NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF ITALY AND GER MANY ( 1859-71 ) The unification of Italy and Germany, which the popular revolutions of 1848 had failed to achieve, was accomplished by revo lution from above. In Italy the movement was initiated and directed by the Sardinian Premier.
Cavour (q.v.) ; in Germany it was carried through by the Prussian Premier, Bismarck (q.v.). Aus tria. was the great obstacle to both movements, and it took two great wars to expel the Austrians from Italy and from Germany. It was not in the interest either of Russia or of France that strong States should be established in central Europe: hut Russia remained neutral, because. remember ing the aid given to Austria in 1849. the Czar bitterly resented the 'ungrateful' attitude as sumed by Austria during the Crimean War: and Napoleon III. (q.v.) assisted Sardinia and en couraged Prussia, partly in expectation of petty advantages, partly by reason of an unpractical zeal for the 'principle of nationality.' In 1859 France and Sardinia defeated Austria, and Sar dinia obtained Lombardy. France was paid for her services by the cession of Savoy and Nice. Simultaneously all the small States of North Italy and the northern provinces of the States of the Church established revolutionary govern ments and demanded union with Sardinia. In I860 Garibaldi (q.v.) overthrew the Kingdom of the Two Sieilies and placed all Italy south of Rome in the hands of the King of Sardinia. In 1361 the Kingdom of Italy was established, in cluding all of the peninsula except Venice and Rome. During these movements Prussia stood
inactive. In 1803 Denmark, in violation of its treaty engagements, endeavored to incorporate Schleswig. Prussia, of which Bismarck was now Premier, acting in concert with Austria, made war on Denmark, and the allies obtained joint sovereignty over Schleswig-Holstein (q.v.). In 1866, in alliance with Italy. Prussia made war on Austria. Austria was supported by all the South German States and by the more important States of North Germany, but victory rested with Prussia. (See SEVEN WEEKS' WAR, ) Italy ob tained Venice; Prussia annexed a considerable part of North Germany, and organized with the remaining principalities and cities a North Ger man federal State, of which the King of Prus sia was hereditary President. Failing to obtain any compensation for his benevolent neutrality, Napoleon 111. was forced by French popular feel ing to quarrel with Prussia and to endeavor to arrest the unification of Germany. In the ensu ing war (1870-71) the South German States acted with Prussia : and during the German siege of Paris, King William of Prussia was pro claimed Emperor of a united Germany. To this new empire France was fe-reed to cede Alsace and a part of Lorraine. (See FRANCO-GERMAN WAn.1 During the war, Italy annexed Rome.