Revolutions+in+Italy

// **Before: The Conditions** //
 * __ Revolutions in Italy: The Conditions __**

In 1815, French rule (which led to the abolition of feudal taxes and the weakening of aristocracy) was abolished in Italy after the Vienna settlement. Italy was spread out into five major states:

Kingdom of Piedmont Sardinia The Central Duchies Austrian Empire in Lombardy and Venetia Papal States Two Sicilies

Italy was //economically// background, //commerce// lost favor with the nobility since the 15th or 16th century. Ninety percent of the land was based on //agriculture//, however there was a population growth which made it that there was not enough land for peasants. //Feudal// taxes were revived. Traveling between states was not encourage. Different people spoke different dialects and were loyal to their state and not Italy as a whole.

Social Classes were Organized Amongst:

Professional middle class (lawyers, civil servants, writers, etc. Financial middle class (bankers, merchants, industrialists, etc.) Workers (skilled craftsmen) Unproductive classes (beggars, road sweepers, criminals, etc.)

// **Why Revolt?** // //Papal States:// Power of the clergy was often abusive, there was the confinement of Jews in the ghetto. The Inquisition was restored. //Kingdom of Two Sicilies:// Corrupt government, unenlightened rule. Economic stagnation. Strict taxation. //Piedmont-Sardinia:// Imposed censorship. Confined Jews to ghettos. Brought back custom duties. Subject => had to attend mass and confession at least once a math.

//The Central Duchies:// “Autocracy and extortion were the twin principles of government”. //Lombary and Venitia:// Heavy taxation + no freedom of speech resulted in hate of Austrians.

All around: political apathy, //peasants// just tried to survive. Austria was in power: Naples and Tuscany were in direct Alliance with Austria. Members of Austrian family => ruled most of the city states => this did not bind well with the Italian people.

// **Why Now? (Post 1815)** //

// Spread of New Attitudes and Ideas: // //There were// new reforms amongst the educated middle class. People were influenced by the Napoleonic system and thought imposed on Italy after 1815. __Risorgimento__ of Italy implied a “reborn” unified Italy. People who believed this were stuck between tow beliefs:

Nationalism => loyalty to the State, and also yearning for a unified Italy incorporating all aspects of the state. There was a pride in shared background and the belief that only a united country can survive.

Liberalism: Belief that freedoms like though and speech and freedom from arrest and imprisonment without trial. Stood by the important rights of men, and also wanted //freedom from Austrian rule.// Liberalist were scene as radicals as they wanted a republic. eNationalists believe only a monarchy can maintain these rights.

Both beliefs came from Napoleonic times and eras.

By : Soukaina Amira