How far do you agree that the revolutions of 184849 in Italy were caused primarily by economic grievances?

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How far do you agree that the revolutions of 1848–49 in Italy were caused primarily by economic grievances?

In 1848 revolutions swept across Europe including countries such as France, Prussia, Germany and Italy. Many countries – with the exception of Britain – attempted to modernize themselves as they rode the wave of riots, demonstrations and rallies eventually (in many cases) leading to political reform. The causes of these revolutions remain heavily disputed by historians today and it is impossible to identify only one factor as the sole cause for the uprisings. However, a significant player in the onset of such revolutions across Europe and especially in Italy is down to the economic grievances suffered by civilians during this time. The years preceding 1848 were turbulent ones, and whilst it was a key component in inducing the rebellion it worked merely as a trigger – bringing already brewing feelings across Italy from underneath the surface to the fore.

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One of the key causes of the revolutions in Italy was mainly to do with the activity going on in the rest of Europe. The revolutions in France acted as a confirmation to the Italian people; it acted almost as a confirmation ensuring the Italian people that reform was possible. Without the backdrop of a turbulent Europe, the revolutions would not have been possible and the newly modernized republics held up a mirror to Italy exposing fatal flaws within the system. The radical activity in the rest of Europe created an atmosphere in Italy which accommodated the possibility of change. ...

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