2 - Political/Economic developments in Piedmont Flashcards
piedmont was the first italian region to..
have a partly industrialised economy
piedmont had a thriving ___ industry
textile
wool silk and cotton
firmly established by the 1840s
severe restrictions to industry as
in the north there was a lack of coal
both silk and wool industries were predominantly…
domestic industries
labour intensive
which industry dominated out of the textiles?
cotton
in 1844, there were approximately 114,000 domestic cotton workers in Piedmont
cavour aimed to stimulate economic activity through..
railway building
low tariffs
free trade
cavour and his beliefs on free trade
he believed it would promote political liberalism as feudal systems were taken away
cavour encouraging foreign capital
mainly french
rothschild bank, laffitte bank
gvoernment subsidies
resulted in significant growth
1853 electric telegraph linked Paris and Turin
1857 canal building started (first Cavour Canal)
improvements to La Spezia port
La Spezia port
government subsidies modernised it
started to serve as the main naval base
debt
in 1859 public debt stood at 725 million lire
but Piedmont’s economic status was changed for good
what relied on communication advancements?
further development of Piedmontese cotton
what did Cavour believe about railways
that large-scale railways would benefit piedmont
he said that no railways could stunt development
what did Cavour do in 1835
he visited Britain and saw Robert Stephenson’s railway line
what did Cavour do in 1846
reviewed railways in a French magazine
tried to persuade Charles Albert and his ministers of the benefits
railways by 1861 (unification year)
40% of the 2000 km of Italy’s railway lines were in Piedmont
this gave Piedmont a claim to economic leadership
when does Cavour become PM
1852
cavour wasn’t afraid to do what as PM
use public money and french loans to build railway lines
by 1858 (6 years as PM) what did Cavour do
280 million francs had been invested in Piedmontese railways
when was the first section of a railway line with the french border opened? and where did it link
1854
linking milan, turin, genoa and french border
Mount Cenis tunnel
work started on a railway tunnel through the mountain in 1857
13km
by the end of the 1850s, how much track was in operation in Piedmont?
850km
party system in piedmont
there was no real sense of party system. the 1849 election resulted in mainly liberal-minded politicians (left was more democratic and right more clerical)
what did the lower house do in 1849
threatened to not approve the austria peace treaty
(despite the fact that they had no choice)
VE said he would abolish the constitution if they did not agree, so they were forced to concede
Siccardi Laws causing controversy
under D’Azeglio (centre-right) these laws were passed
they caused controversy with the right
so D’Azeglio passed a Press Law which restricted freedom of the press
when was cavour made minister of trade and agriculture (by d’Azeglio) and what did he do
1850
he was given (shortly after) additional responsibilities which included overseeing the piedmontese navy.
in 1851 he was given the position of finance minister and immediately undertook reform.
what did cavour do as finance minister
1851
borrowed heavily from the London bank Hambro
increased taxes
signed treaties with states (Portugal, France, Britain, Belgium)
1850-9, trade increased 300%
appointment of cavour as PM
1852
he was an opportunist (seen through the connubio)
how was the connubio possible
the system was fluid - left/right groups existed, not parties
in parliament, deputies often switched allegiances
in parliament, the range of political opinions represented..
were limited
even though they had an upper/lower chamber
many politicians were indebted to important individuals, often landowners
what did the connubio form its basis on?
the fact that both sides shared anti-clericalism
(as the papacy supported Austria)
who did cavour make the connubio with
1852
ratazzi (leader of centre-left)
made it against the Press Law
why did D’Azeglio resign
crisis over civil marriage
which weakened his government
what did Cavour propose in 1855
abolition of monastic orders not involved in education/charity. was approved.
however he was forced to temporarily resign for this to be passed
why did cavour end the connubio
strengthen his own government
the church was not brought up by him again the 1850s
he had had to resign over the 1855 monastic orders bill and didn’t want to again
what was one of the first issues cavour had to deal with
mazzinian-inspired insurrection in milan in 1853
(he warned austria of the impending uprising to keep stability and received thanks from vienna)
other than milan in 1853, when did Cavour stand against Mazzinianism
1857 when Pisacane’s insurrection failed
mazzini’s ideas losing support
- leading supporters became increasingly critical of his tactics (garibaldi)
- failure of 1848/9 revolutions
- increased liberalism
- national society published letters written by Orsini which revealed Mazzini as a dictator
what did Antoni Mordini say about Mazzini
he is the “tyrant of our party”
