Key Problems In Italy In Early Part Of 20th Century

Question 1

Key problems facing Italy in early part of 20th century?

Answer 1

1. North-south divide
2. Unification
3. Political system
4. Italy as a great power
5. Social and economic problems

Question 2

Unification

Answer 2

Unified in 1870
Campanilismo
Not unified by language: King Emmanuel spoke piedmont, 99% spoke regional language, Italian was dialect from Florence
May 1898- protests against political system met by brutal gov crackdown (100 protestors dead in Milan)
June 1900- as revenge, king Umberto assassinated

Question 3

Political system

Answer 3

Italians in parliament from predominately Northern, professional middle class.
Represented own interests.
Political development hampered by Roman question.
No parliamentary challenge because: less than 25% men had vote, lack of popular opposition
Governments short lived: 29 from 1870-1922
Transformismo
Politicians could just withdraw support, lacked political education
Inability to pass legislation that old improve Italy and corruption

Question 4

Economic growth and social problems

Answer 4

1899-1914 industrialisation/ economic expansion
Fiat and Alfa romea established
Living standards didn’t increase
Protests because of high unemployment and food shortages regular
1,500 strikes between 19011-1911, involving 350,000 workers

Question 5

North south divide

Answer 5

Questione meriodinale- poor economic structure and geographical and structure
No Italian PM after 32 years after unification
No fiscal policies to aid south
By 191, expansion in Milan, Turin and Bologna
Led to increase poverty in south
Between 1910-11 epidemic of cholera which led 250,000 to die in Naples
Only way of alleviating was through emigration, between 1901-13, around 200,000 southern Italians left
Every 3 out of 4 Italians that migrated to USA was from southern Italy

Question 6

Italy as a great power

Answer 6

Lagged behind Europe’s major power in foreign policy
Foreign policy focused on irredentism ( should have South Tyrol and Istria- ethnically Italian. Austria-Hungary took though)
Italy didnt have diplomatic skills or military power to take nations
Had interest in African colonies overseas
Wanted Tunisia (economic interests) but in 1881, french took for themselves
Led to them forming triple alliance (Germany and Austria - traditional enemy)
In 1884, british gov agreed to support italys expansion into Abyssinia
Failed in battle of Dogila and battle of adwa (worst defeat- 5,000 died)

Question 7

Roman question

Answer 7

Term used to describe split between Catholic Church and state
Refused to recognise new Italian state
Leo XIII forbade catholics from running in and voting in national elections