SITUATION IN EUROPE AND AMERICA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CENTURY
After the Napoleonic period in Europe, and the Congress of Vienna, at the beginning of this century, a lot of secret societies were born, as they were the only way to oppose the regime. They did not involve workers or peasants: they were a typically bourgeois phenomenon. The most important was the Carboneria with constitutional purposes. In Italy, secret societies have aimed at the unification of the country.
Between 1816 and 1824 the entire Latin American sub-continent broke the centuries-old chains that bound it to the Iberian conquistadores. That was because Spain and Portugal were very weak and the Creoles were similar in economic strength and political will to the French bourgeois of the revolution. Moreover, the rebels could count on the help of Britain and its economy.
At the same time, in the USA the political life of the country was organized around two major parties, in continuous debate: the Republican Party, which supported the farmers, and the Federal Party, which supported the industrial bourgeoisie.
What is happening now in Europe?
The secret societies are still contrasting absolute power, while in some countries, like Britain, the governments are running a policy of social integration, with the extension of the right to vote to middle class members.
Also, the phenomenon of colonialism is increasing, as the main European countries are engaged in a race to the colonial conquest. Thanks to technological and military supremacy and a substantial success of the balance policy established in Vienna, France, Great Britain, Belgium, Germany, are looking at the rest of the world as a land of conquest.
In 1847-48, the so-called "Spring of the Peoples", saw the development of various revolutionary movements throughout Europe. In Italy patriots guided by great men like Mazzini organized revolts which brought to the granting of constitutions. Unfortunately, most of these insurrections ended with armed repressions by the monarchs, who restored their power.
Luckily, in the end Italian patriots have succeeded: they have worked hard at the creation of a new united country, under the King of Savoy,0 Vittorio Emanuele II, who has become KING of ITALY.
1850-1870: years of great changes in Europe and America
The Bridge - 1861 - Erasmus+
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