Scratch

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March 17, 1861.
Italy, until now a multitude of small states, often ruled by foreign powers, unites. Many people die for this noble cause.

March 17, 2011.
One hundred and fifty years later, the Italian government wishes to implement drastic federal measures trying to split this country. They leave the Council when the national anthem plays.

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A brief story behind the united Italy

In the 1800s, Italy was not Italy. It was made up of many small states, some under their own rule, some under the Spanish and some under Napoleon of France.

Mazzini, a politician and journalist, dreams about a united Italy. He forms a group called "La Giovine Italia", or United Italy.

That's where "the hero of the two worlds", Giuseppe Garibaldi, comes in with his expedition in 1860. The leader of 1080 men, he leaves Genoa and brings these red shirts on an expedition to the South of Italy, on an attempt to reunite the two extremities (N and S). He faces many difficulties once arrived in Sicily, of which the most famous is the battle of Milazzo.

Garibaldi proclaims himself dictator of Sicily, and hands the country over to the first King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II, in a place we do not even know for sure. His trip has been a success and Mazzini's dream has become reality.

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The Italian Anthem

Many Italians regard the anthem as a simple patriotic element. Few know the entire story behind it.

The author of the anthem, to which the name "Inno di Mameli" (Anthem of Mameli) is of course Goffredo Mameli. He wrote the anthem at the young age of 20, and died during Garibaldi's expedition.

The lyrics really show how these people were ready to die for Italy's unification.

The first verse and the chorus were later put into music by Michele Novaro, but the song was not approved officially until Italy became a republic in 1946!

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The Italian Flag

Another element of our country that very few people know about entirely. Like the dividers in this post, the flag's colors are (in order) green, white and red. These three colors are present in "La divina commedia", the Divine Comedy by the famous poet Dante Alighieri. What they represent is really curious, but even I forgot what.

The flag actually was used right away (almost) as Italy's symbol, somewhat like France's blue-white-red after the French Revolution.

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That was quite a bit of history I wrote. Happy birthday, Italy!