Success Of Liberal Government In Dealing With Italys Growing Instability, 1912-14

Question 1

Franchise extension (1912)

Answer 1

Vote previously restricted to literate men over 21.
Now increased to men over 30, regardless of literacy and men who completed military service.
Giolitti on hoped this would: undermine PSI, increase popularity of liberals, increase votes in rural areas and promote national unity.

Question 2

What actually happened under the new suffrage vote in 1913? (Giolitti’s resignation)

Answer 2

Liberals lost 71 seats.
Only won 318 votes.
Socialists and nationalist grew stronger with mass suffrage.
Catholic electoral union secretly asked liberals to agree 7 points on divorce bill and education in return for support.
288 votes down to catholics, now dependent on catholics and PSI and anti-clerical liberals angry by this and withdrew support so Giolitti resigned. Antonio Salandra new PM (relive liberalism with close match to nationalism)

Question 3

Red week

Answer 3

June 1914
PSI proclaimed national strike after 3 protestors shot in Ancona
Supported by radicals, anarchists and republicans
Chaos: public buildings torched, churches attacked, railways seized
Ended because trade unions agreed to call off strike

Question 4

Impact of neutrality

Answer 4

1914
Italy stayed neutral as Austria-Hungary didn’t consult them when they declared war over Serbia
Triple entente: Britain, Grenache, Russia
Giolitti believed Italy not economically ready to join war
But, anger in nationalist press because they weren’t intervening