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Italian unification
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiaDnA2Rwok
The movement to unite Italy into one cultural and political entity was known as the Risorgimento. Supported by Garibaldi, mostly young Italian democrats who used the 1848 revolutions as a opportunity for democratic uprising--failed in the face of the resurgence of conservative power in Europe. -
1848
The first apparently "liberal" moves of Pope Pius IX and the political upheavals of 1848 spawned a new movement of Italian liberalism, allowing Cavour to enter the political arena, no longer in fear of the police. He then gave a speech in front of numerous journalists in favor of a constitution for Piedmont, which was eventually granted. -
1849- August 24
Venice fall to Austrian forces that have crushed the rebellion in Venetia and other northern Italian states. In Sicily the revolt resulted in the proclamation of the Kingdom of Sicily with Ruggero Settimo as Chairman of the independent state until 1849 when the Bourbon army took back full control of the island on 15 May 1849 by force. -
1860- March 20:
Sardinia annexes central Italian states by giving Nice and Savoy to the French, now only four states remain in Italy: Austrians in Venetia, the Papal States, the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies -
1860
After many victories, Garibaldi names himself dictator of Sicily. Plebiscite in Central Duchies/Papal States - rigged, asking for unification with Piedmont. Cavour returns to exploit a fast developing situation Treaty of Turin - gives Napoleon III/France Nice and Savoy. -
1861
Brigand War begins. This is an uprising of peasants in Southern Italy in opposition to the measures bought in as a result of unification. There was unrest in the south due to poor conditions and the Risorgimento benefitted the middle class land owning bourgeoisie. Among the brigands fighting was many ordinary peasants. -
1861
March 17: Official Proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy
June 6: Camillo di Cavour dies after seeing his life’s work almost fulfilled, with only Venetia, and the Papal States not under Italian control -
1861
In 1861, Victor Emmanuel II declared the Kingdom of Italy, making Cavour officially Prime Minister of Italy. Cavour had many difficult issues to consider, including how to create a national military, which legal institutions should be retained in what locations, and especially the future of Rome. Most Italians thought Rome must be capital of a united Italy, but this conflicted with the temporal power of the Pope and also the independence of the Church. -
1862
Being frustrated with inaction against the Papal States, Garibaldi sails from Genoa to Palermo to gather volunteers for a Rome expedition. -
1862
August 14: Garibaldi sails for Melito on the southern coast of Italy and vows to march to Rome -
1864- September 15:
Victor Emmanuel II meets with Napoleon III at the September Convention, Napoleon III agrees to withdraw French troops from the Papal States within 2 years.
