Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Nationalism and the Creation of Italy

Nationalism is a word used to express ones feelings for his country. Nationalism can mean many things that help supprot ones love or liking for the country. Living in the country paying government taxes voting, join military forces, getting jobs, using the countries currency, speaking the native language are many ways of nationalism. It also means that the the countrys loyalty should be represented by kings or government but by the people of the nation who live there.

Nationalism was used to create the nation of italy. Italy before it was a whole country, was separated. Each part had its own rulers, they figure this was the best way to keep democarcy alive, but the people of italy didnt approve.Giuseppe Mazzini was a ruler who supported nation states. He believed italy should be united not separated with different rulers and country laws. His goal was to unite italy, However many wars broke out because of disagreements between Giuseppe Garibaldi. Piedmont Sardinia was the largest, most powerful state in Italy. Camillo Di Cavour worked hard to expand Piedmont Sardinia's power. Giuseppe Garibaldi achieved his goal and united Italy. Now Italy was finally whole.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Simon Bolivar and Latin American Revolutions


Simon Bolivar was the main person who liberated most of the upper part of south america. With his military forces of more than 10,000 people liberated the upper part of south america. He got his ideas after making his trip to spain there he learned the ideas of the enlightenment such as Locke, Rousseau and Voltaire. Then he visited france and saw their independence. Lastly he went to United states where they had just won their independence and finally was convinced that bolivia should fight for their independence.
He lost many battles and had to retreat to many countries such as Colombia, Jamaica and Haiti, but with these defeats he gained reputation that he wanted independence. Later he made his army bigger by joining with English and Irish veterans of napoleonic wars and funds of haiti to capture bogota. By 1825 bolivar had vanished all the control of the spanish in the north of south america. Bolivar won the independence for Bolivia, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Bolivar was the george washington of south america.
Bolivia made named their country after Bolivar in honor of his success for defeating the Spanish army in Peru. After defeating the Spanish, Peru decided to name that territory Bolivia in honor of Simon Bolivar.