Young Italy

Young Italy

 Italian Giovine Italia

Movement founded by Giuseppe Mazzini in 1831 to work for a united, republican Italian nation. In contrast to earlier independence movements of the Carbonari, Young Italy was to be based on support from the Italian people, who would be educated in their political role. To propagate his ideas, Mazzini published the journal Giovine Italia (1832–34). The movement spread in northern Italy and by 1833 included more than 50,000 members. It staged revolts in the 1830s and '40s, but it failed to win popular support for insurrection. In 1848 Mazzini replaced Young Italy with the Italian National Committee. After 1850 his influence declined as leadership of the movement for Italian unification passed to Camillo Benso, count di Cavour. See also Risorgimento.