Why did many Sicilians support Garibaldi’s campaign against Bourbon rule?

Many Sicilians supported Giuseppe Garibaldi’s campaign against the Bourbon monarchy primarily due to a deep-seated desire for change driven by years of oppressive rule.12

Key factors contributing to this support included:

• Anti-Bourbon Sentiment: There was a long-standing, bitter resentment toward rule from Naples, which Sicilians viewed as an alien and unwelcome authority.2
• Reaction to Brutal Persecution: The Bourbon regime’s history of harsh repression and its refusal to grant a constitution or align with the liberalizing trends of the time generated widespread public desire for an alternative political order.23
• Desire for Autonomy: Sicily had a history of seeking independence from the mainland, and the Bourbon decision to abrogate the island's constitution in 1816 and forcibly reunite it with Naples fueled separatist aspirations.45
• Social Unrest: The campaign was bolstered by a concurrent peasants' revolt against landlords, which created an environment of disorganization that weakened the Bourbon position and allowed Garibaldi’s forces to gain momentum.2

Ultimately, the poor political and economic conditions under the Bourbons led to the rapid collapse of their authority, with many Sicilians joining the insurrection to help overthrow their rulers.123