The decline of the Ottoman Empire opened new opportunities for the European powers, in which the powers took interest into arising opportunities the fall may offer. For instance, Russia would be able to expand its influence due to its close proximity with the Ottoman Empire and religious relations with the Greek Orthodox Christians. However, this persisting opportunity for Russia led to tensions and fear in the Austrian Empire, whereas Britain and France were interested in trading opportunities and locations in the eastern Mediterranean. Tensions worsen during the Crimean War, especially when France and Britain joined the war due to their fears of Russia’s …show more content…
possible victory when the Ottoman Empire disintegrates. The war not only weakens the empires that fought, but also destroyed and caused the withdrawal of the Europeans powers from the European affairs. The European powers were no longer allies, such that Austria no longer had power allies due to its neutrality in the war.
2. How did Camillo Cavour and Giuseppe Garibaldi contribute to the unification of Italy?
The unification of Italy was made possible with the aid from Camillo Cavour and Giuseppe Garibaldi. Cavour was an ingenious man who knew that Piedmont’s army would not be able to defeat Austria’ immense army alone, hence he pursued economic expansion and formed an alliance with Napoleon. Napoleon had the resources such as the French armies under his control in order to defeat the Austrians. Not only did Cavour gain Lombardy with the French aid, some northern Italian states were inspired to overthrow their governments and join the fight with Piedmont. On the other hand, Garibaldi had thousands of volunteers to form an army and embark on a military expedition up the Italian peninsula, thus gaining more territories. These combined conquests of Cavour’s and Garibaldi’s allowed a centralized government to be formed in Italy under the control of King Victor Emmanuel II and Piedmont.
3. How did Otto von Bismarck use realpolitik to unify the German states?
The unification of the German states was achieved by Otto von Bismarck by the use of realpolitik. For instance, he first goaded Austria into war in order to gain control of northern Germany. With Prussia’s control of the northern German states, they organized the states into the North German Confederation. Moreover, Bismarck manipulated the misunderstanding between France and Prussia in attempt to goad France into declaring war against Prussia. This movement forced the southern German states to honor their alliance with Prussia and join the war against France; thus fulfilling the unification of the German states when the southern Germany decided to join the North German Confederation. With the aid of the Prussian leadership and Bismarck’s application of realpolitik, the unification of Germany led to the triumph of absolute militaristic values in the states.
4. How was the creation of the Dual Monarchy an attempt to cope with nationalism in the Austrian Empire?
The nationalistic Hungarians were one of the major conflicts that existed within the Austrian Empire after its defeat from Prussia in 1866.
This conflict focused on the nationalism that a majority of people wanted; as a result, the negotiation of the Compromise of 1867 created Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary. This dual monarchy was a way to cope with the nationalism in the empire by establishing Hungary’s own constitution, legislature, capital, and bureaucracy. This creation was a solution to still keep the empire intact and orderly while still appeasing the nationalistic Hungarians, but not the other nationalities. However, the new state was still under the control of a single monarch and a common foreign policy, army, and system of finances.
5. How was Abraham Lincoln responsible for the unification of the United States?
Several southern states formed the Confederate States of America as a rival nation in response of the attempt to set slaves free, which led to the American Civil War between the North and South. After years of turmoil, the North eventually defeated the South when the Confederate forces surrendered on April 9, 1865. This war was a period of unrest and division in America, but Abraham Lincoln was able to lead the country back into unity with his
leadership.