Giuseppe Garibaldi: looks around WHERE AM I? THIS... CITY, FOREIGN. WHERE IS ITALY?
You're still in Italy, but this is Urban Italy.
URBAN ITALY? I WAS EXPECTING CHAOS. IN MY TIME, WE FIGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY'S UNITY. I LED THE EXPEDITION OF THE THOUSAND IN 1860, CONQUERING SICILY AND NAPLES.
That's good. Can you tell me about your life in Italy?
I AM BORN JULY 4TH, 1807, IN NICE, A TINY FRENCH TOWN ALONG THE ITALIAN RIVIERA. MY FAMILY IS POOR, AND I AM SENT TO AN ORPHANAGE AT AGE SEVEN. BY AGE FOURTEEN, I AM LIVING ON MY OWN, WORKING AS A CARPENTER'S APPRENTICE.
Wow, I wouldn't have thought it would be this tragic.
IT'S A HARSH REALEITY FOR MANY OF US IN THIS ERA. BUT IT'S ALSO A TIME OF GREAT CHANGE. IN 1831, I RETURN TO ITALY AND GET INVOLVED IN POLITICAL ACTIVISM.
Do you know who Dom Mignone is?
DOMENICO MIGNONE IS A NAME THAT STIRS DEEP EMOTIONS WITHIN ME. HE IS A PATRIOT, LIKE MYSELF. WE ARE COMRADES IN ARMS, FIGHTING FOR THE UNIFICATION OF ITALY.
Did you fight in any battles?
BATTLES ARE FOUGHT TO WIN WARS. I LEAD THE DEFENSE OF ROME IN 1849, AGAINST THE FRENCH WHO TRY TO ESTABLISH A UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OVER ITALY.
Wow, what was the outcome?
WE LOSE THAT BATTLE, BUT IT'S A SYMPBOLIC START TO OUR QUEST FOR UNIFICATION. I AM EXILED TO CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI, BUT I RETURN IN 1854 TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT.
How did you feel after being exiled from Italy?
EXILE TAUGHT ME TO APPRECIATE THE TRUE MEANING OF FREEDOM. I RETURN TO ITALY AFTER THE DEATH OF MY FRIEND, PIETRO LOMBARDI. LOMBARDI'S LAST WORDS TO ME WERE TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT FOR UNIFICATION. I OBEY, AND IN 1860, I LEAD THE EXPEDITION OF THE THOUSAND.
What is the Expedition of the Thousand?
THE EXPEDITION OF THE THOUSAND IS AN ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS SETTING OUT FROM GENOA TO CONQUER SICILY AND NAPLES, LEADING TO THE FORMATION OF A UNIFIED ITALIAN KINGDOM. WE DEFEAT THE BOURBON KINGDOM OF TWO SICILIES IN THE WAR OF 1860-1861.
Do you think that we should continue fighting for Italy?
ITALY MUST BE UNIFIED AND LIBERATED FROM FOREIGN DOMINION. WE MUST FIGHT UNTIL VICTORY IS OURS.
But isn't Italy already unified?
WHILE ITALY HAS BEEN UNIFIED UNDER A MONARCH, IT IS STILL UNDER THE CONTROL OF A MONARCHY. WE MUST FIGHT FOR A REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT, WHERE ALL CITIZENS ARE EQUAL.
What are your views on religion and politics?
RELIGION SHOULD BE SEPARATED FROM POLITICAL LIFE. THE CHURCH HAS TOO MUCH POWER OVER INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND THE POOR. I BELIEVE IN A SECULAR GOVERNMENT THAT SERVES THE NEEDS OF ALL ITS CITIZENS, IRRESPECTIVE OF RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION.
What are your views on slavery?
SLAVERY IS ABHORANT AND UNJUST. IT VIOLATES AN INDIVIDUAL'S BASIC RIGHTS; THEIR FREEDOM AND DIGNITY. IT IS A BLATANT VIOLATION OF NATURAL LAW AND GOD'S LAW. I OPPOSE SLAVERY IN ALL ITS FORMS.
Tell me about your role in the Battle of Solferino.
THE BATTLE OF SOUFELINO TOOK PLACE IN 1859. IT INVOLVED THE FRANCE AND SARDINIA, WITH THE LATTER BEING AN ALLY OF MINE. AS A BRIGADIER GENERAL, I LED MY TROOPS WITH SKILL AND COURAGE, HELPING Secure VICTORY FOR THE SARDINIAN ARMY.
And what about the Defense of Rome?
THE DEFENSE OF ROME IN 1849 WAS A CRUCIAL MOMENT IN MY CAREER. I HELD THE POSITION OF COMMANDANT OF THE TROOPS OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC. WITH FEW TROOPS AND LOW MORALE, I FIGHT WITH BRAVEY AND DETERMINATION, SHOWCASING MY SKILL AS A STRATEGIST AND LEADER.
What are your political views?
I AM A RADICAL POLITICAL ACTIVIST. I BELIEVE IN THE PRINCIPLES OF ANARCOZIONISM AND DEMOCRACY. I FAVOR EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN AND WORKERS, AND I OPPOSE PRIVILEGE BASED ON SOCIAL CLASS OR ORIGIN. I WANT A SOCIETY WHERE GOVERNMENT IS BASED ON THEConsENT OF THE GOVERNED.
What were some of the challenges you faced during the war?
DURING THE WAR, I FACED MANY CHALLENGES. ONE OF THE GREATEST WAS MAINTAINING MORALE AMONG MY TROOPS. THEY WEREprimarily COMPOSED OF VILLAGERS AND PEASANTS, MANY OF WHOM WERE NEW TO ARMY LIFE. ADDITIONALLY, WE WERE OUTNUMBERED AND OUTGUNNED BY THE ENEMY FORCES.
How do you keep morale high among your soldiers?
WE KEEP MORALE HIGH BY MAINTAINING A POSITIVE AND DETERMINED ATTITUDE, BY FOCUSING ON REASON WE ARE FIGHTING THIS WAR. OUR CAUSE IS JUST AND IMPORTANT TO US. WE REMIND THEM THAT THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY, AND THAT VICTORY WILL BRING A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL ITALIANS.
Tell me about the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino.
THE AFTERMATH OF THE BATTLE OF SOUFELINO WAS A TIME OF CELEBRATION AND REFLECTION. WE HAD EMERGED VICTORIOUS, SECURING THE UNIFICATION OF ITALY. WE WERE HONORED WITH A VICTORY PARADE THROUGHOUT THE STREETS OF VENICE AND ROME, WHERE WE WERE MET WITH THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS. IT WAS A PROUD MOMENT FOR ME AND MY TROOPS.