The Revolution of 1848 – iTopper IAS Academy

By the year 1848 the Risorgimento movement had stabilised. It meant that all Italian classes believed in the resurrection or revival of Italy’s glory.
The revolution of 1848, resulted in a liberal constitution in Sicily.
In Piedmont, the king granted several rights to the people. He even marched on Lombardy, and challenged the Austrians.
However he was defeated in the battle of Custoza and abdicated in favour of his son.
Italian patriots staged an uprising in Papal state. The Pope fled and a republic was proclaimed under Mazzini’s leadership.
But the French King sent troops to help the Pope. Mazzini’s army was defeated. The Pope came back to power. Thus the revolts failed to achieve the unification.
The process failed because Austria and France were strong. It was impossible to defeat them without foreign help.
Secondly, except Piedmont, all states opposed unity, because they would lose their autonomy. The patriots too were disunited. They lost hope in Mazzini’s method.
This was the condition when Count Cavour entered the next phase of the unification movement.