Both Italy and Germany had dreams of a renewed national spirit Essays

Both Italy and Germany had dreams of a renewed national spirit. After the failed revolutionary attempts nationalism prevailed. In 1849, Italy was going through some rough times. The Austrian army had defeated the armies of Piedmont and Sardinia and had driven out Republican governments in Milan and Venice. Napoleon sent in forces to crush Rome and to return the Papal states back to the pope. The Bourbons now had the two Sicilies and Piedmont-Sardinia restored to the house of Savoy. The Italians had done themselves in with the help of Austria and France. The Risorgimento was defeated. Piedmont-Sardinia was the only independent state of Italy after the defeat of the Austrians. It was ruled by the House of Savoy. Some reforms were allowed. Led by Count Camillo di Cavor [sic] was the well trained army of Piedmont-Sardinia. He was determined to unite Italy. In 1850, Cavor was appointed minister of agriculture and commerce. He started improvements in farming and transportation. He was a man of realist ideas. Cavor finally concluded commercial treaties with other nations. He also made reforms to lessen the importance of the clergy. He wanted a prosperous state or [sic] Piedmont that other states of Italy could look up to. The unification of Italy could not be done by Italy alone. In 1859, Cavor provoked Austria into declaring war on Piedmont-Sardinia. A mixed army greeted and defeated the Austrians. Eventually a treaty was drawn with Austria. Cavor was furious over Napoleon betrayal and Cavor resigned as Prime Minister. A united Italy seemed hopeless, but all was not lost. In the northern central region Cavor?s followers seized control of the provincial government. Cavor returned as Prime Minister. His next move was to annex northern and central Italian kingdom of Piedmont. Garibaldi?s southern Italy joined Cavor?s Italy and the transition was nearly complete. By 1860, Italy became a united Italy. Germany was divided into a number of smaller states, mainly Prussia and Austria. They were just two of the 39 states in Germany governed by princes, dukes, and petty kings. These two states were chief rivals for the leadership of Germany. The only problem for unification in Germany is that Austria contains many non-German lands and the people did not want to see Germany unified. Otto Bismarck as the leader of Prussia united Germany. He so successful [sic] because of his policy of blood and iron. What this basically means is that democratic power was wasted and military power served as the success measure for German unification. It seems to me that Italy in it?s [sic] separate parts wanted unification more than Germany did. Italy was fighting off more outside forces than inside which seemed to be opposite in Germany, yet both were successfully united.