Sicilian Diaspora Wikipedia version 1

When I read about the Sicilian Workers League revolt in Wikipedia, I do not quite get the desperation that I have read in other resources. If I highlight the key  summary words like "severe military response," "summary execution," "new forms of taxation," and "conscription," I get a better idea why the Sicilian economy "did not adapt well."

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Sicily#Unification_of_Italy_period

Not long after the unification of Italy and Sicily into the Kingdom of Italy, "in 1866, Palermo revolted against Italy. The city was bombed by the Italian navy, which disembarked on September 22 under the command of Raffaele Cadorna. Italian soldiers summarily executed the civilian insurgents, and once again took possession of the island.

A limited, but long guerrilla campaign against the unionists (1861–1871) took place throughout southern Italy, and in Sicily, inducing the Italian governments to a severe military response. These insurrections were unorganized, and were considered by the Government as operated by "brigands" ("Brigantaggio"). Ruled under martial law for several years, Sicily (and southern Italy) was the object of a harsh repression by the Italian army that summarily executed thousands of people, made tens of thousands prisoners, destroyed villages, and deported people.

EmigrationEdit

The Sicilian economy did not adapt easily to unification, and in particular competition by Northern industry made attempts at industrialization in the South almost impossible. While the masses suffered by the introduction of new forms of taxation and, especially, by the new Kingdom's extensive military conscription, the Sicilian economy suffered, leading to an unprecedented wave of emigration."