Italian Unification and Brazilian History: Key Events

Posted on May 24, 2025 in History

Key Events in Italian Unification and Brazilian History

Italian Unification

  • 1840s Coup Age
  • 1845 Ragamuffin War
  • Garibaldi’s Role: Played a crucial role in Italian unification.
  • Challenges: The Church was losing believers, and there was a general loss of citizens.

Key Ideas and Processes

  1. Differing Ideas: Contrasting ideas between Italy and Germany. Loyalty and honor bound warriors.
  2. Resistance: Manzzini and Count Cavour, despite being opposites, aimed to control northern Austria and unify around the king.
  3. Garibaldi’s Role: Defended the unification project alongside Manzini and participated in the war.
  4. Kingdom of Piedmont: The most developed region, expelled Austria from the North.
  5. Vatican: The region belonging to the Vatican was annexed, leading to disagreement with the Pope.

Nationalism

  • France and England: Nationalism was a popular general sentiment (XVI century).
  • Italy and Germany: Centralized power and ethnic culture (XIX century).
  • Nationalist Ideas: Focused on uniting the population within a territory.

Social and Religious Aspects

The Church supported the republic, influenced by figures like Antonio Conselheiro, who emphasized faith and struggle. The army focused on territorial domination, often neglecting the poor. Peasants, struggling to survive, left the land with nothing to lose.

Brazilian History

Key Historical Perspectives

A-) Brazilian Identity: According to historian Luis Felipe de Alencastro, Brazil was deeply connected to Africa, particularly Angola, which was a major source of slaves. The Northeast region was a significant sugar producer.

B-) Napoleon’s Impact: Napoleon Bonaparte’s blockade led the Portuguese royal family to relocate to Brazil, bringing the bureaucratic apparatus of the Portuguese state.

C-) Disloyalty and Sedition: Intellectuals in Bahia and Minas Gerais faced accusations of sedition, indicating organized action aimed at revolution.

D-) Pernambuco’s Rebellion: Pernambuco rebelled in 1817, driven by Republican anti-Portuguese sentiments, but this led to conflicts rather than benefits for the population.

E-) Liberal Revolution of Porto: In 1820, elites in Pernambuco participated in discussions about organizing a new state, leading to the return of King John VI to Portugal.

F-) Monarchy vs. Republic: Republicanism gained traction in the 19th century, challenging the absolutism of the monarchy and gaining strength towards the end of the century.