Giovanni Giolitti 1911-14 Flashcards
different political groupings in Italy: Liberals
- Most of PMs before 1914 were liberals.
- Represented professional, educated classes.
- Used trasformismo to create governments and hold on to power.
different political groupings in Italy : Socialists
*Italian Socialist Party (PSI) was formed in 1895.
* Aimed to address the issues of the ordinary working people e.g. votes
for all men, 8 hour working day.
* Moderate socialists willing to make deals with liberals but not radicals
different political groupings in Italy : Nationalists
- Italian Nationalist Association was founded in 1910.
- Elitist, anti-parliamentary and spoke up for businessmen not workers.
- Wanted Italy to have an aggressive foreign policy and very anti-socialist.
different political groupings in Italy: Catholics
- Due to the Pope’s loss of the Papal States Pope’s refused to
acknowledge the existence of Italy until 1929! - Initially Catholics were encouraged not to vote or participate.
- After 1892 the Pope was willing to work with the liberals to keep the
socialists out
leader of socialists 1911-14
Filippo Turati
who did the socialists attract
- Attracted intellectuals who
had lost faith in the ability of
the liberals to solve Italy’s
problems. - Supported by workers and
farm labourers.
socialists - education
Promoted education as a
means by which the working
class (w/c) could challenge
the political order
why did Giolitti want socialists support
- In 1913 election won a ¼ of
votes (79 deputies compared
to 32 in 1900). - Growing in popularity
particularly with increase in
urbanisation (increased
exposure to and awareness
of different political ideas). - PSI was active in taking its
message to the w/c by
holding meetings/ talks
where the w/c gathered e.g.
bars/cafes
how did G attempt to win socialists support
Trasformismo:
* Offered to introduce social
reforms e.g. national
insurance, 11 hour working
day for women, arbitration
courts for pay disputes
between workers and
employers.
* Gave a socialist a place in his
cabinet (1911)
How successful was Giolitti in the short and long term in gaining socialists support?
- Successful in short term (up to 1912) with moderate
socialists but became
increasingly hard with
increase in more radical
socialists e.g. Maximalists
who believed in revolution
(Mussolini was one of them). - Compromises with the PSI
brought Giolitti into conflict
with the Catholics and
Nationalists.
Catholic Church leader 1911-14
Luigi Sturzo
loss of Papal States
meant that the Pope refused
to support any Italian
government
pope hated socialism so much that…
in 1909 Pope Pius X allowed
Catholics to vote in 150
constituencies where a
socialist candidate might
win
why did Italy want Catholic Church support
- Most Italians were Catholics and would listen to the Pope.
- Catholic youth groups and
sports club meant that the
Catholic Church had influence over a wide spectrum of the population. - Catholics were in government in many local areas e.g. Turin, Venice.
how did G attempt to win C support
Trasformismo:
* Made concessions to the
Catholics to gain their
support e.g. made the
Divorce Bill disappear in
1904.
* Promoted Catholic interests in education.
How successful was Giolitti in the short and long term in gaining C support?
*believed the PSI was a
more important ally and was unwilling to jeopardise this by making concessions to them
* could not give
concessions over the lost
territory because he would
upset the Nationalists, so he
could not solve the Roman
Question.
Nationalist leader (1911-14)
Enrico Corradini
what did the Nationalists most want
to reclaim the
Irredente lands.
nationalists were…
*Anti-Socialist and anti-liberal.
* Embarrassed by Italy’s status as the ‘least if the great powers’ e.g. defeat by
Abyssinia, as well as high level of emigration.
why did Giolitti want nationalist’s support
- Largest threat after 1911.
- Supported by the middle
class (m/c). - Had a more dynamic,
passionate and patriotic
message than the liberals.
how did G attempt to win Nat support?
- Tried to expand Italy’s empire in Africa .
- tried to undermine
Nationalist support by
making the liberals more
popular through programme
of economic modernisation
in Italy
