#AP European History: Unification & Diplomatic Tensions - Night Before Review 🚀

Hey! Let's make sure you're feeling super confident for tomorrow. We're going to break down the key stuff about Italian and German unification, and how those changes messed with Europe's diplomatic scene. Let's get started!

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The Breakdown of the Concert of Europe and Rise of Nationalism

The Concert of Europe was supposed to keep the peace, but it failed big time when nationalism started bubbling up in Italy and Germany. This failure created the perfect storm for unification. Think of it like a pressure cooker – the lid (Concert of Europe) couldn't hold the steam (nationalism) anymore, and boom! 💥

The Crimean War (1853-1856) showed how weak the Ottoman Empire was and cracked the Concert of Europe.

Key Concept

This war created the conditions for Italy and Germany to unify, which had been fragmented for centuries.
Growing nationalism in Italy and Germany was the real catalyst, leading to wars and ultimately, unification.

Key Concept

Memory Aid

Think of the Concert of Europe as a band that broke up because the members had different ideas about what music to play (nationalism). 🎶

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Unification of Italy

#Key Players and Ideas

Giuseppe Mazzini: Romantic nationalist who started Young Italy to inspire unification. He was all about the future generations. 🇮🇹
Count Camillo Cavour: The mastermind behind Piedmont-Sardinia's rise. He was a strategic genius, making alliances and manipulating events.
Giuseppe Garibaldi: The military muscle. He led the Red Shirts to kick out foreign powers. 💪

#Steps to Unification

Strong Centralized State: Piedmont-Sardinia, led by King Victor Emmanuel II and Cavour, became the base for unification.

Key Concept

Removal of Foreign Influence:
- Garibaldi's Red Shirts got rid of the Spanish Bourbons in Sicily and Naples.
- Cavour teamed up with France to push Austria out of Lombardy.
Official Unification (1871): Italian provinces voted to join a unified Italy. It was like a big 'yes' vote to freedom! 🎉

Exam Tip

Remember: Cavour was the brain, Garibaldi was the brawn. They worked together to make Italy happen.

#Final Pieces

Venetia joined after Italy didn't help Austria in the Austro-Prussian War.
Rome was taken after France pulled out to fight in the Franco-Prussian War.

Memory Aid

Think of the Italian unification like a puzzle, with different pieces (provinces) coming together to form a whole. 🧩

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Unification of Germany

#Key Player and Ideas

Otto von Bismarck: The ultimate Realpolitik guy. He used practical means, not just ideals, to unify Germany. He was all about power. 🇩🇪
Zollverein: The economic union of German states that fueled the idea of nationalism. Think of it as a sneak peek of what a unified Germany could be. 💰
Realpolitik: Bismarck's philosophy of using practical and material factors over ethics. It was all about getting the job done, no matter what.

Key Concept

Memory Aid

Realpolitik = Real Results. Bismarck was all about achieving his goals, even if it meant bending the rules.

#Steps to Unification

Danish War (1864): Prussia beat Denmark and created the North German Confederation.
Austro-Prussian War (1866): Prussia kicked Austria's butt, further weakening the Austrian Empire. This was a major power move. 👊
Franco-Prussian War (1870): Bismarck tricked France into declaring war, and Prussia won big time. France had to recognize Germany, pay up, and give up Alsace and Lorraine. 😬

Exam Tip

Remember Bismarck's wars: Danish, Austro-Prussian, Franco-Prussian. They were all strategic steps to German unification.

#Diplomatic Tensions

#France and Germany

France was humiliated by Germany after the Franco-Prussian War. They had to sign the treaty in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. Ouch! 🤕
This led to long-lasting tension and colonial conflicts, which would play a role in WWI.

#Austria and Hungary

Austria had internal tension with Hungarians, leading to the Compromise of 1867 and the creation of the Dual Monarchy. This was like a band-aid on a bigger problem. 🩹

#The Crimean War

Russia wanted control over Christian holy sites in the Ottoman Empire, but France got the rights. Russia invaded, and France, Britain, and Austria helped the Ottomans.
The war ended when Tsar Nicholas I died and his son, Alexander II, took over. It was a bit of a diplomatic reset button. 🔄

#The Balkans

First Balkan War (1912-1913): Balkan states pushed the Ottomans out of the region. It was a big win for independence. 🥳
Second Balkan War (1913): Fights broke out between the Balkan states over territory. This fueled tensions and set the stage for WWI. 🔥

Common Mistake

Don't mix up the causes of the Crimean War and the Balkan Wars. They're different conflicts with different triggers.

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Final Exam Focus

#High-Priority Topics

Nationalism: Understand how it fueled unification in Italy and Germany, and how it destabilized Europe.

Key Concept

Realpolitik: Know how Bismarck used it to unify Germany. It's a key concept!
The Crimean War: Understand its impact on the Concert of Europe. It's a turning point.
The Franco-Prussian War: Know its consequences for France and Germany. It's a big deal.
The Balkan Wars: Understand how they contributed to the tensions that led to WWI.

#Common Question Types

Multiple Choice: Expect questions about the key figures (Cavour, Garibaldi, Bismarck), the wars, and the results of unification.
Short Answer Questions (SAQs): You might be asked to explain the role of nationalism or compare the unification of Italy and Germany.
Free Response Questions (FRQs): Be prepared to analyze the causes and consequences of unification or to discuss the breakdown of the Concert of Europe.

Exam Tip

When tackling FRQs, make sure to use specific historical evidence to support your claims. Don't just make general statements.

#Last-Minute Tips

Time Management: Don't spend too long on any one question. Keep moving and come back if you have time.
Common Pitfalls: Avoid vague answers. Be specific with dates, names, and events.
Strategies: For FRQs, start with a clear thesis statement and organize your points logically.

Quick Fact

Remember the key dates: 1871 for the unification of Italy and Germany. These are often helpful for context.

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions

Which of the following best describes the political philosophy of Otto von Bismarck? (A) Liberalism (B) Conservatism (C) Realpolitik (D) Socialism
The Crimean War is significant because it: (A) Strengthened the Concert of Europe (B) Led to the immediate unification of Italy (C) Demonstrated the weakness of the Ottoman Empire (D) Resulted in a lasting peace in the Balkans
Which of the following was a major consequence of the Franco-Prussian War? (A) The strengthening of the Austrian Empire (B) The unification of Italy (C) The creation of the German Empire (D) The decline of nationalism in Europe

#Free Response Question

Analyze the ways in which nationalism contributed to both the unification of Italy and Germany and the breakdown of the Concert of Europe.

Point-by-Point Scoring Breakdown:

Thesis (1 point): A clear, historically defensible thesis that addresses both unification and the breakdown of the Concert of Europe due to nationalism.
Nationalism in Italy (2 points): * Explanation of how nationalist ideas (e.g., Mazzini's Young Italy) promoted unification. * Specific examples of how nationalism drove the actions of figures like Garibaldi and Cavour.
Nationalism in Germany (2 points): * Explanation of how nationalism was used by Bismarck to unify Germany. * Specific examples of how wars (Danish, Austro-Prussian, Franco-Prussian) were used to achieve German unification through nationalism.
Breakdown of the Concert of Europe (2 points): * Explanation of how the Crimean War and the rise of nationalism weakened the Concert of Europe. * Discussion of how the wars of unification disrupted the balance of power and led to new alliances.
Synthesis (1 point): * Connect the role of nationalism to broader themes, such as the rise of nation-states or the causes of World War I.

You've got this! Go in there, stay calm, and show them what you know. You're ready to rock this exam! 🤘