... that in 1796 France invaded Italy and conquered the whole mainland, for 18 years the population was exposed to the nationalistic and revolutionary ideals, which apart form a few clubs consisting of nobles and bourgeoisie had never had a wide bases of distribution. With the occupation the Italian states were as one, with one custom, language, law and order. The land was redistributed and Italy was finally made into a modern system of government and infrastructure except industry which was suppressed so not to rival France. From this a new middle class began to appear, since the old feudal ties were destroyed. Probably the greatest development which the French occupiers introduced was representative government based on the French system, this beginning of elected assemblies, started a fire that did not go out and caused many of the uprisings/revolutions. After the defeat of Napoleon Italy's leaders were returned to power with ...

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