Unification and revolution FRQ

2. Contrast Mazzini and Garibaldi's revolutionary views with those of revolutionaries in France.
Mazzini and Garibaldi revolutionary views
- Unification would help the Italian states defend themselves
- The right to vote, human rights and elections
- Free Italian states from foreign dominance

French revolutionaries

- Wanted more equal spreading of wealth from 1st and 2nd estates
- No absolute monarchy

The Italian unification and the French Revolution are both known as key points in those nations, and Europe’s history. The French Revolution was an idealist movement aiming to create a more fair government that ended in chaos and another tyrannical regime. The Italian unification’s ideas preached freeing their country from foreign oppression and establishing the rights to vote for Italian citizens. The French and Italian ideals of freedom, equality and elections were some of the key reasons their people believed in the movements however although both succeeded in their objectives they also failed to keep their ideals safe along the way.

In Italy, Garibaldi and Mazzini support a united Italian Republic with Rome as the capital and no more foreign oppressors controlling Italian states. In 1848 an insurrection occurs when large cities in Lombardy and Il Veneto, like Milan and Venice rise up against the Austrian regime which ruled there. Mazzini leads a movement to use the opportunity to unite the rest of the Italian states. However the attempt fails and Mazzini and Garibaldi are exiled. Their unification was not successful however their ideas remained in the minds of Italians and the country was finally unified in 1860 with the help of Garibaldi back from exile. Unfortunately this unification happened under the monarchy of King Vitore Emmanuel instead of the revolutionary leadership and therefore Italy could not be a republic with voting elected leaders and equality which was what Mazzini preached from the start.

The ideas of the French Revolution were aimed at creating a more fair government from the King, nobles and clergy which they thought to be corrupt and oppressive to the people. When an estates general was called by the King to help levy taxes the 3rd estate called for equality and reforms to the Government. The national assembly got out of hand though and a revolution began. The city of Paris was in chaos and the King was beheaded, France had a new government ruled by a council of revolutionaries who believed in freedom and the ability to vote. The French revolution also failed because of the resulting terror, the council killed anyone who they believed might be a traitor and destroyed the true purpose of the revolution instead carrying France from 1 regime right into another. By the end of the terror the country yearned for a strong leader and Napoleon was able to take control and become the next de-facto King of France.

The ideals of French and Italian revolutionaries were exemplary; people killed and were killed in their name; however when all was said and done the movements were not successful. The French revolution resulted in mass murders and a new regime under Emperor Napoleon while the Italian unification put Italy under a new monarch with the north still rich and industrialized and the south still poor and agricultural.