Changes

In the towns of Korčula and Vrnik (Petrara) were people employed in  trades such as teaching who were known and appreciated beyond the borders of Dalmatia.  A minority, however, was made up of landowners, merchants and retailers. In 1861 political representatives of the Italian language in Korčula were Auditors of the Smerchinich  family  <ref>Editors note: [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=kMXURN7sxh4C&pg=PA192&dq=Stefano+Smerchinich&hl=en&ei=PkvmTdLGNI7uvQOQ0p2ICw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Stefano%20Smerchinich&f=false The Italians of Dalmatia:] From Italian Unification to World War I by Luciano Monzali:''"...Stefano Smerchinich from Curzula ..."'' on page 192.</ref> (Smerkinić, of Slavic origin). <ref>Editors note: Smerkinić is mentioned in ''Povijest Splita'', Volume 3 (History of Split) by Grga Novak (p 177)  

In the towns of Korčula and Vrnik (Petrara) were people employed in  trades such as teaching who were known and appreciated beyond the borders of Dalmatia.  A minority, however, was made up of landowners, merchants and retailers. In 1861 political representatives of the Italian language in Korčula were Auditors of the Smerchinich  family  <ref>Editors note: [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=kMXURN7sxh4C&pg=PA192&dq=Stefano+Smerchinich&hl=en&ei=PkvmTdLGNI7uvQOQ0p2ICw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Stefano%20Smerchinich&f=false The Italians of Dalmatia:] From Italian Unification to World War I by Luciano Monzali:''"...Stefano Smerchinich from Curzula ..."'' on page 192.</ref> (Smerkinić, of Slavic origin). <ref>Editors note: Smerkinić is mentioned in ''Povijest Splita'', Volume 3 (History of Split) by Grga Novak (p 177)  

* "Čim je za to čuo korčulanski načelnik, dr Smerkinić, pisao je splitskom ... "</ref><ref>Editors note: Smerkinić is similar to '''Smrkinić''' , referenced from ''"Shipbuilding in Korcula"'' by Dusan Kalogjera. Taken from [http://www.korcula.net/history/shipbuilding.htm www.korcula.net]

* "Čim je za to čuo korčulanski načelnik, dr Smerkinić, pisao je splitskom ... "</ref><ref>Editors note: Smerkinić is similar to '''Smrkinić''' , referenced from ''"Shipbuilding in Korcula"'' by Dusan Kalogjera. Taken from [http://www.korcula.net/history/shipbuilding.htm www.korcula.net]

* "Thus Anton Bonguardo, shipbuilder and constructor, received the silver cross in 1864; Jakov Smrkinić, a shipbuilder, was awarded the golden cross with the crown in 1868."</ref> In 1867 an Italian of the Smerchinich family was elected to parliament in Vienna. However, [[Austria|Austrian]] authorities had begun the work of slavitization of the town. The Austrians considered the [[Croatia|Croats]] were more loyal subjects than the Italians.  

* "Thus Anton Bonguardo, shipbuilder and constructor, received the silver cross in 1864; Jakov Smrkinić, a shipbuilder, was awarded the golden cross with the crown in 1868."</ref> In 1867 an Italian of the Smerchinich family was elected to parliament in Vienna. However, [[Austria|Austrian]] authorities had begun the work of slavitization of the town. <ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=kMXURN7sxh4C&pg=PA83&lpg=PA83&dq=The+Italians+of+Dalmatia+Curzola+school&source=bl&ots=Sx1bUxdn1A&sig=YCATl36eEUduI42Azs0GVUeepBo&hl=en#v=onepage&q=The%20Italians%20of%20Dalmatia%20Curzola%20school&f=false The Italians of Dalmatia] by Luciano Monzali (p83)

* Editors note:The last Italian school was abolished in Korčula (Curzola) on the 13th of September 1876.</ref><ref>'''Editor's Note''': In the neighbouring '''Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia''' a [[Croatia|Croatian]] nationalistic movement was established and alongside that, within the Balkan region a Pan-Slavic movement was growing (the beginnings of the ill fated Yugoslavia). These political on goings started to be felt in the Kingdom of Dalmatia. The [[Austria|Austrians]] in the 1860s started to introduce (a  process of [[Croatisation]])  within the Kingdom of Dalmatia a standardised Croatian language sometimes referred to as Illirski. It then replaced Italian altogether. In effect the government undertook culture genocide. For centuries the Italian language was the official language of the Dalmatian establishment. It was also the spoken language in white-collar, civil service and merchant families. </ref> The Austrians considered the [[Croatia|Croats]] were more loyal subjects than the Italians.  

In 1893, there were protests by the local population. The imperial authorities closed the local Italian school and education was provided solely in Korčula in Croatia however the town of Korčula continued to vote for the Smerchinich family.  In 1895, in response to the growing slavitization of the town of Korčula one of the first sites of the National League was founded. The League strove for the preservation of Italian language and culture.  

In 1893, there were protests by the local population. The imperial authorities closed the local Italian school and education was provided solely in Korčula in Croatia however the town of Korčula continued to vote for the Smerchinich family.  In 1895, in response to the growing slavitization of the town of Korčula one of the first sites of the National League was founded. The League strove for the preservation of Italian language and culture.