ITALY Booklet 1: The Liberal State, 1911-1918 Flashcards
What were the key social problems in early Italy?
Industrial unrest in the North led to a series of strikes
Lack of nationalism with Italians being very separate in their own regions
What were the key economic problems in early Italy?
Economic imbalance between the North and South (industrialisation of the North especially)
Poverty in the South of Italy - with high levels of illiteracy and lower standards of living due to disease
What were the key political problems in early Italy?
The Pope and Catholic Church’s tension with the state and voting
The party systems were not well-established
Risorgimento
The unification of Italy in 1911
Anarchism
A political theory which refers to the abolishment of hierarchies and institutions in politics and society in general
Mezzogiorno
The South of Italy
Golden triangle
The centre of industry in the North and Italy as a whole in Milan, Turin and Genoa making an industrial triangle
Roman Question
Refers to the dispute between the State and the church in which after the unification of Italy the state took over all papal states and Rome ended with the Lateran Pact creating the Vatican City as a separate state
Trasformismo
A method of introducing a coalition government to reduce the size and influence of extremist political groups taking power
Campanilismo
Relates to one sense of pride within their hometown/birthplace in Italy
What were Giolitti’s aims?
To unify Italy
To neutralise the threat of fascists
How did he try to appease the socialists, Catholics and nationalists?
Socialists - By reforming laws and regulations around workers’ rights and the right to peaceful protests and strikes
Catholics - Giolitti made an alliance with the Catholic deputies to help encourage political support from Catholics in the next election, which he gained the Catholic vote through promising the seven key points
Nationalists - The extension of franchise pleased the nationalists as it promoted national unity, Giolliti attempted to embrace Italy’s nationalism by expanding Italy’s empire in North Africa through the invasion of Libya which pleased the nationalists
What impact did the extension of the franchise have?
Gave almost universal male suffrage
Increased representation for the working class
Increased political engagement across the country
Increased the popularity of the Liberals
Increased the electoral from 3 million to 8,650,000
This increased representation of the working class made them less inclined to turn to more radical ideologies
Nationalism
One identifying and placing loyalty and pride on one’s own nation
Appease
Where someone will satisfy others demands by acceding their demands in hopes of maintaining peace
Franchise
A right or act granted to an individual or group by a government /sovereign
How successful were Giolitti’s domestic policies?
Unsuccessful in absorbing the pressure groups
Successful in improving Italy’s economy and workers rights
The downturn showed that the economy was still unstable
Built up Italy’s industrial output
Why did Italy go to war in Libya in 1911?
Need to assert its claims in the region
Powerful business interests in Italy - significant economic investments in Libya
Popular enthusiasm for invasion - due to France making Italy look weak - outpouring support of nationalism and patriotic support
Giolliti hoped to weaken nationalist support - Hoped that the invasion would appease the nationalists in Italy and draw them into his influence
What were the successes and failures of the war in Libya?
Appeased the nationalists
Greeted with an outpouring of national enthusiasm even from socialist leaders
Although the Italians controlled the coast, many of their troops had been killed in battle and nearly 6,000 Ottoman soldiers remained to face an army of nearly 140,000 Italians. As a result, the Ottomans began using guerrilla tactics.
Patriotism
Devotion and loyalty to one’s country
Ottoman Empire
Known now as the turkish empire, controlled much of Southeast Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa, between the 14th and early 20th centuries
Banco di Roma
Italian bank based in Rome, one was based in Libya which was a reason pushed by the Catholics to invade Libya due to having investments
What were the different reasons for Giolitti’s resignation?
Lost the favour of the socialists
Alliances had fallen apart after the Catholic Vote was exposed
A wall of opposition had built up against him
What do you think was the most significant reason for his resignation?
Losing alliances as that was his main way in which he gained votes in his last election, like the catholic vote and the socialists support
