Objectives and Importance of the Carbonari movement.
What are the objectives of the Carbonari movement? Discuss the importance of the Carbonari movement.
Carbonari movement and its objectives:-
The Carbonari movement is a significant chapter in the initial stage of the Italian unification movement. The word Carbonari comes from carbon, meaning coal. The members of the Carbonari association carried burning coals and propagated the ideals of Italian liberation. The liberation of Italy was the only vow of the Carbonari.
In fact, Carbonari was a secret society. The Italian nationalist movement had been stifled by the Vienna Conference of 1815. But with the help of the Carbonari, Italian nationalism rose again from the ashes like a phoenix. The radical center of the Carbonari association was Naples.
The objectives of the Carbonari were -
(a) To end foreign rule in Italy and achieve Italian independence.
(b) Establishing a democratic system of government.
(c) Establishing individual freedom.
(d) Introducing a new constitution.
(e) Emphasizing morality and socialism.
The historian Marriott says that the Carbonari established public opinion against the existing system of government. They even created a huge stir throughout Italy by presenting the democratic ideals of Christianity and the ideals of Western rationalism to the people.
Importance and significance of the Carbonari movement: -
1. Opportunity for self-examination: -
The Carbonari movement prepared an opportunity for self-examination for the nationalist leadership of Italy. Until then, the Carbonari had mainly followed conspiracies, armed uprisings, etc. Apart from this, religious sentiments were involved in the movement. But the failure of the Carbonari movement made the Italian nationalist leaders realize the need for a new and flawless program.
2. Laying the foundation for the unification of Italy:-
Although the Carbonari movement apparently failed, its political importance was far-reaching. The end of foreign rule from Italy - which was the major demand of the Carbonari - strongly inspired every nationalist person at that time. As a result, although the Carbonari movement failed, the demands soon became vibrant.
3. Inspiration for the later nationalist movement in Italy:-
The Carbonari movement inspired the later revolutionary movements organized in Italy. Especially, Mazzini's Young Italy movement was deeply influenced by the Carbonari movement.
4. Risorgimento:-
The word Risorgimento means revival. Although the Vienna Conference dealt a heavy blow to Italian nationalism, the ideological aspects of the French Revolution created a huge stir throughout Europe. Therefore, although the Carbonari movement failed in Italy, the Carbonari movement had a direct impact on the revival of the Italian people.
5. Spread of liberal ideals:-
The progressive and liberal ideals that emerged from the French Revolution spread throughout Italy through the Carbonari. As a result, although the Carbonari movement failed, the impact of those ideals could not be erased.
6. Opposition to conservatism:-
The Vienna Conference of 1815 wrapped the whole of Europe, including Italy, in the cloak of conservatism. Needless to say, the Vienna Conference was the main obstacle to European progressivism. But the Carbonari movement strongly opposed the conservative policies of the Vienna Conference and demanded the establishment of progressive reforms and liberal ideals. As a result, it gave hope to the European people.
7. Unveiling the nature of Austria: -
The true nature of Austria was revealed in Europe as a result of the Carbonari movement. Austria suppressed the Carbonari movement and other nationalist movements by applying a policy of unlimited barbarity, oppression and cruel repression. Therefore, the nationalist movement of Italy became anti-Austria as a result of the Carbonari movement.
8. Spread of revolutionary literature: -
The spread of revolutionary literature in Italy intensified with the help of the Carbonari movement. Through all this literature, progressive ideals such as the weakness of the existing monarchical system, individual freedom, civil rights, etc. were propagated and, above all, the fact that the development of Italy was not possible without the end of foreign rule from Italy was presented to the public. The most notable of these literatures was the Risorgimento magazine edited by Cavour.
9. Spread of nationalist sentiment among the Italians:
The spread of nationalist sentiment among the Italians by the members of the Carbonari Society was the most influential success of the Carbonari movement. Although the Carbonari movement failed, that sentiment did not disappear from the minds of the people. People realized that it was not possible to establish the unity of Italy and preserve civil rights in any other way than to achieve Italian independence.
Although historians disagree on how successful the Carbonari movement was, there is no doubt that the Carbonari movement played a far-reaching role in the first stage of establishing the unity of Italy.
