o Challenges to the Liberal State Flashcards
What factors need to be taken into account when assessing how effective the government was with dealing with Italy’s problems post WW1?
The ‘Mutilated Victory’
The occupation of Fiume
Post war economic crisis and social discontent
Political reforms
Growth of Socialist and Catholic
Parties
Result and impact of the 1919 elections
What was the impact of the mutilated victory in assessing the governments effectiveness to deal with Italy problems post WW1?
WW1 caused social, economic and political issues.
Divisions between differing Italian classes.
To worsen the ex-soldiers were mad and felt betrayed - they wanted to achieve national greatness they believed they had been fighting for.
They fought with the workers as saw their role in the war as that of cowards- over the fact that they had stayed back from the war and gotten richer while those soldiers were fighting upfront risking their lives.
Paris Peace conference in Versailles further angered the population as Italy was poorly treated and cut VERY short on any territorial gains it did make-as key leaders at Versailles (American president- Woodrow Wilson, David Lloyd George and Georges Clemenceau) - did not see Italy deserving of the territorial gains as their contribution to the was was not justifiable.
Gebriele D’ Annunzio, a famous novelist called the war a ‘mutilated victory’ as it was a shame and disgrace to the 600,000 soldiers who died and showed the weakness of the Italian government and Italy’s lowly position in relation to other European powers - unable to gain Fiume or any of Germany’s colonial territories in Africa undermined the liberal government.
Orlando was replaced by Francesco Nitti who futher added to idea of a ‘mutilated victory’ as he settled on Fiume being a neutral city with L.O.N and allowed Yugoslavia to take Dalmatia, he gave amnesty to soldiers who deserted. Did all this in hopes to improve economy via improving relations with the allies.
Caused anger and disgust from the nationalists and further fuelled idea of a mutilated victory.
Mussolini’s claim of Italy’s requiring a stronger government that would not back out like the weak liberals and regain Italy’s former glory - was a popular message given to the widespread anger that existed in Italy towards the Versailles settlement.
What was the impact of the occupation of Fiume in assessing the governments effectiveness to deal with Italy problems post WW1? (PAGE 194)
Due to turmoil and idea of the ‘mutilated victory’, nationalist right-winged groups (consisting of alot of ex-soldiers, young men) challenged the government in Rome.
Led by Gabriele D’ Annunzio on 12th September 1919 with 2,000 men (ex-soldiers, Futurists, students and pariots) he seized Fiume with ease (without fight) and government didn’t respond for 15 months until Christmas day of 1920 when the Italian navy removed them.
D’Annunzio’s actions were popular among Italians.
Was a crucial moment leading up to Fascism as Mussolini looked up to the violent and decisive tactics of D’ Annunzio.
How did post-war economic crisis and social discontent impact how we can assess the governments effectiveness to deal with Italy problems post WW1? (PAGE 196)
Attempts to adjust to post-war economy were hard as soldiers demobilised, flooding the job market, by November 1919 unemployment at 2 million. High inflation, wages and pensions rapidly declined.
Major communications company Ansaldo collapsed 1921 leading to a bank crisis, which lead to labour militancy strikes. Following events in Russia, led to considerable campaign calling for greater worker rights and possible revolution.
Membership to socialist unions went up by 8 times in 1920 as it was in 1918.
January, April, September and July all saw major strikes (food shortage strikes, Railway strikes, telegraph worker strikes, army troops strikes; with the largest strike being in September of 400,000 workers! (taking over factories, flying red flags of communism and the black flags of anarchism over the buildings for nearly 4 weeks.
The country side also saw the same social and economic discontent as peasants seized land from their owners (following the failure of the government fulfilling promises to peasants that they would get lands), although some lands were made available to peasants to purchase however they were not enough to satisfy the number demanding land for farming.
Italy was in the middle of a social and economic breakdown.
What was the impact of the political reforms in assessing the governments effectiveness to deal with Italy problems post WW1?
For the 1919 elections a number of reforms were introduced.
Number of people allowed to vote was increased to 11 million as any Italian who served at the front or a male over 21 were made to be able to vote.
Method of voting changed to proportional representation so the population could have more of a say in which parties got elected.
What was the impact of the growth of socialist and catholic parties in assessing the governments effectiveness to deal with Italy problems post WW1?
Changes to politics weakened liberal order further as the Catholic Party (PPI) emerged in 1919 and pushed for Catholic values including land reform, which attracted the peasants.
The Socialists ie) PSI began to become far more radical following the revolution in Russia.
Supported strikes and occupations and the days of Giolitti ‘absorption’ that would encourage the PSI to work with the Liberals were clearly over.
What was the impact of the 1919 elections in assessing the governments effectiveness to deal with Italy problems post WW1?
New political reforms introduced had major impact on the elections as PSI won the greatest share of votes (32%) for the first time. PPI won second greatest share, but no one won the most overall and neither was prepared to have a coalition.
Old liberal government retained power and till 1922 kept creating coalitions themselves using same political groups that ruled from 1860. This was a failure in democracy.
Anger of the Italian people towards the old political system, the 1919 election was a lost opportunity to show that democracy could help save Italy’s problems.
June 1920 Nitti’s government fails and parliament for the thousandth time turns to Giolitti for help - to lead the country away from impending social, economic and political meltdown.
