Unification of Italy and Germany: Key Events & Influences

Key Dates in Italy and Germany

Germany

1864: War of the Duchies – Austria and Prussia against Denmark.

1866: Austro-Prussian War – Prussia demonstrated its military superiority and unified North Germany.

1870-1871: Franco-Prussian War – France declared war on Prussia, surrendered, and Napoleon III was deposed. Prussia conquered Alsace-Lorraine. France signed the peace treaty.

Italy

1859: War against Austria with French support – liberation of Lombardy.

1860: A volunteer army led by Garibaldi conquered the Kingdom of Sicily.

1866: Italian allies conquered Veneto.

1870: Italian troops entered Rome.

Main Players in Both Unifications

In Germany: the Prussian Chancellor Bismarck. In Italy: the Piedmontese minister Cavour.

Economic Reasons Influencing Europe

• Colonies supplied raw materials and cheap labor and served as markets for manufactured goods, secured through protectionist measures.
• Europeans controlled 60% of global gold reserves and sought territories to invest surplus capital for maximum return.

The Second Industrial Revolution

1808

Major Industrial Changes

• Utilization of new energy sources such as electricity and petroleum.
• Emergence of new industrial powers like Germany and Japan.
• The U.S. textile industry ceded ground to the steel industry.
• Rise of new industries such as chemical and electrical.
• The automobile appeared as a new mode of transport.

Rivalries of the First European Countries

The UK was wary of the German fleet and Russian expansion in Asia. Germany and France feared Russian industrial growth and being isolated. Bismarck hoped Austria-Hungary and its allies would become enemies.

Formed military coalitions:

• The Triple Alliance comprised the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.
• The Triple Entente, arranged around the alliance between France and Russia, was supported by the UK.

International Crises of the First World War

• Moroccan Crises: 1905 and 1911 (France and Germany)
• Bosnian Crisis: 1908 (Austria and Russia)
• 1912-1913: The two Balkan Wars involving nearly all Balkan states.

When and How the War Began

In 1914, a Serbian nationalist assassinated the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne in Sarajevo. The Austro-Hungarian Empire, with German support, declared war on Serbia, intending to attack Russia. Because Russia protected Serbia, France and the UK, allied with Russia, also went to war.

Wilson's Peace Proposal

Freedom of navigation and commerce, rights of peoples to self-determination, renunciation of secret diplomacy, and foundation of a League of Nations.

Opposition to These Proposals

France demanded reparations for the damage. Russia did not participate in negotiations and was treated as a loser.