1: The Liberal State 1911-1918

Question 1

When did Giolitti become prime minister for the 4th time?

Answer 1

March 1911

Question 2

When did Italy launch the invasion of Libya?

Answer 2

September 1911

Question 3

By how much did suffrage rise in 1912?

Answer 3

From 3 million to 8.5 million

Question 4

When did Giolitti resign and Salandra take over?

Answer 4

March 1914

Question 5

Who were the PSI?

Answer 5

Italian Socialist Party

Question 6

Who was Giolitti?

Answer 6

Committed liberal who was 5 times prime minister. He sought cooperation between Socialists and Catholics, as well as the creation of an overseas Italian empire. Prepared to engage in bribery and corruption.

Question 7

What were Giolittis main aims in his domestic policies?

Answer 7

Unify Italian people, get support for the liberal system, reduce poverty and class differences

Question 8

What did Giolitti do to tackle problems with the liberals?

Answer 8

Controlled most of the deputies by using bribery and corruption. Implemented reforms to reduce poverty and class differences. Wanted to bring groups together by convincing socialists and moderate Catholics to join his coalitions

Question 9

What did Giolitti do to tackle problems with the Socialists?

Answer 9

Increasing literacy, improving health and the economy. Let police allow strikes and protests to go on uninterrupted
Arbitration courts for workers

Question 10

What did Giolitti do to solve problems with the Catholics?

Answer 10

Got the Pope to support him by bringing a temporary conservative alliance.
Told them he would only work with minimalist Socialists.

Question 11

What did Giolitti do to solve problems with the Nationalists?

Answer 11

Tried to convince them they shouldn’t be worried about his concessions to the Socialists.
Invaded Libya

Question 12

Why did Trasformismo become more difficult?

Answer 12

When parties driven by ideologies gain more support. This is because you can bribe an individual but not a political party with ideologies.

Question 13

What did Giolitti do to try and win the vote of the people?

Answer 13

Gave all literate men over 21 the vote and all men regardless of literacy over 30.
Gave the vote to conservative peasants and more socialists in hopes to win their votes

Question 14

What happened with the 1913 elections?

Answer 14

Giolitti kept a majority but lost seats from 370 to 318 and so formed a coalition with the Catholic Union. Catholic seats rose from 20 to 29 giving more political concessions to the Catholics, this meant he lost support from Radicals and Socialists?

Question 15

What did Giolitti achieve in his domestic policies?

Answer 15

• 1910 introduces a maternity fund, paid 40 lira per new baby
• One third of the worlds supply of silk was supplied by Italy in 1913
• Decline in illiteracy around 10%
• Car companies like FIAT supplied thrived and supplied half of Italy’s vehicles
• In 1913 and old age fund was created for the merchant navy

Question 16

What didn’t Giolitti achieve from his domestic policies?

Answer 16

• By 1911 Catholics were part of governing coalitions in big cities such as Turin, Florence and Venice
• From 1908 there was a downturn in the economy
• In the 1913 elections the Liberals lost 72 seats

Question 17

What did Giolitti claim was his policy priority in 1911?

Answer 17

Equalise the working class to a higher standard of living as there was industrial unrest in North with strikes and many unskilled workers

Question 18

Who were the ANI?

Answer 18

Italian Nationalist Association

Question 19

Reasons for the war with Libya:

Answer 19

Expand empire
Gain resources
Easy to take
Put Italy on the world stage

Question 20

Successes and failures of the War in Libya

Answer 20

Successes:
•Easily secured coast cities due to Navy
•Italy used new technology
•Expanded the territory with Navy
Weaknesses:
•Only had a small amount of land
•Couldn’t access all the natural resources 
•Losing men all the time damaged morale for the Italian people and soldiers in Libya

Question 21

How many troops died in Libya and how much did it cost Italy?

Answer 21

3,500 troops died

Cost 1,300 million lire

Question 22

Economic problems 1911-1914

Answer 22

• North v South Divide as North was industrialised with the Golden Triangle vs the impoverished agricultural South
• Lack of natural resources like Iron and Coal
• Immigration to US meant they lost labour
• Italians wanted to buy food from Libya after invasion as it was cheaper

Question 23

Political problems 1911-1914

Answer 23

• PSI became more radical after Libya
• Trade unions got workers to join the PSI
• Police has non-intervention with strikes
• Giolitti struggled to do trasforismo with the rise in parties
• ANI promotes failure of Libya
• Deal with the PPI (Catholics) went against the liberals and Giolitti resigned

Question 24

Which groups supported the intervention of WW1 and which didn’t?

Answer 24

• PSI against as believed it would be the workers who died
• Liberals (Salandra) supported as wanted to gain land from the Irredenta
• Liberals (Giolitti) were mostly neutral but some against military intervention as didn’t believe they would win
• Catholics opposed
• Nationalist supported (small but highly vocal group)

Question 25

3 important reasons for joining the war

Answer 25

• France and Britain had offered lands from the Austro-Hungarian empire like the Irredente and possible colonies
• Neutral Italy would look weak and isolated after the war, couldn’t take part in post war negotiations
• Victory would give a stronger government and a more united country

Question 26

3 important reasons for staying neutral for WW1

Answer 26

• Not read for war, military expenditure from 1913-14 was £10 million compared to Austria-Hungarys £22 million
• If the Triple Alliance won, Italy would never gain the Irredente lands
• Italy would make huge sacrifices as they lacked financial and industrial resources, this would be unpopular with the people

Question 27

What was Salandras decision on WW1?

Answer 27

Signed the Treaty of London in April 1915 pledging support to the Triple Entente in return for lands. Giolitti attacked Salandra for his decision, but the King didn’t support Giolitti and reinstated Salandra. In May 1915 Italy declared war on Austria despite not having mass public support

Question 28

Key moments for Italy during WW1 (up to end of 1916)

Answer 28

May 1915 declares war
By end of 1915 60,000 Italians dead with General Cadornas bad tactics
1916 200,000 Italian dead only 12 miles has been won
By the end of 1916 Salandras government collapsed after counter attack leaves Austrians in Germany

Question 29

Key moment for Italy during WW1 (1917-1918)

Answer 29

October 1917 battle of Caporetto (200,000 men ran away and many others executed for desertion)
General Cadorna replaces by Diaz
October 1918 battle of Vittiorio Veneto, captured 500,000 Austrians before they asked for peace
November 1918 Italy sign armistice with Austria-Hungary

Question 30

How many peasants conscripted to WW1?

Answer 30

5.7 million

Question 31

Why was there a stalemate on the Italian Front?

Answer 31

Austrians wanted to starve them out
Bad conditions 
Italy captured 12 miles
Italy had bad tactics
Language barriers from the Italian side

Question 32

What was the impact on the war for Italy?

Answer 32

• Gold reserves fell by £19 million and debt rose sharply
• Couldn’t pay back loans and printed too much paper money
• Unemployment reached 2 million by 1919
• 650,000 killed over 1 million wounded
• Mussolini helped found the Facist movement
• Italy was drained of resources like fuel

Question 33

What is meant by a Pyrrhic victory and why can it be applied to Italy?

Answer 33

Victory that inflicts such a devastating toll on the victor it gets rid of any sense of achievement

Question 34

How much did WW1 cost Italy?

Answer 34

148 billion lire