Question

Contrast the central role of nationalism in unifying Germany and Italy.

Answer 1

Answer: The most important role of nationalism in both Germany and Italy was to make the people want the unification of their countries.The Italic peninsula was a region divided into several independent political units. With the decisions of the Vienna Congress, it came to be dominated by Austrians and French, as well as by the Catholic Church. The king of Piemonte-Sardinia, Carlos Alberto, led the first attempt of unification in 1848, declaring war against Austria. This declaration, based on liberal and nationalist ideals, encouraged rebellions in several states on the peninsula, but all were stifled by Austrian troops and by French intervention. With the defeat, Carlos Alberto abdicated to the throne in favor of its son Vitor Emanuel II. But the ideal of unification was kept alive by the nationalists.The earliest origins of German nationalism began with romantic nationalism during the Napoleonic Wars when Pangermanism began to grow. The defense of a German nation became an important political force in response to the invasion of German territories by France under Napoleon. After the rise and fall of Nazi Germany that was opposed to Jews and others during World War II, German nationalism has generally been seen in the country as a taboo. However, during the Cold War, German nationalism grew by supporting the reunification of West and East Germany that was achieved in 1990.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

Causes of unification: Nationalism. As in Germany, the dream of national unity in Italy came to life in the aftermath of Napoleon’s invasions. Giuseppe Mazzini spurred the movement by founding Young Italy, a secret society aimed at creating a free, independent and unified republican nation. Economic integration. While some nationalists reminded Italians of its rich history, which included the glories of the ancient Roman empire and the central role of the Roman Catholic Church during Europe’s Middle Ages, others insisted that unification would end trade barriers among the Italian states and stimulate the economy. Camille Cavour. The Italian nationalist movement became centered in the kingdom of Sardinia, where its constitutional monarch, Victor Emmanuel II, made Cavour his prime minister in 1852. Their long -term goal was Italian unity, with Sardinia as the leader. Notice this storyline is quite similar to the one in Germany. Effects of unification Internal turmoil. Regional rivalries intensified after unification. The north had long been a hub of trade and a center of culture, and its relative wealth stood in stark contrast to the poorer south, where illiterate peasants worked exhausted farmland. The Catholic Church, angry about the loss of the Papal States and Rome, urged its followers not to cooperate with the newly unified Italian government. The constitutional monarchy extended the right to vote to only a small percentage of men. Socialists organized strikes and anarchists (people who want to abolish all government) resorted to violent tactics such as bombings.