Liberal State 1911-18

Question 1

What was Risorgimento?

Answer 1

The unification in Italy in 1861 - means resurgence or rebirth.

Question 2

What was ‘the Roman Question’?

Answer 2

The split between the Italian state and Catholic church - political problem in uniting the Papal states with the rest of Italy.

Question 3

What was ‘questione meridionale’?

Answer 3

The Southern Question - an attempt to understand why the South had fallen into such poverty, and what could be done to stop it.

Question 4

What was Irredentism?

Answer 4

Foreign policy goal to reclaim Italian-speaking lands, such Istria and South Tryol (now Croatia and northernmost Italy.) Also means ‘unredeemed’ in Latin.

Question 5

What was Colonisation?

Answer 5

Where Italy wanted overseas colonies, especially in Africa - first Tunisia, then Abyssinia.

Question 6

What two beliefs did Italian foreign policy focus on?

Answer 6

Irredentism and colonisation.

Question 7

Why could Italy not get Tunisia?

Answer 7

France claimed it in 1881.

Question 8

Why could Italy not get Abyssinia?

Answer 8

They lost 5000 men when defeated by the Ethiopian army.

Question 9

When did the Ethiopians defeat the Italians?

Answer 9

The Battle of Adwa, 1st March 1896.

Question 10

Who was Giolitti?

Answer 10

Giovanni Giolitti, five time Prime Minister of Italy. Wanted to make Italy a modern, industrialised country united in values and beliefs.

Question 11

What was the ‘Southern Question?’

Answer 11

The issue of the South being economically inferior to the North.

Question 12

What was ‘Trasformismo?’

Answer 12

Political corruption and manoeuvring.

Question 13

When was Italy unified?

Answer 13

Began in 1861, went on until Papal states joined in 1870.

Question 14

When was the invasion of Libya?

Answer 14

29th September 1911

Question 15

What was franchise extension?

Answer 15

Where suffrage changed - 1912 all men over 30 or those with military experience could vote.

Question 16

Who benefitted from franchise extension?

Answer 16

Catholics and nationalists - God and patriotism were simple messages for the illiterate to understand.

Question 17

Who was Antonio Salandra?

Answer 17

1853-1931. Italy’s PM in 1914, wanted Italy to enter WW1 so that the country could be unified under nationalist beliefs.

Question 18

What does liberal mean?

Answer 18

Political ideology believing in equality and individual liberty - supporting private property and individual rights.

Question 19

What are nationalists?

Answer 19

People with a strong patriotic identification with their country, shared with a desire to make the country strong and more united, supreme to other countries.

Question 20

Who are radicals?

Answer 20

People with extreme views or those who want extreme change

Question 21

Who was Luigi Cadorna?

Answer 21

1850-1928. Commander of the Italian army from 1914 to 1917. A harsh, conservative leader who though defensive policies were defeatist and brought. back decimation for ‘cowardice.’

Question 22

What was the PSI?

Answer 22

The Italian socialist party formed in 1892

Question 23

What is suffrage?

Answer 23

Being given the right to vote

Question 24

What was the ANI?

Answer 24

The Italian nationalist association formed in 1910

Question 25

What was the Treaty of London?

Answer 25

26 April - Italy’s agreement to enter the war on the side of the Allies (Entente) in return for promised irredente lands.

Question 26

What was the Battle of Caporetto?

Answer 26

1917 - biggest defeat of WW1. Huge humiliation for Italy, chaotic retreat and revealed poor leadership - led to Cadorna being replaced by Diaz.

Question 27

What was the Battle of Vittorio Veneto?

Answer 27

24th October 1918, a resounding success that split the Austrian army in half and allowed Italy to win the war