Turning Point - Age of Nationalism

Nationalism Unites

Unification of Italy

The political structure of the Italian peninsula prior to 1861 was that of a fragmented group of small kingdoms and principalities. There was no political cohesion while internal fighting and rivalries were hampering any progress. However, the people of the Italian peninsula, shared language, culture and a historical background. Some Italian leaders began calling for nationalism with the goal of bringing Italy together into a sovereign nation-state with autonomous rule.

The most famous of Italian nationalistic leaders were Count Camilo Cavour, Guiseppe Garibaldi, and Guiseppe Mazzini. Mazzini was instrumental in being the "Heart" of Italian nationalism. He also established the secret society known as Young Italy, an organization devoted to a united Italy. Garibaldi was considered to be the "sword" of Italian nationalism. His band of Red Shirts conquered forces opposed to unification and forced southern Italy into a cohesive political unit. Cavour (shown here) was the "brain" in his role as a skilled diplomat. Cavour successfully received aid from France in a war against the Austrians and eventually put Victor Emmanuel II on the throne of a completely united Italian nation-state in 1861.

The Brain	The Sword	The Heart
Cavour	Garibaldi	Mazzini

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German Unification

Germany Builds a Nation

Nationalism Breaks Empires Apart

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