Problems Facing Italy by 1911 Flashcards
When was Italy formed ?
1870
How many different governments were there between 1870 and 1915 ?
20 ( political challenge)
What percentage of Italians were illiterate in 1870 ?
More than 69%
What were the key political groupings in Italy ?
Liberals
Nationalists
Socialists
Catholics
Which diseases did increased poverty lead to ?
Cholera and typhus , especially in the south ( social problem )
Did the king of Italy have any power post unification ?
Yes - could appoint and dismiss gov ministers and senators , including the PM. Could also control foreign policy
Why was the Catholic Church hostile to the new unified Italy and what did this mean for catholic politicians ?
A significant amount of land was taken from the church (the Papal States ) and so most catholic politicians withdrew from political life, paving the way for liberal Italy to dominate. Only in 1913 was an alliance formed between catholics and liberals
When was the vote extended to most adult men
1912
Why did the liberals face growing competition after 1912 ?
They only represented the professional classes not the bulk of the population.
After the 1890s how many Italians emigrated each year ?
Why was this bad ?
About 200,000 (mainly from the south )
Their skills could have been used to strengthen the economy.
Why was it a problem that MPs served local interests rather than national ?
Often switched political allegiances and were open to bribes.
What was the percentage divide in wealth for north vs south ?
South only 27%
North 48%
