Nationalism - Process Step 3

The Creation of Modern 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 Sword The Brain The Heart Garibaldi Cavour Mazzini  Known as the SWORD of Unification. In1860  army, called the RED SHIRTS, conquered Sicily. I then crossed into the MAINLAND and we  captured the city of Naples. I gave all this land to King Victor Emanuel II so he could be  King of a united Italy.  While Garibaldi was conquering the Two Sicilies, I attacked the Papal States. If you look at the map you will see that by taking the Papal States, we were  able to unite northern and southern Italy into one nation. By 1861, Italy was one nation.  Victor Emanuel II, became the first King of a united Italy. However, it was not until 1870  that Rome became part of our country.