Internal and external factors were important in the move towards Italian unification.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2022). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Cavour built up a relationship with Napoleon.
2. [1] Piedmont went to the peace conference.
3. [1] Piedmont felt it was owed a favour for supporting France.
4. [1] Piedmont gained allies against Austria.
5. [1] The agreement involved Napoleon in Italian affairs.
6. [1] A major power was needed to help remove Austria from Italian states.
7. [1] It put Piedmont at the head of the Italian unification movement.
8. [1] If it worked, it would allow Piedmont to form a northern federation with Venetia and Lombardy.
9. [1] It made Cavour the leading Italian politician.
10. [1] To the French it would mean a weak state on its southern border.
11. [Level 3/4 explanation example] The Plombières agreement was important for Italian unification because Piedmont was able to get a major power to support their efforts to remove the influence of Austria from the northern Italian states. If this agreement was successful, Piedmont would be able to unite with Lombardy and Venetia and form a northern Italian confederation.
12. [1] Garibaldi liberated Sicily.
13. [1] Garibaldi drove the French out of southern Italy.
14. [1] Cavour ensured Piedmont dominated Italian politics.
15. [1] Cavour's diplomatic skill was important.
16. [1] Cavour achieved the removal of Austria.
17. [Level 3 explanation example - Garibaldi's responsibility] Garibaldi was important to unification. He led an expedition to Sicily, which he captured. He seized Naples and then liberated the whole of southern Italy. This was important because these lands were the last to be liberated from foreign control and this enabled Italy to be fully united.
18. [Level 3 explanation example - Cavour's responsibility] However, Garibaldi was not as important as Cavour. Cavour's diplomatic skill ensured Piedmont dominated Italian politics, and to this end he continued the programme of reform and opposed Austrian domination. Without the removal of Austria, unification would have been impossible.