Challenges against GPS 1871-1914

Question 1

Name domestic problems Italy faced (8)

Answer 1

S - Regionalism meant that most Italians felt loyalty to their region rather than the new Italian state and there was resentment over the loss of regional customs, taxes etc
S - Opposition of the Pope threatened to divide the Italian people. Papacy refused to acknowledge the Italian state until 1929
S - in the South peasants barely understood the new Italian and illiteracy in the south was over 80%
P - critics of the government were bribed into giving their support
P - There was continuous political instability as there were 29 changes in PM in the 50 years from 1870
P - There was a lack of a stable party system (instead Italian politics was run along the lines of Transformismo)
E - the North/South divide was the biggest economic problem. In the North there was a concentration of the aristocracy, professional people and skilled artisans while in the south it was largely a region of rural peasantry
E - the agriculture was not as strong in the south with hot climate and poor soil meaning low production levels

Question 2

Name domestic successes for Italy during 1871-1914 (8)

Answer 2

S - The fact that the new, unified kingdom survived was a positive
S - in 1878 Relations with the papacy improved since Leon XIII was less of a hardliner
S - in 1877 free and compulsory primary education with universities was coming under state control
P - Extremists were kept out of power
P- Despite government instability, new political figures emerged who brought about changes e.g Depretis and Crispi
P - In 1878 the new king took the title Umberto 1 of Italy, giving the monarchy an “an-Italian” image
E - 21,000km of new roads were built between 1870 and 1883
E - In 1873 - 1913 wheat production doubled

Question 3

Explain Italy’s foreign policy aims (8)

Answer 3

• Wanted to gain Great Power Status In Europe and gain equal prestige and status with other European powers, as Italy saw themselves as being on par with the other major European powers
• to resolve the issue of Italia Irredenta (unredeemed Italy) Italy wanted to reclaim land in the north east where people spoke Italian but were under Austrian rule.
• They wanted to become an imperial power through acquiring colonies, raw materials and accessing new markets for goods. Industrialists and traders supporter gradezza (a drive for colonies)
• to gain living space for Italians since the country was overpopulated. By reclaiming Italia Irredenta and gaining colonies increasing emigration could be stopped.
• Through foreign policy success, the government also hoped to become more popular with nationalist extremists at home and it would silence government critics
• The government also wanted, through their foreign policy aims, to divert attention away from domestic problems such as North/South divide.
• They wanted to improve relations with Britain as Britain supplied coal and iron for Italy; essential for its economy.
• They wanted to improve relations with France and did so by signing the Franco-Italian Convention of 1896 and relations with Russia and Austria through a series of agreements (Racconigi Agreement)

Question 4

Explain the social problems of liberal Italy (8)

Answer 4

• only a very small proportion of Italians had played any role in bringing about unification
• loyalties tended to be towards the family or the immediate locality rather than the Italian nation
• only 2% of population spoke Italian
• the opposition of the Pope to liberal Italy threatened to divide loyalties of the Italian people
• the existence of harsh working conditions caused exploitation
• malnutrition and malaria were common in the south
• The Pope refused to recognise the Italian state and instructed loyal Catholics to boycott all elections
• illiteracy was over 80% in the south and peasants barely understood the new Italian