Question

Read the excerpt from an 1852 speech by Italian statesman Giuseppe Mazzini on Lombardy, a region of Italy that was ruled by Austria at the time. [Lombardy] struggled, they still struggle . . . for country and liberty; . . . They speak the same language, they bear about them the impress of consanguinity [common ancestors], they kneel beside the same tombs, they glory in the same tradition; and they demand to associate freely, without obstacles, without foreign domination –Giuseppe Mazzini, On Nationality, 1852 Which summarizes Mazzini’s argument about independence for Lombardy?

Answer 1

C. Lombardy should be an independent nation-state because it had a strong national identity. 100% positive :)

Answer 2

Giuseppe Mazzini (1805-1872) was a powerful promoter of Italian nationalism. He founded the group known as Young Italy and was a major figure in the Italian unification movement known as "Risorgimento" ("rising again"). For Lombardy to be under the control of Austria went against the principles of nationalism that Mazzini was promoting. All Italians should be together as Italy. Getting Lombardy independent from Austria was a first step in that direction. Uniting with other Italian regions would be the next step.

Italy did not finish its nationalist program of unification as soon as Mazzini would have wanted. A united Italy (including Lombardy) finally came together in 1871, not long before Mazzini's death. But he had been a pioneer of the movement that brought Italians together during his lifetime.