SECTION A: CORE CONTENT. Option A: The nineteenth century. Italy faced many difficulties before it achieved unification.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2024). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] The ruling family, the Habsburgs, married into some of the ruling families of Italian states.
2. [1] Austria made laws which the Italian states had to obey.
3. [1] Newspapers in Italian states were censored.
4. [1] Metternich used the army to maintain control.
5. [1] Metternich opposed nationalists in Italy.
6. [1] Liberals and nationalists were spied on.
7. [1] Those who openly opposed Austria were imprisoned.
8. [1] Liberals and nationalists resented Austrian control.
9. [6] Level 4: Explains two reasons.
10. [4-5] Level 3: Explains one reason. Four marks for one explanation, five marks for explanation supported by specific contextual knowledge.
11. [4] Cavour resigned because he felt let down by the truce which Austria had signed at Villafranca. He was angry that Austria still had control of Venetia and disliked the arrangement which had been made in Tuscany, Parma and Modena where provisional governments had been established. He was also furious that he had not been consulted by Napoleon III about the ending of the war.
12. [2-3] Level 2: Identifies or describes valid reason(s); addresses the question but does not explain. One Level 2 mark for each identification/description.
13. [1] The truce at Villafranca went against what had been agreed at Plombières.
14. [1] Cavour was angry with Napoleon III as he did not consult Piedmont about the end of the war.
15. [1] Cavour did not gain Venetia.
16. [1] Victor Emmanuel II would not allow Piedmont to continue the war against Austria.
17. [1] Level 1: Writes about the topic but does not address the question.
18. [1] Cavour had made a secret agreement with Napoleon III.
19. [0] Level 0: No creditable response. 0 marks
20. [10] Level 5: Explains both sides and supports a valid judgement on 'how far'. One explanation or more on each side.
21. [10] Garibaldi's Sicilian campaign was important to Italian unification because it brought the South of Italy under control and allowed the process to be completed. However, much work had already been done by Cavour to unite the north of Italy and remove Austrian influence. Cavour laid the groundwork for unification and Garibaldi helped to finish off the process. Without Cavour's work this would not have been possible.
22. [7-9] Level 4: Explains both sides. For candidates to be awarded this level they must have one explanation on each side. Seven marks for one explanation on each side; one additional mark for each additional explanation on either side.
23. [4-6] Level 3: Explains one side. One Level 3 mark for each explanation.
24. [4] Garibaldi's Sicilian campaign was important for the unification of Italy because he defeated the Bourbon forces in Palermo and from there captured the whole of Sicily. Having Sicily under Italian control allowed him to launch an attack on the mainland. He launched an attack on Naples. While fighting there, Piedmont's army joined him and Naples was defeated. This unified Italy under the control of Victor Emmanuel II.
25. [4] Other factors were also important. For example, Cavour's diplomatic moves led to France fighting alongside Piedmont against Austria in 1859. Cavour involved Piedmont in the Crimean War so that he was involved in the peace talks in 1856. This allowed him to develop close relations with Napoleon III of France. The result was that in 1858 Napoleon invited him to Plombières where he agreed to provoke Austria into war. This war led to Piedmont winning control of Lombardy, Tuscany, Parma, Modena and much of the Papal States. This was a major step towards a united Italy under Piedmont and had been achieved by Cavour's diplomacy.
26. [2-3] Level 2: Identifies or describes valid points; addresses the question but does not explain. One Level 2 mark for each identification/description.
27. [1] Garibaldi's force defeated the Neapolitans at Calatafimi.
28. [1] Garibaldi advanced to Palermo and laid siege to it.
29. [1] Cavour's negotiations with Napoleon III helped to remove Austrian influence.
30. [1] Garibaldi marched to Messina and won the battle of Milazzo.
31. [1] Garibaldi's force crossed the Straits of Messina and entered Naples with 24 000 men.
32. [1] The Piedmontese army arrived and Garibaldi handed over all conquered territory to them in the name of Victor Emmanuel II.
33. [1] After war with Austria, Piedmont gained control of Lombardy and Tuscany.
34. [1] Level 1: Writes about the topic but does not address the question.
35. [1] Garibaldi was important to Italian unification.
36. [0] Level 0: No creditable response. 0 marks