HISDSM252 Unit 3: National Unification and the Bismarckian Era

This unit explores the mid-19th century surge of nationalism that redrew the map of Europe. It focuses on the diplomatic and military maneuvers that transformed fragmented states into powerful unified nations, particularly the roles of the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia in Italy and Prussia in Germany [cite: 1785-1788].

1. Unification of Italy

The unification of Italy, also known as the Risorgimento (Resurgence), was a movement to liberate the Italian peninsula from foreign (primarily Austrian) control and unify several states under one government.

Key Figures

• Giuseppe Mazzini: The "Soul" of unification; he founded Young Italy to inspire national consciousness.
• Count Camillo di Cavour: The "Brain" of unification; the Prime Minister of Piedmont-Sardinia who used diplomacy and alliances (specifically with France) to expel Austria.
• Giuseppe Garibaldi: The "Sword" of unification; leader of the Red Shirts who conquered the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in the south.
• Victor Emmanuel II: The first King of a unified Italy.

The Process

1. War with Austria (1859): Piedmont-Sardinia, with French help, liberated Lombardy.
2. Southern Conquest (1860): Garibaldi’s "Thousand" Red Shirts invaded Sicily and Naples.
3. Final Integration: Venetia was added in 1866, and Rome was annexed in 1870, completing the unification.

2. Unification of Germany

Prussia led the movement to unify the German states into a single empire under the leadership of King William I and his Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck.

Bismarck’s Strategy: "Blood and Iron"

"The great questions of the day will not be settled by means of speeches and majority decisions... but by iron and blood." — Otto von Bismarck

The Three Wars of Unification

3. Home Policy of Otto von Bismarck

After unification in 1871, Bismarck sought to consolidate the new empire and suppress internal divisions.

• Kulturkampf (Struggle for Culture): An attempt to weaken the influence of the Catholic Church by subjecting it to state control. It was largely unsuccessful and later abandoned.
• Anti-Socialist Laws: Bismarck feared the rise of socialism and banned socialist meetings and newspapers, though he simultaneously introduced social welfare to win over workers.
• Social Welfare System: To counter socialist appeal, he introduced the world’s first national sickness insurance, accident insurance, and old-age pensions.

4. Foreign Policy of Otto von Bismarck

Bismarck’s foreign policy aimed to maintain European peace and isolate France to protect the newly unified Germany.

• Alliance System: He created a complex web of alliances, including the Three Emperors' League (Germany, Austria, Russia) and the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria, Italy).
• Berlin Congress (1878): Bismarck acted as an "honest broker" to resolve the Balkan crisis and prevent a general European war.
• Maintenance of Status Quo: He declared Germany a "saturated power" with no further territorial ambitions in Europe.

5. Exam Focus: Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: What was the Ems Telegram?
  A: A dispatch edited by Bismarck to provoke France into declaring war on Prussia, which served as the immediate cause of the Franco-Prussian War.
• Q: Why did Bismarck introduce social welfare?
  A: To "kill socialism with kindness"—meaning he wanted to provide for the workers so they wouldn't feel the need to support the Socialist Party.
• Q: Who were the "Red Shirts"?
  A: The volunteer army of Giuseppe Garibaldi that played a crucial role in unifying Southern Italy.