This Year the Federated Italo-Americans of Southern California will not celebrate Republic Day and Columbus Day as it usually does, in view of a greater event. We have combined the two dates into a single one and gave it the highest priority. On June 10, 2011 the Federated Italo-Americans of Southern California will commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy, and is inviting all Italians and Italian-Americans to unite and remember this historical moment occurred 150 years ago, March 21st, 1861. Don't miss this huge opportunity to be there and make a difference, to show your colors, and keep alive your heritage.
For more info click to view, download and print the flyer.Be a sponsor in the
150th Anniversary Of Italy's Unification Souvenir Book
or Request and Invitation Card
Risorgimento
(rēsôr'jēmĕn'tō) [Ital.,=resurgence], in 19th-century Italian history, period of cultural nationalism and of political activism, leading to unification of Italy.
Secret societies such as the Carbonari appeared and carried on revolutionary activity after the restoration of the old order by the Congress of Vienna (1814-15). The Carbonari engineered uprisings in the Two Sicilies (1820) and in the kingdom of Sardinia (1821). Despite severe reprisals inspired by the Holy Alliance, new uprisings occurred in 1831 in the Papal States, Modena, and Parma. Italian literature of this period, especially the novels of Alessandro Manzoni and the marchese d'Azeglio and the poetry of Ugo Foscolo and Giacomo Leopardi, did much to stimulate Italian nationalism.
The Risorgimento was primarily a movement of the middle class and the nobility; since economic issues were virtually ignored, the peasantry remained indifferent to its ideals. Political activity was carried on by three groups. Giuseppe Mazzini (click on picture for detailed biography) led the radical faction through his secret society Giovine Italia [young Italy], founded in 1831. Its program was republican and anticlerical; it vaguely alluded to social and economic reforms. The conservative and clerical elements among the nationalists generally advocated a federation of Italian states under the presidency of the pope. The moderates-the propertied bourgeoisie and the north Italian promoters of industry-favored unification of Italy under a king of the house of Savoy. This monarch, as it later turned out, was Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia.
The Fight for Unification
Sardinia assumed the leadership of the Risorgimento in 1848 when the Lombardo-Venetian kingdom rose against Austrian rule and King Charles Albert intervened in favor of the rebels. After initial victories Charles Albert was defeated by the Austrians at Custoza and was forced to sign an armistice and withdraw his forces. Renewing his attack in 1849, he was again defeated by the Austrians at Novara and abdicated in favor of his son, Victor Emmanuel II (click on picture for detailed biography), who made peace. Meanwhile, revolutions were suppressed in Venice (under Daniele Manin), Parma, Modena, Tuscany, the Two Sicilies, and the Papal States, where a short-lived Roman Republic was proclaimed under the leadership of Mazzini.
The liberal movement gradually coalesced around Victor Emmanuel II and the policies of his minister Camillo Benso di Cavour (click on picture for detailed biography). Cavour realized that Sardinia could not defeat Austria without foreign aid. He set out to win French support and British sympathy by introducing sweeping social reforms within Sardinia, by inaugurating a free-trade policy, and by joining (1855) the allies in the Crimean War. Emperor Napoleon III met Cavour at Plombières (1858) and promised military aid against Austria.
War broke out in 1859. The French and Sardinians defeated the Austrians at Magenta and caused them to retreat at Solferino. These victories were so costly, however, that Napoleon signed a separate armistice at Villafranca di Verona (ratified by the Treaty of Zürich). Austria retained Venetia, and Sardinia gained only Lombardy. It was also stipulated that Tuscany, Modena, Parma, Bologna, and the Romagna, where revolutionists had organized provisional governments, were to return to their former rulers. This provision was not fulfilled; plebiscites were held (Mar., 1860) in these states, which voted for union with Sardinia.In
return for recognizing these plebiscites, Napoleon received Savoy and Nice. The spectacular conquest of the Two Sicilies (1860) by Giuseppe Garibaldi (click on picture for detailed biography) was followed by Sardinia's annexation of Umbria and the Marches. After the Two Sicilies had voted for union with Sardinia, the kingdom of Italy was proclaimed in Mar., 1861.
The remaining territorial objectives of the Risorgimento were Venetia, still in Austria's possession, and Rome and Latium, which the pope was able to retain because of French protection. Through its alliance with Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, Italy obtained Venetia. Italy seized the remainder of the papal possessions in 1870 when France withdrew its troops during the Franco-Prussian War. Italian unification was then complete, but unsatisfied nationalism continued to exist in the form of irredentism.
2011...
Today Italy is a sigle Nation composed of 20 Regions with Sicily reaching the southern most point and Trentino Alto Adige the most northern region.
Italy is also a major partner of the European Union and one of the most targeted countries in the world for its art, culture, and folklore, by tourists coming from all over the world to admire the 2500-years-old archeology remains.
Italy is famous for its fashion, automotive,
and agriculture, besides the culinary art, with ‘pizza’ spearheading a long list
of delicacies. Let’s not also forget that Italy is the 5th most industrialized country
in the world. No wonder they call it...
“Il Bel Paese”, The Gorgeous Country!
(click on the link to view video, or click the Italian Flags in the banner)
Be a sponsor in the
150th Anniversary Of Italy's Unification Souvenir Book
or Request and Invitation Card