Contrast Mazzini and Garibaldi's revolutionary views with those of revolutionaries in France.
During the period of Italian unification, revolutionaries in Italy differed from the revolution that occurred in France. The French people at the time wanted justice for their country, and an entire revamped system of government, through means of overthrowing the current system and those in power, while the Italians were striving for unification, with no true enemy involved in their revolution.
The time of the Italian unification was headed by two major players, Mazzini and his follower, Garibaldi, but also included Cavour, the Prime minister for Piedmont-Sardinia, speaking on behalf of its king. Mazzini and Garibaldi were centered in Southern Italy, while Cavour was in the north. At this time, Italy was a separated people, with Piedmont-Sardinia in the north, the Papal States below them, and the Kingdom of Naples in the south, below them. Mazzini began a movement for Italian unification, one which garnered a large following in Southern Italy. This did not go well with Cavour, who began to shut down this movement. Years later, after Mazzini had passed, Cavour began to rethink Italian unification, and asked Garibaldi for help. He did this because he now viewed this unification as a benefit to Piedmont-Sardinia. He asked him to rally up support for uniting southern and northern Italy together, excluding the Papal States, as they were ruled by the Pope at the moment. This movement prevailed, as the revolutionaries did not want persecution or war, but rather rights, such as voting. This differed with other revolution that had and were happening in Europe.
During the French Revolution, the people of France revolted for far different reasons than their Italian neighbors. The French people were being ruled unjustly, and under an autocratic rule, having tax after tax levied upon them. The current governmental system at place in France was corrupt, with the rich getting richer, and the poor getting poorer. Taxes were never put on those most wealthy, with the burden of all of France’s debt going on the poor of the country. This grew to be too much for the French people, who began to openly rebel against their leader, and having a king in general. These Frenchmen were fueled by angst from the wrongdoings done to them over the years under rule of a king. The people then came together, and rebelled against their king, changing France for good.
These two revolutions that occurred are strikingly different in shape, reason, and outcome. The Italian revolution was two sides coming together; to unite into one singular power, while the French Revolution was rather a revolt against their king, demanding a change, for the better. The Italian people were fueled by promises of a better Italy, and better lives, similar to the French, but the French people were not adding to their domain. The French nation would remain the French nation, while the Italians would create a unified power that they have never experienced. They key difference for Italy was that there was no “enemy” in their revolution, but rather just promises of what could become of Italy if they unified. The French people were fighting for their beliefs, demanding their new system of government.
Both of these revolutions occurred to change two nations from being torn apart, separated, and desolate areas, to national powers that have remained to this day. Through both of these different means and thoughts of revolution these nations unified in a new form, allowing for more justice to come to these people, though not immediately and not without struggle. The French people were striving for justice from their tyrannical and unjust ruler while the Italians were attempting to unify themselves with their fellow Italians, who had become separated.
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