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Young Italy
In 1831, Mazzini founded Young Italy. This was a secret society dedicated to freeing Italy from oppression. -
Passing Down the Nationalist Movement
After 1848, the Italian nationalist movement was passed down to Sardinia. There, Victor Emmanuel II hoped for Sardinia to join together with other states to create more power. -
Revolutionary Public In Rome
In 1849, Mazzini set up a revolutionary public in Rome. French forces later overthrew it and captured Mazzini. -
Cavour Becomes Prime Minister
In 1852, Emmanuel II made Count Camillo Cavour prime minister. Cavour was a flexible, practical politician who believed in Realpolitik. -
Crimean War
In 1855, lead by Cavour, Sardinia had joined Britain and France in the war against Russia. Even though Sardinia gained no territory, this allowed Sardinia to have a voice at the peace conference and grab the attention of Napoleon III. -
Secret Alliance
In 1858, Cavour negotiated a secret deal with Napoleon, who promised to support and help Sardinia in the war against Austria. A year later, Cavour started the war, the French helped Sardinia beat Austria and gained (annexed) Lombardy. -
Conquering Sicily
In 1860, Giuseppe Garibaldi recruited one thousand red-shirted volunteers to help him annex Sicily, then Naples. Cavour provided weapons and two ships to take to south Sicily, where the red shirts took control of Sicily with immense speed, and the began marching towards Naples. -
Crowning the King
Garibaldi proudly turned over Sicily and Naples to Victor Emmanuel, and later southern Italy approved the move. In 1861, Victor Emmanuel II was crowned king of Italy (he was in Sardinia before). -
Becoming a United Land
Although Cavour died in 1861, his successors completed his dream, they negotiated with Bismarck and gained Venetia after the Austro-Prussian War. Then in 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War, France was forced to withdraw its troops, making Italy an united land once again (was a united land during the fall of the Roman Empire).