Unification of Italy and Germany

unification

the act of making or becoming a single unit

Red Shirts

Nationalistic group/army created and led by Giuseppe Garibaldi to end foreign control of Italy during the 19th century which aided in the unification of Italy

Giuseppe Mazzini

A political nationalist in Italy in the mid 1800's. He started a group called Young Italy that promoted independence from Austrian and Spanish rule and the establishment of an Italian national state.

nationalism

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country.

Camillo di Cavour

known for leading Italian unification, he was named prime minister of Sardinia in 1852. Joined Napoleon III to drive Austria out of the northern Italian provinces in 1858

Realpolitik

"The politics of reality"; used to describe the tough, practical politics in which idealism and romanticism play no part. Otto von Bismarck was a leading practitioner of realpolitik.

Napoleon III

emperor of the French from 1852 to 1871 who was defeated by Otto von Bismarck in the Franco Prussian War

Kaiser

German word for emperor; the emperors of Austria & Germany

Wilhelm I

He became king of Prussia in 1861 and sought to increase Prussian power. He appointed Otto Von Bismarck as his Prime Minister. In 1871, at the Palace of Versailles after the Franco-Prussian war, he was proclaimed Kaiser of the German Empire by Otto von Bismarck.

Otto von Bismarck

Chancellor of Prussia from 1862 until 1871, when he became chancellor of Germany. A conservative nationalist, he led Prussia to victory against Austria (1866) and France (1870) and was responsible for the creation of a unified Germany

Blood & Iron

policy of German unification put forth by Bismarck; belief that industry & war would unify Germany

Junker

Members of the Prussian landed aristocracy, a class formerly associated with political reaction and militarism.

Franco Prussian War

1870-71, war between France and Prussia; seen as German victory; led to Prussia being the most powerful European nation. Instigated by Otto von Bismarck as part of his plan to create a unified German Empire.

Giuseppe Garibaldi

leader of the nationalist group the Red Shirts and leader behind the unification in Southern Sicily and later the whole of Italy

Victor Emmanuel II

He was king of Sardinia, Piedmont and Savory until 1861 when he was crowned the first king of a united Italy

Seven Weeks War

In 1866 Bismarck provoked Austria into declaring war on Prussia, and quickly defeated Austria in seven weeks; this war paved the way for the establishment (1871) of the German Empire