How far do you agree that the limited appeal of Mazzini's ideas was the main reason for the slow progress of national unity in Italy in the years 1815-48?
How far do you agree that the limited appeal of Mazzini’s ideas was the main reason for the slow progress of national unity in Italy in the years 1815-48?
In 1815, Italy had just emerged from Napoleonic rule and was completely divided into nine separate states; with different rulers and different cultures. By 1848, these states had progressed towards, albeit merely to a limited extent, some kind of national unity – national unity meaning the feeling of being united and together as one country. It could be argued that the lack of success in the reception of Giuseppe Mazzini’s ideas was the most substantial reason explaining this slow progress; though some would say that it was mostly down to factors such as the power and influence of Austria, poor communication within Italy, or its weak military. Through analysing the evidence, it would appear that the main reason for the slow progress of national unity within this time frame was poor communication. The limited appeal of Mazzini’s ideas was a moderate reason for why progress of national unity was slow. His ideology had a heavily religious side, which was therefore unattractive to the atheists or agnostics born under Napoleon’s Church-and-Pope-free rule. As well as this, it caused clashes with other patriots who felt it was in the nationalist cause’s better interest to bend their ideologies towards economic benefits, in order for the movement to appeal to peasants. Additionally, Mazzini made it clear that he desired a democratic system for a single Italy – an idea that would have horrified and been shunned by the aristocrats and those who held positions of power in individual states, as this high status would be lost to those who were voted in. Another section of Mazzini’s ideology which was not well-received by aristocrats and wealthier members of society was his egalitarianism; his desire to end poverty, redistribute wealth through taxation, and establish free and compulsory education. These policies
In 1815, Italy had just emerged from Napoleonic rule and was completely divided into nine separate states; with different rulers and different cultures. By 1848, these states had progressed towards, albeit merely to a limited extent, some kind of national unity – national unity meaning the feeling of being united and together as one country. It could be argued that the lack of success in the reception of Giuseppe Mazzini’s ideas was the most substantial reason explaining this slow progress; though some would say that it was mostly down to factors such as the power and influence of Austria, poor communication within Italy, or its weak military. Through analysing the evidence, it would appear that the main reason for the slow progress of national unity within this time frame was poor communication. The limited appeal of Mazzini’s ideas was a moderate reason for why progress of national unity was slow. His ideology had a heavily religious side, which was therefore unattractive to the atheists or agnostics born under Napoleon’s Church-and-Pope-free rule. As well as this, it caused clashes with other patriots who felt it was in the nationalist cause’s better interest to bend their ideologies towards economic benefits, in order for the movement to appeal to peasants. Additionally, Mazzini made it clear that he desired a democratic system for a single Italy – an idea that would have horrified and been shunned by the aristocrats and those who held positions of power in individual states, as this high status would be lost to those who were voted in. Another section of Mazzini’s ideology which was not well-received by aristocrats and wealthier members of society was his egalitarianism; his desire to end poverty, redistribute wealth through taxation, and establish free and compulsory education. These policies