The World War and What was Behind It; Or, The Story of the Map of EuropeBénézet, Louis Paul
History
The World War and What was Behind It; Or, The Story of the Map of Europe
Bénézet, Louis Paul
Europe -- History; World War, 1914-1918 -- Causes
Questions for Review
What were the motives of each of the nations represented at
the Congress of Vienna?
Why were the Russians and Prussians the leaders of the
meeting at first?
Why did the English and Austrians assist each other?
What had Napoleon done for Poland? (See last chapter.)
What kings deposed by Napoleon were set back on their
thrones?
What were the greatest wrongs done by the Congress?
How did the Poles protest against the settlement made by the
Congress?
What did the Belgians do about it?
What did the French finally do to the Bourbon kings?
Chapter XI.
Italy a Nation at Last
The Crimean War curbs Russia.—Cavour plans a United Italy.—War
against Austria.—Garibaldi, the patriot.—The Kingdom of Sardinia
becomes part of the new Kingdom of Italy.—Venice and Rome are
added.—Some Italians still outside the kingdom.
Meanwhile, Italy, under the leadership of two patriots named
Mazzini and Garibaldi, was in a turmoil. The Austrians and the
Italian princes who were subject to them were constantly crushing
some attempted revolution.
One thing which helped the cause of the people was that the great
powers were all jealous of each other. For example, Russia
attacked Turkey in 1853, but France and England were afraid that
if Russia conquered the Turks and took Constantinople, she would
become too powerful for them. Therefore, both countries rushed
troops to aid Turkey, and in the end, Russia was defeated,
although thousands of soldiers were killed on both sides before
the struggle was over.
You will remember that the counties of Piedmont and Savoy in
western Italy, together with the island of Sardinia, made up a
little kingdom known as the “Kingdom of Sardinia.” This country
had for its prime minister, a statesman named Count Cavour, who,
like all Italians, strongly hoped for the day when all the people
living on the Italian peninsula should be one nation. At the time
of the Crimean War (as the war between Russia on the one side and
Turkey, France, and England on the other was called) he caused
his country also to declare war on Russia, and sent a tiny army
to fight alongside of the English and French. A few years later,
he secretly made a bargain with Napoleon III. (This was what
President Bonaparte of France called himself after he had been
elected emperor.) The French agreed to make war with his country
against the Austrians. If they won, the Sardinians were to
receive all north Italy, and in return for France’s help were to
give France the county of Savoy and the seaport of Nice.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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