Liberal Italy Flashcards
What did the governmental system of liberal italy resemble?
no established liberal political parties, just many rapidly changing coalition governments
What did Italian liberals generally believe in?
free democratic elections
freedom of press
the right to private property
freedom of religion
support free trade
what is ‘Risorgimento’?
The unification of Italy
1870 - including Rome
What was liberal Italy generally characterised by, despite its ideals?
corruption
economic problems
social discontent
lack of political development
How were the Italian socialists organised?
PSI
- Partio Socialista Italiano
- founded in 1892
- led by Filippo Turati
Was the PSI popular ?
(Statistics)
Increasing popular
-1900 elections ; PSI gained 32/508 deputies
- 1913 elections; 1/4 of vote + 79/508 deputies
- 1902, 250,000 industrial workers joined socialist national federations + more strikes for higher wages
- 1910, 218,000 Italians joined socialist agricultural cooperatives
Why was the socialism increasing in popularity?
- mass internal migration; increase in population of major northern cities
–> Milan doubled in size 1880-1914
= socialism was a means for working class advancement - PSI supported by intellectuals who had lost faith in the liberals to achieve ‘Risorgimento’ (corruption, widening class gap)
How did Giolitti deal with the popularity of the PSI?
- main focus of Giolitti’s 1911 programme
- ‘trasformismo’
–> absorbed socialist deputies by offering a range of social reforms
What social reforms did Giolitti implement to absorb socialist deputies?
1898, non-compulsory national insurance fund for health and old age
1898, compulsory accident insurance in industrial work paid for by employer
1901, banned employment of children under 12
When did Italy become unified (without rome)
1861
What was the Roman question
Split between the Italian state and the Catholic Church which refused to recognise the legitimacy of the new state
Examples of social problems facing newly unified Italy
- clear north / south divide
- between 1910-11, 25,000 people died of cholera in Naples (the south)
- over 50% of the south were illiterate
- lots of migration in the south
Examples of political problems facing newly unified Italy
- trasformismo
- less than 25% of Italian mean had the vote
- there were 29 chages of PM in 52 years
- in 1896, the new pope banned catholics from biting
Examples of economic problems facing newly unified Italy
- in 1896, Italy is significantly poorer than Germany, Britain and France
- nearly 60% of the population are in agriculture (UK is 10%)
Was Italy a great power by 1911?
Viewed itself as great and worthy but was known as ‘the least of the great powers’
Why was unifying Italy so difficult?
- the pope did not agree with it
- large north/south divide
What was the liberal view on politics and public participation?
Ordinary people should not be involved and should leave it to the well educated and wealthy elite
Until what year did Italy have a king?
1946
When did most males receive the vote ?
1912
What were the responsibilities of the king?
Dismissed and calls ministers
what was the structure of the Italian political system
King
Government
Chamber of deputies
Senate
Which two groups made up the parliament
The senate and the chamber of deputies
What powers do the government have over the king?
The king follows the governments advice
How are deputies chosen for the government?
Most popular deputies are chosen to be part of the government
(Corrupt system due to trasformismo)
What was the problem with the politicians that represented the people?
They were mostly northern and from wealthy and professional middle class
What was trasformismo?
Deputies were easily bribed and there was a lack of parties (worked on a ‘do me a favour’ basis)
Were there parties in Italy?
No parties only personalities
How did local councils work?
69 provinces, 8382 communes (areas) in provinces, each area had an elected council and mayor
When did giolliti first become prime minister?
1892
What were some of giolitti’s political methods
- attempting to bring political groups together rather than alienating them
- used trasformismo to build coalitions and support
- prioritised economy over workers
- tried to unify Italy (north/south divide)
What did giolitti achieve socially for the south
Improved literacy, health and economy in the south
The main socialist in Italy
The PSI
Why did giolitti not get on with the socialists
They wanted fairer working conditions for the working class
What was the PSI
formed in 1892. inspired by Marx. wished to gain socialism through the liberal system, many other socialists were more radical and so group split. gained 1/4 of votes in 1913 election, supported by working class.
Where do we first see Mussolini
He runs a socialist newspaper called the ‘avanti’
Industry bought workers to northern cities. What happened to Milan’s population?
Double by 1914
Was Giolitti supported by the Catholics?
For the most part yes. The pope backed him in the 1913 election
( giolitti agreed to implement policies that the church wanted such as abortion outlawed etc.)
Why was the rise in the Catholic politicians problematic for both the church and Giolitti
Giolitti - they were becoming increasingly popular and there attended the liberal system
Church - they became less dependant on the pope the higher they got in the political system
What did giolitti and the Catholic Church disagree on?
Giolitti did not want to give the catholics back their Vatican territory
What did the nationals think of giolitti?
Hated him from the start, disliked his ‘cooperation’ with the socialists
What did the nationalists argue for?
