Individuals played an important part in the achievement of Italian unification.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2025). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Austria governed the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia.
2. [1] Tuscany had an Austrian ruler.
3. [1] The Duchy of Modena had an Austrian ruler.
4. [1] The Austrians were caught by surprise by uprisings.
5. [1] The Austrians controlled large parts of northern Italy.
6. [6] Level 4: Explains two reasons.
7. [4-5] Level 3: Explains one reason.
8. [5] In 1860 there was a revolt in Palermo in Sicily organised by followers of Mazzini. The revolt was against rule by the King of Naples. Garibaldi saw this as a good opportunity to liberate Sicily from Bourbon rule, as the King of Naples was one of the foreign rulers that Garibaldi wanted to overthrow.
9. [2-3] Level 2: Identifies or describes valid reason(s); addresses the question but does not explain.
10. [1] A revolt had broken out in Sicily.
11. [1] To overthrow the rule of the King of Naples.
12. [1] To help the cause of Italian independence.
13. [1] To annex Sicily for Piedmont.
14. [1] Level 1: Writes about the topic but does not address the question.
15. [1] Garibaldi did this because he could see there was a good opportunity to be successful and help Italy.
16. [10] Level 5: Explains both sides and supports a valid judgement on 'how far'.
17. [10] Cavour was a nationalist, but he used different methods from those used by people like Garibaldi who were republicans and revolutionaries. Even though Cavour did not support Garibaldi, he was still a nationalist. He believed in Italy as a united nation but wanted Piedmont to be in control and so he went about it a different way from Garibaldi.
18. [7-9] Level 4: Explains both sides.
19. [4-6] Level 3: Explains one side.
20. [6] Cavour was Prime Minister of Piedmont, and his loyalties were to that country rather than to Italy. He certainly was not a nationalist in the way that Garibaldi because he regarded those ideas as revolutionary and dangerous. He wanted to win Piedmont more territory and make it a great country. This is why he won Tuscany and Emilia for Piedmont in 1860 and did not support Garibaldi's invasion of Sicily. He only sent an army to invade the Papal States because he wanted to take control of events away from Garibaldi.
21. [6] OR Cavour was an Italian nationalist. It is no mistake that during his time as Prime Minister of Piedmont Italian unification was mostly achieved, and he became the first Prime Minister of Italy. He achieved this through diplomacy and was keen to get rid of the Austrians from Italy. He was responsible for Tuscany and Emilia being annexed to Piedmont. This was the beginning of a united Italy.
22. [2-3] Level 2: Identifies or describes valid points; addresses the question but does not explain.
23. [1] Cavour refused to help Garibaldi and the Thousand.
24. [1] He tried to stop Garibaldi invading the mainland.
25. [1] His main interest was in making Piedmont great.
26. [1] He was keen to get rid of Austrian control from Italy.
27. [1] He acquired Tuscany for Piedmont.
28. [1] He became Prime Minister of Italy.
29. [1] Level 1: Writes about the topic but does not address the question.
30. [1] Cavour was a great leader of Piedmont and Italy, but I do not think he can be called a nationalist.