Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
The unification of Italy, c1830–70 - 2 The rise of Piedmont, 1849–56:…
Full specification wording
Paper 2, Option 2D.1: The unification of Italy, c1830–70 - 2 The rise of Piedmont, 1849–56: Legacy of the 1848–49 revolutions: Victor Emmanuel II and the Statuto; the impact on Austrian dominance; the impact on the papacy; the French occupation of Rome; the failure of Mazzini; developments in liberalism and nationalism.
The 1848–49 revolutions left a complex legacy.
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
The 1848–49 revolutions left a complex legacy. Victor Emmanuel II retained the Statuto, making Piedmont a constitutional monarchy and a refuge for liberals. Austrian dominance was shaken but restored, with Lombardy–Venetia firmly controlled and rulers restored in Tuscany, Modena and Parma. The papacy turned against liberalism after Pius IX fled Rome; the Roman Republic was crushed by French troops, who occupied Rome until 1870, protecting papal authority. Mazzini's republicanism failed, discrediting his methods and exposing divisions among nationalists. Liberalism survived in Piedmont, while nationalism became more pragmatic, focusing on Piedmontese leadership and diplomacy rather than popular insurrection.
What earns the marks
- Explains that Victor Emmanuel II kept the Statuto, so Piedmont remained a constitutional monarchy with a parliament, civil liberties and a basis for liberal politics.
- Analyses the impact on the papacy: Pius IX abandoned liberal sympathies, fled to Gaeta, and returned under French protection, making the papacy a conservative force opposed to Italian unification.
- Explains the French occupation of Rome: French troops defeated the Roman Republic in 1849 and garrisoned Rome, preserving papal temporal power and blocking unification centred on Rome.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating the 1848–49 revolutions as a total failure for Italian nationalism.
Put it right: Recognise that Piedmont's survival as a liberal state and the shift to pragmatic nationalism were significant legacies.
Assuming the French occupation of Rome ended immediately after 1849.
Put it right: French troops remained in Rome until 1870, protecting the papacy and shaping Italian unification.
Confusing Mazzini's ideological influence with practical success.
Put it right: Mazzini's republicanism failed in 1848–49, but his ideas inspired later nationalists, even as his methods were rejected.
Exam tips
- Link each legacy to the broader question of how it shaped the rise of Piedmont and the path to unification after 1849.
- Use precise dates and terms, such as the Statuto (1848), the Roman Republic (1849), and the French garrison, to support analysis.
- Compare the relative importance of legacies: for example, weigh Piedmont's constitutional survival against Austrian restoration when assessing change.
Try the lesson
The start of the Paper 2, Option 2D.1: The unification of Italy, c1830–70 - 2 The rise of Piedmont, 1849–56: Legacy of the 1848–49 revolutions: Victor Emmanuel II and the Statuto; the impact on Austrian dominance; the impact on the papacy; the French occupation of Rome; the failure of Mazzini; developments in liberalism and nationalism. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
After the revolutions of 1848–49, which ruler kept the Statuto in force in Piedmont?
Listen
The 1848–49 revolutions left a complex legacy. Victor Emmanuel II retained the Statuto, making Piedmont a constitutional monarchy and a refuge for liberals. Austrian dominance was shaken but restored, with Lombardy–Venetia firmly controlled and rulers restored in Tuscany, Modena and Parma. The papacy turned against liberalism after Pius IX fled Rome; the Roman Republic was crushed by French troops, who occupied Rome until 1870, protecting papal authority. Mazzini's republicanism failed, discrediting his methods and exposing divisions among nationalists. Liberalism survived in Piedmont, while nationalism became more pragmatic, focusing on Piedmontese leadership and diplomacy rather than popular insurrection. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains that Victor Emmanuel II kept the Statuto, so Piedmont remained a constitutional monarchy with a parliament, civil liberties and a basis for liberal politics. Assesses the impact on Austrian dominance: Austrian power was reasserted in Italy after 1849, with Lombardy–Venetia under direct rule and restored rulers in central duchies, but the revolutions exposed the fragility of Austrian control and encouraged Piedmontese opposition. Analyses the impact on the papacy: Pius IX abandoned liberal sympathies, fled to Gaeta, and returned under French protection, making the papacy a conservative force opposed to Italian unification. Explains the French occupation of Rome: French troops defeated the Roman Republic in 1849 and garrisoned Rome, preserving papal temporal power and blocking unification centred on Rome. A common slip: Treating the 1848–49 revolutions as a total failure for Italian nationalism. Instead, recognise that Piedmont's survival as a liberal state and the shift to pragmatic nationalism were significant legacies. Exam tip: Link each legacy to the broader question of how it shaped the rise of Piedmont and the path to unification after 1849.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Statuto
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Roman Republic
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Piedmont
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Mazzini
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See every definition
- Statuto
- Retained by Victor Emmanuel II, it made Piedmont a constitutional monarchy with a parliament, civil liberties and a basis for liberal politics.
- Roman Republic
- Crushed by French troops in 1849, its collapse discredited Young Italy's insurrectionary strategy and Mazzini's leadership.
- Piedmont
- A constitutional monarchy and refuge for liberals where liberalism survived, emerging as a potential leader of unification.
- Mazzini
- His republicanism failed, discrediting his methods and exposing divisions among nationalists, though his ideas inspired later nationalists.
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