Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
The unification of Italy, c1830–70 - 1 Challenges to the restored order…
Full specification wording
Paper 2, Option 2D.1: The unification of Italy, c1830–70 - 1 Challenges to the restored order and the failure of revolution, c1830–49: Challenges to the restored order, 1830–1847: political geography in 1830; the failure of the 1830–32 revolutions; the cultural challenge of the Risorgimento; political ideas and secret societies; economic divisions and social problems.
After 1815 the Congress of Vienna split Italy into states: Piedmont-Sardinia under Savoy, Lombardy-Venetia under Austria, the Papal States, Tuscany, Parma, Modena and the Bourbon Kingdom of the…
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
After 1815 the Congress of Vienna split Italy into states: Piedmont-Sardinia under Savoy, Lombardy-Venetia under Austria, the Papal States, Tuscany, Parma, Modena and the Bourbon Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. This political geography shaped every challenge to the restored order. The 1830–32 revolutions, sparked by Carbonari risings in Modena, Parma and the Papal States, failed because Austria intervened and local support was narrow. Culturally, the Risorgimento grew through literature, music and language, giving patriots a shared identity. Secret societies such as the Carbonari and Young Italy spread political ideas of liberalism and nationalism. Economic divisions between industrialising north and agrarian south, plus poverty and illiteracy, weakened any united movement.
What earns the marks
- Explains the 1830 political geography: Austrian control of Lombardy-Venetia, Savoy Piedmont-Sardinia, Bourbon Two Sicilies, Papal States and smaller duchies.
- Analyses why the 1830–32 revolutions failed: Austrian military intervention, limited popular support, poor coordination between Carbonari cells.
- Assesses the cultural challenge of the Risorgimento: novels, opera, language and historical writing that fostered national consciousness.
- Evaluates political ideas and secret societies: liberalism, nationalism, Carbonari, Young Italy and their methods and limitations.
- Examines economic divisions and social problems: north-south gap, agrarian poverty, illiteracy and weak communications as obstacles to unity.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating Italy as a single state in 1830.
Put it right: It was a patchwork of separate states under foreign and local rulers.
Assuming the 1830–32 revolutions had widespread popular backing.
Put it right: Support was limited and Austria's intervention was decisive.
Confusing cultural nationalism with political revolution.
Put it right: The Risorgimento's cultural strand built identity but did not itself overthrow governments.
Exam tips
- Use a map or mental map of 1830 Italy to anchor political geography answers.
- Link each challenge to a specific state or region to show precise knowledge.
- Balance cultural, political and economic factors rather than listing them separately.
Try the lesson
The start of the Paper 2, Option 2D.1: The unification of Italy, c1830–70 - 1 Challenges to the restored order and the failure of revolution, c1830–49: Challenges to the restored order, 1830–1847: political geography in 1830; the failure of the 1830–32 revolutions; the cultural challenge of the Risorgimento; political ideas and secret societies; economic divisions and social problems. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which state was the largest and most populous in the Italian peninsula in 1830?
Listen
After 1815 the Congress of Vienna split Italy into states: Piedmont-Sardinia under Savoy, Lombardy-Venetia under Austria, the Papal States, Tuscany, Parma, Modena and the Bourbon Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. This political geography shaped every challenge to the restored order. The 1830–32 revolutions, sparked by Carbonari risings in Modena, Parma and the Papal States, failed because Austria intervened and local support was narrow. Culturally, the Risorgimento grew through literature, music and language, giving patriots a shared identity. Secret societies such as the Carbonari and Young Italy spread political ideas of liberalism and nationalism. Economic divisions between industrialising north and agrarian south, plus poverty and illiteracy, weakened any united movement. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains the 1830 political geography: Austrian control of Lombardy-Venetia, Savoy Piedmont-Sardinia, Bourbon Two Sicilies, Papal States and smaller duchies. Analyses why the 1830–32 revolutions failed: Austrian military intervention, limited popular support, poor coordination between Carbonari cells. Assesses the cultural challenge of the Risorgimento: novels, opera, language and historical writing that fostered national consciousness. Evaluates political ideas and secret societies: liberalism, nationalism, Carbonari, Young Italy and their methods and limitations. A common slip: Treating Italy as a single state in 1830. Instead, it was a patchwork of separate states under foreign and local rulers. Exam tip: Use a map or mental map of 1830 Italy to anchor political geography answers.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Restoration and reaction after 1815
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Revolution and repression, 1830–32
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Cultural nationalism and the Risorgimento
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Secret societies and political ideas
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Restoration and reaction after 1815
- After 1815 the Congress of Vienna split Italy into separate states under foreign and local rulers, and this political geography shaped every challenge to the restored order.
- Revolution and repression, 1830–32
- Carbonari risings in Modena, Parma and the Papal States failed because Austria intervened and local support was narrow.
- Cultural nationalism and the Risorgimento
- The Risorgimento grew through literature, music and language, giving patriots a shared identity, though this cultural strand did not itself overthrow governments.
- Secret societies and political ideas
- Groups such as the Carbonari and Young Italy spread political ideas of liberalism and nationalism, but poor coordination between Carbonari cells limited them.
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