Battle Of The Marshes

Question 1

What made it necessary for the govt to take action and introduce a programme of land reclamation?

Answer 1

The shortage of arable land

Question 2

The most ambitious scheme was to drain the…

Answer 2

Pontine Marshes

Only 50km from Rome- easy for international journalists to see

Question 3

Why did the basic problems facing Italian agriculture remain?

Answer 3

The regime made no real attempt to introduce land reform:

The plight of the peasantry worsened between 1926-34 and the REAL WAGES of workers fell by 50%- Mass internal migration to cities- ironic because regime tried to prevent this by emphasising “the beauty of rural life”

Question 4

Aims

Answer 4

• to show dynamic govt in action; impress foreigners
• to increase land available for cereal production
• to provide more jobs
• to improve health by reducing malaria

Question 5

Action

Answer 5

• Laws passed between 1928-33 on reclamation, extending previous schemes
• Private landowners encouraged to cooperate with drainage schemes

Question 6

How much was reclaimed?

Answer 6

80k hectares-

1/20th of the 1/6th of the size promised by propaganda

Question 7

How much of the land was reclaimed in the N?

Answer 7

3/4

S neglected once again

Question 8

Which new towns were created as showpieces?

Answer 8

• Latina

- Sabaudia

Question 9

It had a bigger impact in…

Answer 9

Providing jobs and improving public health than in boosting farming