Unification Of Italy Essay Research Paper Q — страница 4

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of Sicily. The landing was of bizarre coincidence with several British battle ships which were casually sailing along the coast of Sicily. The Sicilian garrison was afraid to shoot at British ships, and instead, let Garibaldi?s men land on Sicily?s shores unharmed. (ref. H.O. #2 p. 133) When the garrison realized his mistake, it was too late. Garibaldi?s army easily conquered Sicily and headed on to the Italian mainland. He fought his way (using mainly guerilla warfare) to Naples, which he eventually conquered. By now he had many more volunteers join his army (including a British legion of 650 men). (ref. H.O. #2 p. 133) By now, Garibaldi has achieved the unexpected. He liberated all of Southern Italy. The French weren?t very keen with the idea of Garibaldi getting too close to

Rome, so they proposed Britain to block Garibaldi. Britain, after asking what Cavour wishes, and getting a positive public answer, but a negative private answer, refused the proposal. After all, also Britain was a strong supporter of Garibaldi?s expedition. (ref. H.O. #2 p. 135). Cavour and Victor Emmanuel had mixed feelings about Garibaldi?s expedition. They feared he would declare the land he conquered a Republic, or head on and try conquering Rome, greatly provoking the French. (ref. H.O. #2 p. 135). Cavour persuaded Victor Emmanuel to lead an army of 35,000 men through the Papal States and not allow Garibaldi invade Rome. (ref. H.O. #1 p. 38). But by now, Garibaldi had no intentions of conquering Rome. After he conducted a plebiscite in the Kingdom of the 2 Sicilies, he found

out that all they wished was to join Piedmont Sardinia. Shortly afterwards, Garibaldi and King Victor Emmanuel 2nd met in the North of Naples where Garibaldi handed over all the land he conquered to Victor Emmanuel 2nd, thus, acknowledging him as the King of a Unified Italy. (ref. H.O. #1 p. 138). Now, the unification of Italy was complete. Thanks to Garibaldi?s war knowledge, and Cavour?s diplomacy, Italy was finally unified under Victor Emmanuel 2nd. Only 2 areas were left to be unified, Rome and Venetian. Rome seemed to be the natural capital of the unified Italy, and was held by the French, and Venetia, a large territory in the North East part of Italy held by the Austrians. But soon enough, they too were annexed to Italy. (ref. H.O. #1 p. 38). On 1866, Austria had to

withdraw its army from Venetia to help it fight an allied force of Italy and Prussia. Victor Emmanuel easily marched into Venetia, and confirmed its annexation to Italy through a plebiscite. (ref. H.O. #1 p. 38). On 1870, France too had to withdraw its forces from Rome after it engaged in a war with Prussia. Now that Rome wasn?t guarded, the Piedmontese army easily entered the Papal States conquering Rome and declaring it the capital of Italy on October 2nd 1870. (ref. H.O. #1 p. 38). This was the final end of the legendary unification of Italy, a story of great disappointments, surprises, and a happy ending. Though many problems later arose for the fresh country, Rome remains unified till today, but not as a monarchy but as a republic, and not with the same territories, but with

new ones. But that is a different view in Italian history.