, and railroads.3 Cavour would then continue to strengthen the economy through trade treaties, and reforms to the credit system. These changes were calculated in that other Italian states would see this and want to join Sardinia. But just the help of neighboring Italian states would allow for Cavour to push Austria out of northern Italy and allow for the Italian states to unify. Then in 1853, a conflict broke out in Europe. This conflict known as the Crimean War, was between Britain, France, and Turkey against Russia. Seeing as this conflict, would give Sardinia connections with a major power, joined in on the campaign. Although the actual war did not involve any issues of interest for Sardinia, it gave Cavour connections to the french. Through these connections Cavour would enlist the french in July 1858 to help them wage war against Austria. The war did not begin until April 29, 1859, where two major battles took place,
With a history of gladiatorial contest and public spectacles, Italy, also known as the Italian Republic is famous for its early history of the Roman Empire and the many battles fought in a colosseum that still stands today. Till this day, the concrete and sand edifice prevails as a tourist attraction for everyone to see. Thus, the Ancient Romans are known for sculpting history through their Roman principles all throughout Italy. On top of the Roman Empire, Italy grew to be the birthplace of the Renaissance where culturally it was the time period of painting, poetry, and architecture. Famous artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo were part of the Renaissance. In relation, this grew to be a cultural bridge between the middle ages and present-day history spreading all throughout Europe establishing the early stages of modern age.
In the words of Giuseppe Verdi, “You may have the universe if I may have Italy” (Brainyquote.com). Italy is one of the top hotspots for vacation, and there is a plethora of reasons why. Immediately upon arriving, you can smell the aroma of fresh, home-made foods. The beauty of the architecture in even the average buildings is overwhelming. The culture is unique and fascinating; unlike anything you will ever see anywhere else. There are so many places you could visit in Italy, you could spend a lifetime there, and it would never be enough. Rome, Tuscany, Pompeii, Pisa, Florence, and Venice are must-sees, to name just a handful. (http://www.kids-world-travel-guide.com) Italy is in essence, a paradise unlike any other, that everyone should have the privilege of enjoying. (pathos)