ITALY DS2: The Rise of Piedmont

The Rule of Victor Emmanuel II

Peace with Austria

• 1842 - Marries Adelaide (daughter of Austrian Archduke Rainer)

• November 1849 - Proclamation of Moncalieri: threatens to abolish constitution if parliament do not support pro-Austrian Measures

The Connubio

• 1851-52: Cavour creates a parliamentary alliance with Ratazzi on the centre left

• Aligned parliament through shared anti-clericalism

• Unified the aims of both parliament and the king

The appointment of Cavour (1852)

Appointment

• Cavour apppointed in November 1852 following the resignation of d-Azeglio

• previously minister of finance ( elected April 1851 )

Used pragmatic parliamentary politics

• enstilled values of economic and general stability

Anti-clericalism

• He saw the papacy as the natural supporter of Austria

• Early 1855: wanted to abolish monastic orders

• V.E blocks this using his executive power

1853 Year of Crisis

February 1853: Year of Crisis / Milanese Revolution

• Mazzinian revolution threatens the stability of P.S

• Passes 1853 Law Against Subversive Associations - targets Mazzinian revolutionaries

Liberal and Nationalist Influences

Decrease in Mazzinis influence

• 1853 Law Against Subversive Associations

• Felici Orsini ( leader of the Carbonari ) labels him a cruel tyrant

• Garibaldi in August 1854 states he does not support insurrection and republicanism

Moderate Liberalism

• 1857 National Society founded under Daniele Manin

Economic Developments ( 1849 - 56 )

Key areas of focus

• Commercial and industrial growth

• Significance of Trade Agreements

• Impact of developing infrastructure

Cavour’s various roles

• 1850: Minister of Agriculture / Commerce / Navy

• 1851: Minister of Finance

Introduction of anti-clericalism

• Siccardi Laws - the state, not the church, is now sovereign in law

KEY FACTS: Economy

Trade / Industry

• 300% Increase in industrial output

• 1861: Trade TRIPLES - oil/rice/wine exports - result of signing trade agreements with Portugal/France/Britain/Belgium

• Growth Reliant on European lenders - Turin/Genoa railway funded by Rothschilds

Railway Development

• By 1860, 850km of rail

• 40% of railways in the peninsula in Piedmont

• 1853: Railways connecting Turin and Genoa to the French border built

• 1857 Canals Built - irrigated 300,000 Hectares - Cavour Canal

• La Spezia port new main naval base

1851 Debt Solution

• Cavour attempts to solve the 68 million Lira debt with reforms

• 1850 - 55 Stock exchange in Genoa

• 1853 Electronic telegraphs linking Paris and Turin

• BUT by 1859, 725 million Lira debt as a result of Government led growth

The Crimean War ( Oct - 1853 - Feb - 1856 )

Background

• Russia invades Moldavia and Wallachia over the treatment of orthodox christians in October 1853

• Britain and France back Ottomans, but troops ravaged by Cholera

1855 Piedmont

• January 1855: Cavour forced by V.E to join

• V.E orders 18,000 troops to be dispatched to Crimea

• Sir James Hudson rallies nationalist views

• 16th August 1855: Major Victory at Chemaya Rechka

• December 1855: Austria threatens to join

Consequences - Congress of Paris ( Feb 1856 )

• 8th April: Italian Unification

• Recognition that Austria domination in Northern Italy was an issue

• 7th December: Cavour Meets Napoleon III

• Austria diplomatically isolated within Europe