Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
The unification of Italy, c1830–70 - 3 The creation of the Kingdom of…
Full specification wording
Paper 2, Option 2D.1: The unification of Italy, c1830–70 - 3 The creation of the Kingdom of Italy, 1856–61: Impact of war with Austria, 1859–60: significance of Magenta and Solferino; the nature of the peace settlement. Cavour’s resignation and its significance; annexation of central Italian states; loss of Nice and Savoy.
The war of 1859 saw French and Piedmontese forces defeat Austria at Magenta in June and Solferino in June, but the battles were costly and Napoleon III feared Prussian intervention and radical…
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The war of 1859 saw French and Piedmontese forces defeat Austria at Magenta in June and Solferino in June, but the battles were costly and Napoleon III feared Prussian intervention and radical revolution in Italy. He therefore made the Armistice of Villafranca in July 1859, which gave Lombardy to Piedmont but left Venetia under Austria and allowed the central Italian states to return to their rulers. Cavour, furious at the incomplete peace, resigned in July 1859. However, nationalist assemblies in central Italy voted for annexation to Piedmont in 1860, and Cavour returned to power in January 1860. As agreed at Plombières, France received Nice and Savoy in 1860, which caused controversy but confirmed the Franco-Piedmontese alliance.
What earns the marks
- Explains the military and political significance of Magenta and Solferino, including casualties and French concerns.
- Analyses the nature of the peace settlement at Villafranca and why it disappointed Italian nationalists.
- Assesses why Cavour resigned and what his resignation revealed about his relationship with the king and Napoleon III.
- Explains how the central Italian states were annexed to Piedmont in 1860 and why this mattered for unification.
- Evaluates the loss of Nice and Savoy as the price of French support and its impact on Cavour and Italian nationalism.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing Villafranca with a full peace treaty that ended the war completely.
Put it right: It was an armistice that left Venetia Austrian and central states unresolved.
Thinking Cavour resigned permanently.
Put it right: He returned to power in January 1860.
Assuming Nice and Savoy were given away before the war.
Put it right: They were ceded in 1860 as part of the Plombières agreement.
Exam tips
- Distinguish between the military outcome of battles and the political outcome of the peace.
- Use the central Italian annexations to show how unification advanced despite Villafranca.
- Explain the significance of Cavour’s resignation in terms of his aims and the wider nationalist movement.
Try the lesson
The start of the Paper 2, Option 2D.1: The unification of Italy, c1830–70 - 3 The creation of the Kingdom of Italy, 1856–61: Impact of war with Austria, 1859–60: significance of Magenta and Solferino; the nature of the peace settlement. Cavour’s resignation and its significance; annexation of central Italian states; loss of Nice and Savoy. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which two battles in 1859 were the main Franco-Piedmontese victories over Austria?
Listen
The war of 1859 saw French and Piedmontese forces defeat Austria at Magenta in June and Solferino in June, but the battles were costly and Napoleon III feared Prussian intervention and radical revolution in Italy. He therefore made the Armistice of Villafranca in July 1859, which gave Lombardy to Piedmont but left Venetia under Austria and allowed the central Italian states to return to their rulers. Cavour, furious at the incomplete peace, resigned in July 1859. However, nationalist assemblies in central Italy voted for annexation to Piedmont in 1860, and Cavour returned to power in January 1860. As agreed at Plombières, France received Nice and Savoy in 1860, which caused controversy but confirmed the Franco-Piedmontese alliance. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains the military and political significance of Magenta and Solferino, including casualties and French concerns. Analyses the nature of the peace settlement at Villafranca and why it disappointed Italian nationalists. Assesses why Cavour resigned and what his resignation revealed about his relationship with the king and Napoleon III. Explains how the central Italian states were annexed to Piedmont in 1860 and why this mattered for unification. A common slip: Confusing Villafranca with a full peace treaty that ended the war completely. Instead, it was an armistice that left Venetia Austrian and central states unresolved. Exam tip: Distinguish between the military outcome of battles and the political outcome of the peace.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
War and diplomacy
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Nationalist mobilisation
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Leadership and resignation
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Territorial change and its consequences
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- War and diplomacy
- The war of 1859 saw French and Piedmontese forces defeat Austria at Magenta and Solferino, but Napoleon III then made the Armistice of Villafranca.
- Nationalist mobilisation
- Nationalist assemblies in central Italy voted for annexation to Piedmont in 1860, which mattered for unification.
- Leadership and resignation
- Cavour, furious at the incomplete peace, resigned in July 1859, but returned to power in January 1860.
- Territorial change and its consequences
- Villafranca gave Lombardy to Piedmont but left Venetia under Austria, and France received Nice and Savoy in 1860 as agreed at Plombières.
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