Liberalism and Nationalism in Italy and Germany

Time Line of Events for Both Countries

Jun 1815 Congress of Vienna concludes

Jul 1831 Giuseppe Mazzini founds Young Italy
Jun 1846 Pius IX becomes pope
Jan 1848 Revolution begins in Italy
Feb 1848 Revolution begins in Germany
Mar 1849 Victor Emmanuel II becomes the king of Piedmont
Mar 1850 Erfurt Union of German-states formed
Nov 1852 Cavour becomes prime minister of Piedmont
Jul 1858 Plombieres Agreement between Cavour and Napoleon III of France
Jan 1861 Wilhelm I becomes King of Prussia
Mar 1861 Victor Emmanuel becomes king of Italy
Sep 1862 Bismarck appointed prime minister of Prussia
Jun 1866 Austro-Prussian War begins
Jul 1870 Franco-Prussian War begins
Jan 1871 German Empire established

For the Key Question below, summarize the information under each bullet point.

KEY QUESTION #2

Why did Prussia and Piedmont lead the development of unification in Germany?

• Failure of revolutions in 1848–49

• Germany-The demands or the revolutionaries were disorganised or vague, due to the
population of the revolutionaries varying in economical status or political view. People
also were not sure wheter the new Germany they were trying to form was going to be a
monarchy or republic.

• Italy- Were entirely seperate from each other and did not have any plans from each
revolutionarie from each region. The middle class were the first to revolt, so their desires
did not appeal to the masses. The revolts were also seen in a more negative light when
the republicans attacked the church.

• Condition of Prussia and Piedmont in 1848

• Prussia- Multiple acts of revolution had occured during this time, because of the lack of
food that the working classes had, due to poor harvest, and the people of Prussia felt as
if the machines formed from the industrial revolution, were depriving them of a living.

• Piedmont- revolutions occured, the Pope had left Rome, and Austrian interference
occured to deter the revolutioaires.

• Roles of Prussia and Piedmont in Germany and Italy

• Prussia- Prussia had led the way for masive reforms, such as the growth in new roads,
the abolishment of 67 internnal custom barriers that hindered trade, and the growth of
iron and steel.

• Piedmont- Were meant to seem less radical than other states and it was the most
influential of all Italian states, due to both Cavour and victor Emamannuel the 2nd being
located there.
• Immediate developments after 1849
• Germany- Liberal ideas became more widely spread and conservative landowners and
industrialists were more compliant towards social reforms.

• Italy- Piedmont was viewed as a less radical Italian state by Britain and France. Piedmont
also disapproved of laws that would supress religious power, which furthered the idea
that Piedmont was not as radical as a state that it appeared to be.