National unity was an old desire, aspired by thousands of Italian nationalists. However, the first struggles of the Italian unification movement only started after the decision of the congress of Vienna, which transformed present-day Italy into a true “patchwork quilt” (since it was divided into the Kingdom Sardinian-Piedmontese; Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom; Duchies of Parma, Modena and Tosaca; Papal States; Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.).
The first attempts to free Italian territory from foreign domination were made by a revolutionary organization called Young Italy. Which was led by Giuseppe Mazzini, who was a republican. The Young Italy organization defended the independence and transformation of Italy into a democratic republic through popular uprising.
Mazzini's followers, in 1848, promoted rebellions against Austrian domination in various parts of Italian territory. Despite having achieved military success, they were ultimately defeated by the mighty Austrian army. Even so, the nationalist ideal continued even stronger across the Italian peninsula.
From that moment on, the struggle for unification was led by the Sardinian-Piedmontese Kingdom, whose king was Victor Emanuel II and its prime minister, the Count of Cavour. The latter being one of the leaders of the Risorgimento (a movement that had the intention of making Italy relive its glory times), who represented all those who longed for unification around Piedmont, with the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.
Cavour won the support of the bourgeoisie and landowners and put into practice a plan to modernize the economy and army of Piedmont. He even tried to get closer to France in order to get military help to face Austria. He established a secret alliance with the France of Napoleon III, then began using the press to provoke Austria. The latter, in turn, responded by declaring war on the Sacro-Pimontes Kingdom. With the help of France, Cavour's army won impressive victories.
With the defeat, Austria was forced to surrender Lomabardy and the duchies of Parma, Modena and Tuscany, whose inhabitants had engaged in the struggle for national unity, to the Sarco-Piedmontese Kingdom. Continuing the struggle for unification, revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi, at the head of a thousand volunteers known as the red shirts, attacked the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and created conditions for the liberation of the domain foreign. Through a plebiscite, the inhabitants of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies decided that they too wanted to be ruled by King Victor Emanuel II.
In 1861, with most of present-day Italian territory under his control, Victor Emanuel II was proclaimed King of Italy. However, for the Italian unity to be complete, he must effect the conquest of Venice and Rome. After the victory of Prussia along with Italy over Austria, Venice was incorporated in the year 1866. Rome was only annexed in 1870. With the joining of Rome, the unification of Italy was completed.
16th to 19th century - wars - Brazil School
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/guerras/guerra-unificacao-italia.htm
