Foreign Policy, the extension of the franchise & the resignation of Giolitti Flashcards
Which countries were allied with Italy in the Triple Alliance?
Germany and Austria-Hungary
Why was the Triple Alliance difficult for Italy?
Italy’s interests overlapped with Austria’s in the Balkans
What foreign policy action did Italy take under pressure from the Nationalists?
Italy invaded Libya on 29 September 1911, which was under the control of the Ottoman Empire.
What was France’s role in prompting Italy to invade Libya?
- France was consolidating her control over Morocco, and Giolitti worried that France would invade Libya next which would embarrass Italy
Why did Italians see Libya as important to their empire?
- Italians believed Libya should be part of their empire and not under French control
What was the Catholic Church’s involvement in the invasion of Libya?
The Catholic Church had considerable financial interests in Libya and encouraged the government to invade
How did Giolitti hope to use the invasion of Libya to his advantage?
- He hoped to unite the Italian people behind his government by gaining support from both Catholics and Nationalists
- Especially because popular opinion was in favour of the invasion
When did the invasion of Libya begin?
29 September 1911
Describe the immediate success after intial invasion of Libya
- Three weeks after declaring war Italian forces has seized many of the ports and coastal towns but progress was much slower after the initial successes.
How many troops did Italy commit to the invasion of Libya?
70,000 troops
When was Libya formally handed over to the Italians by the Ottomans
8 October 1911.
What was the initial public reaction to the invasion of Libya?
There was an outpouring of national enthusiasm, & it appeared that Giolitti’s programme of creating a unified Italy had been successful
How did Giolitti’s social reforms impact the PSI?
The social reforms pacified the PSI, who were prepared to support his government.
What was the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Liberal government at this time?
- The Catholic Church was cooperating with the Liberals in several key areas.
How did the victory in Libya affect nationalistic support for the government?
It seemed to galvanize nationalistic support for the government
What was the effect of the war on Giolitti’s ability to absorb the Nationalists?
The war did not help Giolitti absorb the Nationalists and instead increased support for the ANI
How did the ANI capitalize on the situation after the war?
They claimed credit for the policy and demanded more from the Liberal government, while also criticizing Giolitti for mismanaging the war
How many Italians died in the fighting in Libya, and what was the cost?
- 3,500 Italians died, and the war cost 1,300 million lire.
How did the war impact Giolitti’s cooperation with the PSI?
- It destroyed Giolitti’s cooperation with the PSI as they argued that Italy’s wealth was being wasted on foreign campaigns.
What temporary alliance formed as a result of the war?
- The Catholics and Nationalists formed a temporary alliance.
What was the impact of the temporary alliance on the moderate Socialists?
- The alliance weakened the moderate Socialists to the extent that the revolutionary wing of the party seized control and ruled out further cooperation with the Liberal government.
What happened to moderate Socialists in the PSI?
They were expelled from the party.
What was the outcome of Giolitti’s attempts to absorb the Socialists into the liberal state?
Giolitti’s attempts ended in failure.
Why was progress in Libya much slower after initial success
- The Italians were not seen as the “liberators” by the Arab population and so the Italians fought Turkish and Arab forces
What were the consequences of the invasion of Libya for crops
Similar crops were grown in Libya to Italy and so it lowered the income of Italian farmers.
Describe the outcome of the war on the nationalists
- The Nationalists were not pacified and blamed the slow/limited success but took the credit for the victory and Giolitti launching the war in the first place.
- The left refused to work with Giolitti because of their anti-war stance
What did Giolitti do with the socialists
- Giolitti targeted moderate socialists to join his coalitions.
- The PSI gained 20% of the vote in 1909 so it was important for Giolitti to include them
What did the far left of the socialist party do
However, the far left of the party criticised those socialists who worked with Giolitti and this infighting limited the influence the PSI were able to exercise
Describe Giolittis relation with the church
- Giolitti was the first PM to successfully appeal to Catholic voters
- He saw the Catholics as a good counter weight to the Socialists and even gained the support of the Pope before the 1913 election
- However, with the Roman question hanging over Giolittis relationship with the church it meant the alliance was unstable and not long lasting.
What was the nationalistss stance on Giolitti
- The ANI was set up in 1910 and was instantly critical of Giolitti, his foreign policy and his trasformisimo
- They also appealed to the middle class worried about Giolittis concessions to the Socialists.
What did the nationalists demand from Giolitti
- They demanded a more aggressive foreign policy to demonstrates Italy as being a great power in Europe
- They also demanded stronger police powers and a ban on public sector strikes.
When was the franchise extended
1912
Who was given the right to vote by 1912? .
- All men who had completed military service and all men over 30
What percentage of Italy’s electorate were illiterate after the extension of the franchise?
70%
What did Giolitti hope to achieve by extending the franchise?
- He hoped to increase the popularity of the Liberals, as more conservative men in rural areas could now vote.
Why was the franchise extended
It was felt conscripted men deserved the right to vote and the more conservating rural working class would bolster the support for the Liberals
hat exacerbated Giolitti’s problems?
The extension of the franchise
What did the 1913 elections reveal about Giolitti’s strategy?
- The 1913 elections showed the failure of Giolitti’s strategy,
- with Liberal deputies winning 318 seats,
- a loss of 71 from the 1909 elections
What percentage of the vote did the PSI secure in the 1913 elections?
The PSI secured 20% of the vote.
Who were the conservative peasants voting for in the 1913 elections?
the Catholic party rather than the Liberals
Why was Giolitti reliant on Catholic support after the 1913 elections?
Giolitti was reliant on Catholic support because he had promised to make concessions to the Church in return for their support
Why was Trasformismo impossible after the 1913 elections?
the Socialists and the Nationalists would not work with a Liberal government making concessions to the Catholics
When did Giolitti resign as Prime Minister?
Giolitti resigned as Prime Minister on 21 March 1914
Why did Giolitti resign as Prime Minister in 1914?
Socialists and radicals withdrew their support for his coalition government, and extending the franchise led to nationalists and Catholics gaining the most support.
Who replaced Giolitti as Prime Minister, and what challenges did he face?
- Antonio Salandra replaced Giolitti,
- but his support floundered, and by June 1914, Italy seemed to be on the verge of anarchy
- also the outbreak of World War One
What coalition did Giolitti form after the 1913 elections, and what was its impact?
Giolitti formed a coalition with the Catholic Union, but this meant that radicals and Socialists would not work with him
What opposition did the Liberals face by early 1914?
By early 1914, the Liberals faced opposition from all sides, with the Radicals completely withdrawing their support in February 1914
