The Unification of Italy, c1830-70 | Edexcel A-Level History (9HI0)

The Unification of Italy, c1830-70

160 questions
16 subtopics
Paper 2: the depth study, one option of sixteen
Paper 2

A Paper 2 depth study of Italian unification from the failed revolutions of the 1830s to the capture of Rome, covering Austrian dominance and the nationalist movements that opposed it, the failure of 1848 to 1849, Cavour's transformation of Piedmont and his diplomacy, Garibaldi's conquest of the south, and the difficulties of the new kingdom..

It covers challenges to the restored order, 1830–1847, nationalist influences, 1830–47, revolutions of 1848–49, reasons for the failure of the revolutions, legacy of the 1848–49 revolutions, political developments in Piedmont, economic developments in Piedmont, developments in diplomacy, causes of the Second Italian War of Independence, impact of war with Austria, 1859–60, garibaldi’s takeover of the south in 1860, the north and south unite, 1860–61, obstacles to unity after 1861, solving the ‘Venetian question’, 1861–66, solving the problem of Rome, 1861–70 and unity in 1870.

Sample questions from The Unification of Italy, c1830-70

Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.

Challenges to the restored order, 1830–1847

How was Italy organised after the Congress of Vienna in 1815?

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It was divided into separate states, with Austria dominant in the north (Lombardy and Venetia) and influential elsewhere; critics called Italy 'a geographical expression'.
Revolutions of 1848–49

How did the revolutions begin in Italy?

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With the Sicilian rising in January 1848 and the grant of constitutions in Naples, Tuscany, Piedmont and the Papal States, followed by risings in Milan and Venice in March.
Legacy of the 1848–49 revolutions

Why did Victor Emmanuel II keep the constitution?

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Partly from a sense of honour to his father's grant, and partly because Radetzky's moderate peace terms did not require its abolition.
Economic developments in Piedmont

Why did Cavour pursue free trade?

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To modernise Piedmontese industry by competition, to bind the state to Britain and France commercially, and to raise revenue through expanded trade.
Causes of the Second Italian War of Independence

What was the Orsini Affair?

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Felice Orsini's bomb attack on Napoleon III in January 1858, after which his appeal from prison for French action in Italy moved the Emperor rather than deterring him.
Garibaldi’s takeover of the south in 1860

What was the significance of Calatafimi?

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Garibaldi's victory over a larger Neapolitan force in May 1860 convinced Sicilians the expedition could succeed and brought thousands of recruits.
Obstacles to unity after 1861

Why was Cavour's death in June 1861 a blow to the new Kingdom of Italy?

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He died less than three months after the kingdom was proclaimed, leaving lesser successors such as Ricasoli to tackle Rome, Venetia and the southern insurgency.
Solving the problem of Rome, 1861–70

What was the Syllabus of Errors?

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Pius IX's 1864 condemnation of liberalism, progress and modern civilisation, which made any accommodation between the papacy and the new Italy impossible.

The 16 subtopics

One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.

Subtopic	What it covers	Questions
Challenges to the restored order, 1830–1847	Recall questions on the political geography of 1830, Austrian dominance, the failed revolutions of 1830 to 1832, the cultural revival, and the limits of early nationalism.	10
Nationalist influences, 1830–47	Recall questions on Mazzini and Young Italy, why his risings failed, the federalist alternative of Balbo and Gioberti, Charles Albert, and the hopes placed in Pius IX.	10
Revolutions of 1848–49	Recall questions on the short-term causes, the Five Days of Milan, the Venetian republic, why Charles Albert declared war, Custoza, and the Roman Republic.	10
Reasons for the failure of the revolutions	Recall questions on Austrian and French intervention, the papacy's reaction, Piedmont's weaknesses, division among the revolutionaries, and the absence of popular support.	10
Legacy of the 1848–49 revolutions	Recall questions on the survival of the Statuto, the exiles who came to Piedmont, the hardening of the papacy, Garibaldi's reputation, and what the failure proved.	10
Political developments in Piedmont	Recall questions on Victor Emmanuel II, the connubio and Cavour's premiership, the anticlerical laws, the Calabiana crisis, and what kind of Italy Cavour wanted.	10
Economic developments in Piedmont	Recall questions on free trade treaties, railway and port building, the Cavour Canal, the rising debt, and how economic strength served foreign policy.	10
Developments in diplomacy	Recall questions on relations with Austria after 1849, the Crimean intervention, the Congress of Paris, the National Society, and British and French attitudes.	10
Causes of the Second Italian War of Independence	Recall questions on support for nationalists elsewhere, the Orsini Affair, the Plombieres agreement, how the war was provoked, and Garibaldi's volunteers.	10
Impact of war with Austria, 1859–60	Recall questions on Magenta and Solferino, why Napoleon III made peace at Villafranca, the risings in the central duchies, and the cession of Nice and Savoy.	10
Garibaldi’s takeover of the south in 1860	Recall questions on the Expedition of the Thousand, Calatafimi, how he won Sicilian support, the crossing to the mainland, and Cavour's attitude.	10
The north and south unite, 1860–61	Recall questions on the invasion of the Papal States, Castelfidardo, the plebiscites, the meeting at Teano, and why Garibaldi handed over his conquests.	10
Obstacles to unity after 1861	Recall questions on Austrian and French power, papal rejection, Piedmontisation, the brigands' war in the south, and the politics of trasformismo.	10
Solving the ‘Venetian question’, 1861–66	Recall questions on Garibaldi's failures at Aspromonte, the September Convention, the Prussian alliance, Custoza and Lissa, and how Venetia was actually transferred.	10
Solving the problem of Rome, 1861–70	Recall questions on the French garrison, the Syllabus of Errors, Mentana, the breach at Porta Pia, the Law of Guarantees, and the Non Expedit.	10
Unity in 1870	Recall questions on the national institutions that bound Italy together, the religious question, the north-south divide, the language question, and emigration.	10

The Unification of Italy, c1830-70 is 160 of the 6,832 questions in the guide.Get the guide, £9

How the guide is worked

Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.

Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.

Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.