Asses the View That the Risorgimento Owed Little to the Italian Nationalist Movement.

Asses the view that the Risorgimento owed little to the Italian nationalist movement.

It can be said that Italy became unified more as a result of the actions of foreign powers than those of the leaders of the Risorgimento. The Risorgimento was a resurgence of nationalism sweeping over Europe during the nineteenth century, the movement aimed to unite Italy under one flag and one government. Only a small minority of Italians supported the idea of national unity and most felt allegiance to their own regions and localities rather than to Ð''Italy'.

In 1815 Italy was divided up into a number of states and was dominated by the influence of Austria. Lombardy and Venetia were part of the Austrian Empire. The kingdom of the two Sicilies and the Papal states looked to Austria as their protector. Only Piedmont was independent of Austrian influence. The domination of Italy by Austria was one of the obstacles to unification, however revolts in Milan and Venice expelled the Austrians. Charles Albert then declared war on Austria but was defeated, This shows that the Italians could not defeat Austrian Military Power unaided. Piedmont emerged as the only Italian state capable of challenging Austria but Cavour, The prime minister realised that Piedmont would need a powerful ally against Austria and sought friendship of Napoleon III of France.

Piedmont's participation in the Crimean War as an ally of France and Britain allowed Cavour to reach an agreement with Napoleon III, in which France offered to help expel Austrian troops from Lombardy and Venetia. The war inspired rebellions in other parts of northern Italy, none of this would have been likely without the French alliance.

Garibaldi, inspired by Carvour's success, collected a force and after gaining control over Genoa, Sicily and Naples. Cavour also led an army into the Papal states. By the end of 1860 the whole of Italy except Venetia and Rome had been annexed by piedmont. This was a key point as Gaibaldi's expedition forced Cavour to change his plans and accept the southern states as part of a unified Italy.

Venetia became part of Italy in 1866 as a by-product of the Seven Weeks War , In which Italy fought against Austria as the ally of Prussia. Rome was a problem because it had the protection of French troops since 1848. Napoleon III could not withdraw them and Italy could