Swihart Italy, Germany, and Brazil by Cecilia Swihart

Flag of Italy in 1861

28swihartcecilia — 2024-10-15 14:29:43 UTC

Italy Unification Video

28swihartcecilia — 2024-10-15 14:32:02 UTC

Austria controlled a lot of power in the northeast of the Italian states. In the northwest, the Kingdom of Sardinia was the only genuinely independent state from Austria. In 1848 revolutions across Europe spread to the Italian states and many were led by Giuseppe Mazzini who founded the Young Italians. This was considered the first war of Italian Independence but it failed. Victor Emmanuel ll of Sardinia allied with Cavour and sent troops to fight Russia alongside France and England. Eventually, Napoleon lll of France allied with the two and attacked Austria in the successful second war of Italian Independence. Giuseppe Garibaldi conquered the southern Italian states and gave them to Victor Emmanuel ll. The kingdom of Italy was proclaimed in 1861 without the cities of Venice and Rome, which were added later. Even though Italy was unified, there were still divides in economics, language, and culture.

Map of Italy in 1861

28swihartcecilia — 2024-10-15 14:34:46 UTC

Realism Painting

28swihartcecilia — 2024-10-15 14:41:30 UTC

Flag of Germany in 1871

28swihartcecilia — 2024-10-16 14:14:19 UTC

Germany Unification Video

28swihartcecilia — 2024-10-16 14:14:45 UTC

The semi-unified German states formed the German Confederation during the Napoleonic wars to end Prussia and Austria's rivalry, but it failed. As revolutions spread through Europe in 1848, liberals met in Frankfurt to push the unification of the German states. They decided to be a lesser Germany under Prussia and offered the Prussian king the crown but he declined. In 1861, King Wilhelm l became the new king of Prussia and made Otto von Bismarck his chancellor. He attacked Austria which forced the German states to choose a side. Prussia wins and unites the northern states into the Northern German Confederation. France then declared war on Prussia which caused the other German states to side with Prussia and they won. In 1871, the German empire was proclaimed and Wilgelm l became emperor.

Map of Germany in 1871

28swihartcecilia — 2024-10-16 14:15:58 UTC

Italy Unification Article

28swihartcecilia — 2024-10-16 14:18:20 UTC

Victor Emmanuel ll governed Piedment with a democratic parliament which contrasted with the policies of the other Italian states. Camillo Benso di Cavour was made the head of Piedmont's cabinet and improved the economy, signed treaties, and reduced their debt. In the Crimean War, he allied with France and England, allowing him to challenge Austrian dominance in Italy. Cavour's agreement with Napoleon lll of France led to a battle in 1859 against Austria. Giuseppe Garibaldi's Expedition of the Thousand allowed southern Italy to join Piedmont. In 1861, the Kingdom of Italy was officially established with Victor Emmanuel ll as its king.

Romanticism Painting

28swihartcecilia — 2024-10-16 14:26:08 UTC

Germany Unification Article

28swihartcecilia — 2024-10-16 14:27:15 UTC

In 1862, Otto von Bismarck became the new Minister President of Prussia by King William l. Prussia winning the Austro-Prussian war allowed Bismarck to create the North German Confederation. This abolished the previous German Confederation and left Austria out of the federation's affairs. After Prussia defeated France in the Franco-Prussian War, the German Empire was founded in 1871. This united all of the scattered German states except for Austria.

Flag of Brazil in 1822

28swihartcecilia — 2024-10-16 14:28:37 UTC

Brazil Independence Video

28swihartcecilia — 2024-10-16 14:29:33 UTC

During the Napoleonic wars, the king of Portugal, King John lll, escaped to Brazil and stayed there after the wars ended. In 1820, the Portuguese rebelled and set up the Cortes, an assembly of the nobility and important people in Portugal. Two years later, John lll returned to Portugal and left his son Pedro to rule Brazil in his place. He found out that the Cortes wanted to remove his remaining powers and abolish all reforms his government made in Brazil, so he declared independence from Portugal. Pedro took the title of emperor but ruled with the constitution. Many Portuguese troops were still in Brazilian port cities so they blockaded them and they eventually surrendered. In 1824 a civil war started in Portugal and they surrendered to, and made peace with, Brazil.

Map of Brazil in 1822

28swihartcecilia — 2024-10-16 14:30:31 UTC

Romanticism Painting

28swihartcecilia — 2024-10-16 14:36:41 UTC

Brazil Independence Article

28swihartcecilia — 2024-10-16 14:37:38 UTC

In 1807, the king of Portugal fled to Brazil to escape from Napoleon's invasions. He decided to stay in Brazil and rule there after the French forces were defeated in Europe. But in 1820 he returned to Portugal and left his son and heir, Prince Dom Pedro behind to rule Brazil. Various Brazilian leaders convinced him to declare Brazil's independence from Portugal and found the Empire of Brazil. This led to a two-year-long war of independence, ending with a treaty signed by the two countries in 1825.