Unification of Italy and Germany (1848–1871)

Unification of Italy and Germany (1848–1871)

Unification of Italy: 1848–70

Background of 19th Century Europe

• One of the major features of the history of Europe in the 19th century was the struggle for national unification and independence.

• Italy & Germany were the two important nations which emerged as united, independent states in the 19th century.

Division of Italy

• In the early 19th century, Italy was divided into a number of states, in which the Kingdom of Sardinia was the most powerful.

Role of Revolutionaries

• The struggle for Italian independence and unification was organised by the two famous revolutionaries – Mazzini & Garibaldi.

• The movement led by them is known as the ‘Young Italy’ movement.

Cavour’s Initiative

• After the revolution of 1848, Count Cavour, the Prime Minister of Sardinia, took the initiative of uniting Italy under the leadership of Sardinia.

Formation of the Kingdom of Italy

• By the year 1861, the entire state (except Rome) had been united, and then Victor Emmanuel II, the king of Sardinia, took the title of ‘King of Italy’.

Rome Joins United Italy

• Rome was still outside the kingdom of Italy.

• It was ruled by the Pope.

• Italian soldiers liberated the city of Rome in 1870 and in 1871, Rome became the capital of united Italy.

Unification of Germany: 1848–71

Division of German States

• Like Italy, Germany was also divided into a number of states.

• At the end of the Napoleonic Wars (1792–1815), there were 38 independent states in Germany in which Prussia was the most powerful.

Germanic Confederation

• In 1815, the German states, along with Austria, were organised into a Germanic confederation.

The 1848 Revolts and Frankfurt Assembly

• In 1848, revolts occurred in every German state and the rulers were forced to grant democratic constitutions.

• To unite Germany and to frame a constitution for the united Germany, a constituent assembly met in Frankfurt.

• The Frankfurt Assembly proposed the unification of Germany as a constitutional monarchy under the king of Prussia, who would become the emperor of Germany. However, the king of Prussia declined the offer. Repression soon followed.

End of the 1848 Revolution

• With the failure of the revolution of 1848 to unify Germany, one phase in the struggle for unification came to an end.

Rise of Bismarck and Policy of ‘Blood and Iron’

• Now Germany was to be unified not into a democratic country by the efforts of revolutionaries but by the rulers into militaristic empire.

• The leader of this policy was Bismarck, who belonged to a Prussian aristocratic family.

• He wanted to achieve the unification of Germany under the leadership of the Prussian monarchy.

• Bismarck described his policy of unification as one of ‘blood and iron’. The policy of blood and iron meant a policy of war.

Defeat of Austria and Creation of the North German Confederation

• He defeated Austria and dissolved the Germanic confederation. Thus Austria was separated from other German states.

• In place of the old confederation, he united 22 states of Germany into the North German Confederation in 1866.

Franco-Prussian War and Final Unification

• The unification of Germany was completed as a result of the Prussia–France war (1870) in which the French emperor Louis Bonaparte was defeated and captured.

• This war enabled Bismarck to absorb the remaining German states into a united Germany.

Proclamation of the German Empire

• The formal ceremony at which William I, the king of Prussia, took the title of German Emperor was not held on German soil.

• It took place at Versailles in France, in the palace of the French kings.

Germany Emerges as a European Power

• After unification, Germany emerged as a very strong power in Europe.

Final Thoughts

The unification of Italy and Germany in the 19th century stands as a powerful example of how national identity, strong leadership, and the will for independence can reshape history. While Italy’s journey was driven by revolutionaries like Mazzini and Garibaldi, supported by diplomatic leaders like Count Cavour, Germany’s unification was the result of Bismarck’s strategic and militaristic vision.

Both movements reflect contrasting paths—one idealistic, the other pragmatic—yet they converged in the creation of two strong, modern nations. These events not only transformed the political map of Europe but also laid the foundation for modern nationalism and state-building.

The legacies of these unifications continue to influence Europe’s socio-political structure even today.