1911-1914 Flashcards
1
Q
Historic Background
- Recent unification
- Regionalism
- Language barriers
- Resentment
A
Historic Background
- Unified in 1870
- Strong regional identities
- Different dialects
- Divisions and resentment post-unification
2
Q
Political background
- Type of monarchy
- Two houses of parliament
- Party establishment
- Trasformismo
- Proportion of population with vote
A
Political background
- Constitutional monarchy
- Chamber of deputies (elected), Senate (life)
- Parties were unorganised and factional
- Political manoeuvring and deal making
- Under 25%
3
Q
Society
- Poverty
- Illiteracy
- Distribution of wealth
- Unrest
- Health
A
Society
- Widespread poverty especially in south
- High illiteracy especially in south (%50)
- Unequal distribution of wealth (0.01% owned 50% southern farmland)
- Northern industrial unrest; strikes
- Poor life expectancy, malaria still major killer
4
Q
Emigration
- Total emigrants between 1876 and 1930 to US
- Proportion from south
- Jobs they did
A
Emigration
- 5 million total emigrants
- 4/5 from south
- 2/3 were farm labourers/labourers (contadini)
5
Q
Economy
- Geographical divide
- Industrial centres
- Economic expansion location
- Jobs in south
A
Economy
- North/South divide
- Industry focused on northern cities
- Expansion in north; railways, hydroelectric plants
- Peasant based subsistence agriculture
6
Q
Church
- Proportion of Catholics
- Relationship between church and state
- Pope’s lands
- Church’s opinion on elections
- Effect on Italian unity
A
Church
- Nearly all Catholics
- Long term feud over unification
- Pope forced to give up lands
- Catholics forbidden from standing in elections until 1909
- Undermined unity and status of the state
7
Q
International Status
- Colonies
- Military
- Conscription
- Unification of all Italian peoples
A
International Status
- Few colonies
- Humiliating defeat by Abyssinians at Adowa in 1896
- Imposed national military service
- Many Italians lived in other countries
8
Q
Key Terms
- Risorgimento
- Anarchism
- Mezzogiorno
- Golden Triangle
- Roman question
- Trasformismo
- Campanilismo
A
Key Terms
- Risorgimento (Struggle for Italian unity and independence)
- Anarchism (Revolutionary ideology to destroy govt)
- Mezzogiorno (Poor south, rural, mafias)
- Golden Triangle (Northern industrial cities; Milan, Turin, Genoa)
- Roman question (Papacy’s attempt to take back Rome and other holdings)
- Trasformismo (Govt backhand dealings and corruption with factionalism)
- Campanilismo (Regionalism and pride in previous nations)
9
Q
Giolitti’s Aims of the Liberal party
- Modernisation
- Unification
- Compromise
- Trasformismo
A
Giolitti’s Aims of the Liberal party
- Make Italy modernised, industrialised and successful
- Unification by shared values in faith in liberalism
- Gain support of opposition (socialists, church, nationalists)
- Kept files on each deputy to maintain support
10
Q
Giolitti and Socialists
- Viewed not as threat, but opposition
- Absorbed socialist deputies by improving
- Funds
- Working conditions
A
Giolitti and Socialists
- To be dealt with by trasformismo
- Compulsory accident insurance, 1898 national insurance fund for health and old age, banned employment of u12s (1901), female working hours limited at 11 (1902), maternity fund (1910), state subsidised sickness and old age fund for merchant navy (1913), arbitration courts (1906)
11
Q
Giolitti and Catholics
- Opposition to liberal plans
- Commanded large portion of voter base
- Socialist compromise led to anger
- Roman question
A
Giolitti and Catholics
- Got rid of 1904 divorce bill, promoted Catholic education
- Church told people to vote liberal in socialist areas
- Chose greater socialist compromise over Catholics
- No compromise over Rome
12
Q
Giolitti and Nationalists
- Socialist compromise led to anger
- Growing organised nationalist groups developed 1911-1914 despite hardly existing in 1908
- Weakness internationally and loss in Abyssinia catalysed growth
- Disliked liberals and socialism
A
Giolitti and Nationalists
- Struggled to appease, as they saw Giolitti as the problem of corruption, weakness and decadence
- Attempted program of liberal reform and economic modernisation to undermine nationalists, but failed due to attraction of patriotism
- Embraced Nationalism in 1911 invasion of Libya
13
Q
Impact of 1912 Franchise Extension
- Who could vote
- Aims of unity
- Undermine
- Resulting seat changes
A
Impact of 1912 Franchise Extension
- All literate men over 21, all men over 30, all ex-military
- Hoped to promote national unity
- Undermine conservatives by increasing rural vote, undermine PSI with greater representation
- Liberals went from 370-318 seats; Catholics went from 20-29
14
Q
Giolitti’s Domestic Successes
- Social reforms
- Compromise with Catholics
- Specific industrial success
- Wage growth
A
Giolitti’s Domestic Successes
- 1910 Maternity fund, decline in illiteracy by over 10%, 1913 merchant navy old age fund
- In 1911 Catholics were part of big city governing coalitions
- Textiles (1/3 of world silk) and cars thrived (6 major producers)
- Real wages went up in industry and agriculture
15
Q
Giolitti’s domestic failures
- Strikes and worsening economic conditions
- 1908 downturn
- Growth of socialist and catholic vote, and loss of liberal seats
A
Giolitti’s domestic failures
- Forced state institution and public sector neutrality in strikes
- Led to more strikes (5 million work days lost)
- Socialist had 1/4 of 1913 votes, became dependent on Catholic vote
