Italian Unification: Causes, Effects, and Key Figures
Causes of Italian Unification
Those who stood for a republican government for Italy or a government under the Pope were discredited, clearing the way for the unification of Italy under the monarchy of Piedmont. The failure of the revolts in Italy before the rise of Cavour was due to many causes.
Effects of Italian Unification
This growing sense of nationalism led to the eventual unification. The Italian Unification earned Italy its independence and built its capacity to influence regional politics. Italy, as a unified state, had the capacity to build its armies to protect its sovereignty.
Problems Faced by Italy After Unification
- The North was richer than the South.
- Tension between Italy and the Roman Catholic Church.
- Voting troubles.
Results of Italian Nationalism
The Revolutions of 1848 resulted in a major development of the Italian nationalist movement. The Risorgimento was an ideological movement that helped incite the feelings of brotherhood and nationalism in the imagined Italian community, which called for the unification of Italy and the expulsion of foreign powers.
Mazzini’s Role in Italian Unification
Young Italy was a secret society formed to promote Italian unification: “One, free, independent, republican nation.” Giuseppe Mazzini believed that a popular uprising would create a unified Italy and would touch off a European-wide revolutionary movement.
The Opium Wars
The Opium Wars were two conflicts fought in China in the mid-19th century between the forces of Western countries and of the Qing dynasty, which ruled China from 1644 to 1912. The first Opium War (1839–42) was fought between China and Great Britain, and the second Opium War (1856–60), also known as the Arrow War or the Anglo-French War in China, was fought by Great Britain and France against China.
First Opium War
The first Opium War was the result of China’s attempt to suppress the illegal opium trade, which had led to widespread addiction in China and was causing serious social and economic disruption. British traders were the primary source of the drug in China.
Second Opium War
The second Opium War was the result of the desire of Great Britain and France to win additional commercial privileges in China, including the legalization of the opium trade, as well as to gain more legal and territorial concessions in China.
Outcomes of the Opium Wars
Great Britain won the first Opium War. The opium trade continued, and China had to compensate Great Britain for its losses, cede Hong Kong Island to the British, and increase the number of treaty ports where the British could trade and reside. Great Britain and France won the second Opium War. China’s concessions included legalizing the opium trade, providing for the opening of more ports in China, allowing foreign travel in the Chinese interior, permitting residence for Western envoys in Beijing, and granting freedom of movement for Christian missionaries. China also ceded to Great Britain the southern portion of the Kowloon Peninsula, adjacent to Hong Kong.