Gangs as Agents of Resistance

While kings and governments often portrayed gangs as mere criminals, these groups sometimes functioned as agents of resistance against oppressive regimes. During periods of revolution and unrest, gangs could become the foot soldiers of larger political struggles.

In Italy, for example, secret societies like the Carbonari were sometimes supported by working-class gangs who opposed foreign domination or local tyrannies. Street gangs could act as protectors of neighborhoods, resisting police crackdowns or state repression.

This dual role of gangs—as both threats to order and defenders of the oppressed—reflects the complex social dynamics of the time.

Early Life and Ideals

Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807–1882) stands as one of the most iconic figures of 19th-century Europe, embodying the intersection of revolutionary fervor and nationalist aspirations. Born in Nice, then part of the Kingdom of Sardinia, Garibaldi was initially a sailor and merchant. However, his commitment to republicanism and Italian unification transformed him into a legendary military leader and folk hero.

Garibaldi’s political ideals were shaped by the tumult of the Napoleonic era and the failures of early revolutionary movements. He was a fervent supporter of liberty, republicanism, and national self-determination, opposing the fragmented rule of various monarchs and foreign powers that controlled the Italian peninsula. shutdown123