6.6 Nationalism and the Unification of Italy and Germany

Italian Unification (Risorgimento)

Camillo di Cavour, Sardinia's prime minister, used diplomacy and war to unify northern Italy, allying with France to defeat Austria (1859). Giuseppe Garibaldi and his volunteer Red Shirts conquered Sicily and southern Italy (1860). These two efforts merged, and the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed in 1861 under Victor Emmanuel II; Rome and Venetia joined by 1870-71.

German Unification via Realpolitik

Otto von Bismarck, Prussia's chancellor, pursued realpolitik—pragmatic power politics over ideology—to unify Germany under Prussian leadership. He engineered three wars: against Denmark (1864), Austria (Austro-Prussian War, 1866), and France (Franco-Prussian War, 1870-71). Victory over France sparked nationalist fervor, leading German states to unite; the German Empire was proclaimed at Versailles in 1871 with Wilhelm I as Kaiser.

Nationalism's Broader Impact

Unification transformed Europe's balance of power, creating two strong new states that disrupted the post-1815 order. Nationalism proved a double-edged force—unifying peoples but also fueling militarism and rivalry, especially between France and the new German Empire. This shift contributed to shifting alliances and increased tensions leading toward World War I.

Key terms

Camillo di Cavour

Sardinia's prime minister who used diplomacy and war with Austria to unify northern Italy.

Giuseppe Garibaldi

Nationalist leader whose Red Shirts conquered Sicily and southern Italy in 1860.

Otto von Bismarck

Prussian chancellor who used realpolitik and three wars to unify Germany by 1871.

Realpolitik

Pragmatic, power-based politics prioritizing practical results over ideology, used by Bismarck.

Franco-Prussian War (1870-71)

War with France whose Prussian victory triggered German nationalist unity and the proclamation of the German Empire.

Try an AP-style question

Cavour unified northern Italy largely through…

1. a popular revolution alone
2. diplomacy and alliance with France
3. papal support
4. Austrian assistance