The Liberal state 1911-1914

Question 1

What 4 problems did Italy face at the beggining?

Answer 1

Unification, North-South divide, Italy as a great power, The political System

Question 2

Why was unification a problem?

Answer 2

People loyal to regions,
Leaders struggled to create an identity for the country that could unite citizens
Different dialects

Question 3

What were the issues with the Political System? (5)

Answer 3

• Predominately northern, professional, middle class, represent their own class
• Only 25% could vote, leading to protests and growing strength for revolutionary ideologies
• Governments were short lived- transformismo, could withdraw support, couldn’t pass legislation to improve citizens lives
• Political development hampered by attitude of catholic Church- roman question, didnt want to anger church too much or allienate population further
• Protests met with violent repression, reinforcing divide between ruling and the people

Question 4

What was the problems with the North-South Divide?

Answer 4

Economic expansion centred in northern cities whilst the south’s economy stagnated, increasing poverty

• Only way to alleviate pressure in the south was migration
• Peasants had poor diet, malnutrition etc leading to protests

Question 5

What was Italy like as a great power?

Answer 5

Tended to lag behind Europes major powers
Formed alliance with Austria (traditional enemy) and Germany
Humiliating defeat in Adwa
Not many Colonies

Question 6

Which industries were strong in 1911?

Answer 6

Iron, steel, car

Question 7

What were Giolittis key aims? 4

Answer 7

Unify italy by shared values/ faith in liberal ideas,
Win over socialists/ Catholic Church
Weaken Nationalists
Make Italy a modern, industrialised sucessful country

Question 8

How was Giolitti a master of Transformismo? (2)

Answer 8

Kept files on the weaknesses on every deputy in parliament so knew how to guarantee their support
Believed he could transform Opponents to allies if the right deal was offered

Question 9

What kind of people supported the PSI?

Answer 9

Academically educated intellectuals who lost faith in the ability of liberal politicians

Question 10

How did Giolitti try win over the Socialists?

Answer 10

Focused on absorbing deputies by offereing a range of social reforms eg, maternity fund, arbitration courts

Question 11

How successful was Giolitti with the socialists?

Answer 11

Minimalists prepared to work with GIolitti to bring gradual change for workers

Could not win over Maximalists who believed in revolution and thought these reforms would undermine the party

Question 12

What were the Nationalists beliefs and aims?

Answer 12

Antisocialist and Antiliberal

Only through aggressive foreign policy could Italy expand power and become world power

Aimed to unite differing classes with their patriotic love for italy

Question 13

How did Giolitti attempt to win over the nationalists and how did the 1st one turn out?

Answer 13

1. Liberal program of reform and economic modernisation- failed to halt rise as nationalist message had greater attraction
2. Tried to embrace Nationalism by Libya invasion

Question 14

How did Giolitti try win over the Catholic Church?

Answer 14

Offered concessions in return for support eg getting rid of divorce bill

Question 15

Why did the Catholic church help Giolitti?

Answer 15

Concerned with the rise of socialism so encouraged Italians to vote in places where socialists had good chance of winning

Question 16

3 reasons for the Libyan invasion

Answer 16

• As France began to consolidate morocco, Giolitti feared it would break the deal and expand into Libya
• Gain support of catholic church who had financial interest in Libya
• Appease Nationalists

Question 17

2 impacts of the invasion of Libya

Answer 17

• Increased nationalist support as they took credit for the invasion
• Radical socialists angered and expelled those who supported war, sized control of PSI and rejected cooperation w/ Giolitti

Question 18

Reasons for Giolittis resignation

Answer 18

• lost 71 seats- extension of the franchise
• Uniting opposition groups was impossible
• Too much reliance on catholic support
• Anticlerical Liberals and socialists withdrew support after Gentolini pact

Question 19

What was red week

Answer 19

PSI proclaimed national strike after 3 protesters were shot by police- Buildings torched, Railways seized, Churches attacked

Question 20

What did Giolitti hope would happen with the extension of the Franchise

Answer 20

-less inclined to support radical ideologies, promote unity and increase popularity of liberals

Question 21

Main reasons for Giolittis fall from power (3 paragraph Points)

Answer 21

Mistakes and Failures at home- deals with Catholics in 1913 election, extension of the franchise

Mistakes/ failures with nationalism and foreign Policy- Giolitti associated with failures, humiliating defeat at Adowa, no progress in winning back irredenta lands, Libyan war- ended alliance with PSI, boosted ANI support, gov blamed

Strength of opponents- Socialists- 20% of vote, maximalists taken control, ANI popular, D’Annunzio, Catholics pressured G into making concessions for their support