The Call for Italian Unity

Thesis: The Young Italy Brotherhood believed that they were given a mission by God to create a Republic state in order to make the state of Italy unified and more like the God-intended states of equality.

x- Young Italy brotherhood- composed of men believing Italy should be one whole nation

x- Young Italy is Republican, believes every nation is destined to form an equal society

x- Must combine education and insurrection to be effective- insurrection meaning the use of guerrilla warfare

x-Every Italian is ordained by God to fulfill this mission

x- Swears to assist to aid Young Italy movement in action and consul

Noah Fardon's Perry Aricle

Thesis: Nationalism, inspired by past Italian glories, arose in a divided Italy to demand an end to foreign occupation and the ultimate unification of the Italian peninsula. This nationalism is what inspired Gieuseppe Mazzin, a leading figure in the Risorgimento struggle for Italian nationhood, to create “Young Italy,”; a society dedicated to the cause of Italian unity through education and insurrection.

I. Aspects/Promises of Young Italy Membership Oath

A. Belief in the “law of Progress and Duty”

B. Belief that Italy is destined to become one unified nation

C. Convinced that Italy possesses sufficient strength within herself to become a united nation, and that the “ill success” of Italy’s former efforts is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of misdirection from the past revolutionary elements within the country.

II. Young Italy is Republican

A. Republican because, theoretically, every nation is destined by the law of God and humanity to form a free and equal community of brothers.

1. Republican government is believed to be the only one that can make certain of such a future

III. Means by which Young Italy planned to meet its aims

A. Education and insurrection

1. Education must ever be directed to teach by example, word, and pen the necessity of insurrection

2. Insurrection must be so conducted as to render it a means of national education

Insurrection – by means of guerilla bands – is the true method of warfare for all nations desirous of emancipating themselves from a foreign yoke.

de Tocqueville - "The June Days"

Alexis de Toqueville asserts that even though there is no concrete evidence of revolution, it is still active in the hearts of the working classes.

• Despite the fact that there are on riots, or visible disorders, a revolution is still at hand. Ideas are brewing in the hearts of men that destined to upset the law, ministry, government, and even society itself. When these ideas are unleashed, they create a formidable revolution.
• The revolution that occurred in June did not seek to to change the form of government, but to alter the order of society. It was not a political struggle, but instead class against class combat.
• This revolution represented the theories of Socialism. The poor people had been told that the wealth of the rich had somehow been stolen from the working class, and that nobody above the working class was fit to govern it. Many believed that the distribution of wealth was unequal and immoral.
• The revolt did not come from a number of conspirators, but an entire section of the population. Women also fought in it and were often the last to surrender. The spirit of insurrection was everywhere.
• The main reason that the revolt had been defeated was its radicalism. No understanding with it was possible, so everyone joined together to defeat it.

Timothy Bulso

Carl Schurz, Revolution Spreads to the German States

MHEAP-Andrew Fortugno

Carl Schurz, Revolution Spreads to the German States

Thesis: After the February Revolution in Paris the German National movement seemed to take action, the people became excited and started to demand their rights and take them by force until even Metternich had his downfall.

· Carl Schurz (1829-1906)

o Student at University of Bonn

o After revolution failed he fled to Switzerland and eventually went to the United States, where he had a distinguished career as a senator, cabinet member, and journalist.

· Agitation from the February Revolution brings students to want change in Germany

· Unable to study and focus the students look for German national unity

· Schurz expresses the want of “ Constitutional form of government on a broad democratic basis.”

· People sang the “Marseillaise” as a “hymn of liberty”

· Revolutionary spirit spread all over Germany

· Students in Vienna where the first to assail to the Emperor of Austria with cry of liberty and citizens rights.

· Downfall of Prince Metternich

· Masses surged the Streets in Prussia and everyone looked for events of great importance

· Black, Red, and Gold Flag

von Gagern: Call for German Unity

Heinrich von Gagern outlines the nationalist sentiment that motivated student activists in the German states

"Love of the Fatherland" is the primary motivator

Political unity necessary for cultural unity: "one land...one people"

An interest in "the spirit of the times" (i.e. Zeitgeist of Enlightened Europe), in a nation that was not directly involved in the first "wave" of Enlightened philosophy

Constitution as a means to this end of liberal reform

Interest in the social services that a state might provide, such as education

Desire for a balanced government, with a national assembly that can overrule the princes

An air of "German exceptionalism" : the "freest possible" constitution must be adopted

"Young Italy" by Giuseppe Mazzini

Young Italy was a society dedicated the unification of Italy. The following are beliefs found in the oath of Young Italy:

• Young Italy is a brotherhood that believes in progress and that Italy is destined to be one nation.
• In order to achieve this goal we must rely on a unity of effort so that we may have a nation of free men and equals
• Young Italy is Republican because only a Republic insures a free and equal community
• Education and insurrection are the means by which a Republic will be formed. Insurrection must be conducted by means of national education
• The best way of insurrection is by guerrila bands which brings together the people into a warlike deed
• God has given us this land which we must reclaim from domestic and foreign tyrannys. God has given us the power.
• We will not stop until we achieve out goals

de Tocqueville, "The June Days"

In a speech to the French Chamber of Deputies on January 29, 1848, Alexis de Tocqueville warned the officials about the mood of the laboring poor.
-French people think there is no danger because there are no riots
-The danger is deep within people's minds
-They are building up anger and resentment deep inside of themselves
-They talk about their angers
-when their opinions take root, they will spread universally into the masses and there will be a great uprising

Later writings in Recollections
-The pesants rose up and fought without a flag, without a war-cry, without a leader, and without unity
-The insurrection would have been very dangerous if the rebels had unity and order
- Take the June Days as a warning