Analysis of liberal Italy

Question 1

What had the liberals started the process of?

Answer 1

Evolving italy into a strong, healthy democracy

Question 2

What had the liberals done to engender patriotism?

Answer 2

Created military service and given out free education

Question 3

By how much did national income increase between 1895-1915?

Answer 3

31 billion lire

Question 4

How much did foreign trade increase between 1863-1913?

Answer 4

It increased six fold

Question 5

What did the liberals do to ease the cost of living?

Answer 5

Reduced taxes on food

Question 6

What three things did the liberal government invest heavily in?

Answer 6

Road, rail and water

Question 7

What two things did the liberals do that helped confirm them as a major power?

Answer 7

Conquered Tripoli and joined the triple alliance

Question 8

Where did the liberals manage to build an empire?

Answer 8

East Africa

Question 9

What had the liberals created by 1912?

Answer 9

Near universal manhood suffrage

Question 10

Which groups had the liberals managed to appease by co-opting them into government?

Answer 10

Socialist and Catholic groups

Question 11

List the socialist critiques of liberal Italy

Answer 11

• Liberal governments were merely a cover for capitalist exploitation of the working class
• Wages were low and hours were long compared to the rest of Europe
• The army was employed to crush strikes and opposition parties
• Wealth had been squandered on failed attempts at imperialism
• Poverty was widespread
• Economic hardships had played a major role in 5 million Italians undergoing transatlantic emigration between 1871-1915

Question 12

What were the major nationalist critiques of the liberal government?

Answer 12

• They lacked the will to make Italy a major European power
• They had suffered a humiliating defeat to the Abyssinians at the battle of Adowa in 1896
• They saw emigration as a national disgrace
• The liberals had created more division by exacerbting class struggle
• The transfromismo movement had led to politicians acting out of self-interest and careerism, rather than doing what was best for the people

Question 13

List the catholic critiques of the liberal government?

Answer 13

They clearly didn’t care for the poor, as they had failed to provide them with clean water
- The state had taken away their land, monasteries and ability to control education