- ban on strike in public sector
- stronger police force
- immigration laws
- more defence spending
- territories in Austria back
- Colonial expansion
Which group were the biggest threat to Giolitti?
Giolitti underestimated the nationalists, but the PSI has managed to secure a large number of votes by 1913
When did Italy join the triple alliance?
1882
When does the Italian invasion of Libya begin and why?
29th September 1911
Gio wanted to appease nationalists
What does irredentism mean?
Claiming back land that you believe is yours
Examples of Irredente lands
- Trieste
- South Tyrol
- trentino
- istria
- Dalmatia
Where is Abyssinia now?
Ethiopia
Why does the triple alliance come u der threat by 1911?
Many Italians dislike the Austrians because they believe that some of Austria should be their land
What is italys previous history of colonisation?
Defeated by Ethiopians in 1884 and 1896 become known for their bad fighting skills
Why do the Italians gain Libya?
Previously part of the Ottoman Empire, handed over in defeat when Italians put pressure on them
Why did giolitti expand the empire and how did it backfire?
He was trying to please the nationalists and form some kind of cooperation, the public saw that the nationalists has pushed him to invade and so they gained a lot of supporters instead
When is Libya handed over by the ottomans?
12th October 1912
Why do the catholics support Libyan invasion?
The pope has financial interest in Libya
What was the impact of the Libyan war on politics
- giolitti was blamed for loss of life and the cost
- weakened the alliance with the socialists as many were anti - war
Who was the franchise extended to in 1912?
All literate men over 21, all other men over 30
How much support did giolitti lose in the 1913 elections?
Seats in parliament went from 370 to 318
How many strikes were there between 1901-1911?
1500 strikes
What were the economic problems affecting Italy from 1911-14?
- wealth wasted on Libyan campaigns
- drop in domestic crop prices by 1911 because there was agriculture in Libya
- loss of trade links due the Ottoman Empire
- emigration to the USA
- Libya was not effective colony
- large number of public sector strikes
What were the political problems affecting Italy from 1911-14?
- constant opposition from other parties
- trasformismo
- no mass party to support giolitti
What problems led to giolittis resignation?
- radicals did not support him because of his alliance with the catholics
- relied on Catholic support so other coalitions dissolved
When did giolitti resign?
21st March 1914
What is the declaration of neutrality?
When WW1 is declared, Italy said that they were not involved in talks with Austria about attack on Serbia and so therefore they did not have to honour the triple alliance
What did the nationalists think about the declaration of neutrality?
They thought that it made their country look weak
What did the socialists think about the declaration of neutrality?
They were often against war so they were pleased
What did the catholics think about the declaration of neutrality?
Split opinions, did not want to be in war but did not want to be on the same side as Russians geavuae they were largely Protestant
What word is often used to describe Italy’s neutrality in the war?
Non - intervention
Who is giolitti replaced by?
Salandra
What is the intervention crisis?
- salandra and foreign minister secretly negotiate with both triple entente and triple alliance
- triple entente offers best deal
When was the treaty of London signed ?
26th April 1915
Why was there dichotomy of elite and public opinion of the war?
The elite wanted ‘best for the country’, whereas the public were the ones that had to be drafted and fight
When was salandra prime minister?
1914-1916
When does Italy officially join the war ?
25th may 1915
What happens with giolitti when they enter the war?
He is backed by 300 deputies, all against the war, that want him back as prime minister
What do that nationalists call those who believe in neutrality?
Traitors
What are Mussolini’s beliefs about WW1?
That they will be good for the country and will bring Revolution to Italy
What happens between salandra, the king and giolitti
Salandra resigns, the king then asks giolitti to be prime minister, so long as he proves to honour the treaty of London or the king will abdicate. Giolitti resings and salandra is re-installed. ‘Hissy fit’ that lasts one day
What does the triple entente promise Italy in WW1
£50m, irredente lands
How did the war divide Italians further?
Showed the class divide as south could not understand the north
How many were conscripted?
5 million and majority from the south
What happened when Austria launched an offensive on Italy?
Italians hold their ground but had major effects on morale and army, salandra is forced to resign and is replaced by Boselli. Lots of violence between Italian troops and loss morale further
What happened to casualty rates throughout the war?
520,000 in 1917 to 143,000 in 1918
How did Italy produce so many products?
‘Production at all costs’ - state bought possible products that the industries could produce, no matter the cost
How did Italy’s military industry grow?
Produced 6500 planes in 1918. Produced 20,000 machine guns and 7000 of heavy artillery, more than the British
Why did salandra’s government collapse?
Austria’s first major offensive caused discontent in government and army
Who is salandra replaced by?
Paolo boselli
When was the battle of caporetto
24th October 1917
What was the battle of caporetto ?
Austrians and Germans suddenly attacked and defeated the Italians
How many troops
