The Liberal State, c1911-18 - Giolitti's foreign policy

Question 1

When did Italy invade Libya?

Answer 1

September 1911.

Question 2

Why did Italy invade Libya?

Answer 2

• Popular opinion was strongly in favour of the invasion.
• Giolitti helped that a successful invasion would weaken Nationalist support.
• Italy wanted to assert colonial claims in North Africa in response to France’s apparent efforts to expand in the region.
• Powerful Italian business interests pushed for the invasion after establishing investments in Lybia

Question 3

What were the events of the first 3 weeks of the Libyan war?

Answer 3

• Italy declared war on the Ottoman Empire on 29th September 1911.
• Within 3 weeks, Italian forces had seized many of the ports and coastal towns, but found progress much harder after that point.

Question 4

What did the local Arabs see the Italians as?

Answer 4

Invaders rather than liberators.

Question 5

What was the consequence of the the local Arabs seeing the Italians as invaders?

Answer 5

The Italian army had to fight both the Turks and the Arabs.

Question 6

Did Italy succeed in the Libyan war?

Answer 6

Yes- Italy succeeded in gaining the Libyan territory she desired, but through diplomatic pressure.

Question 7

What was the Treaty of Lausanne?

Answer 7

On 8th October 1912, the Turks formally surrendered Libya to Italy.

Question 8

How many Turkish islands in the Aegean did Italy occupy?

Answer 8

14.

Question 9

Why was Turkey not able to resist for long?

Answer 9

Because of her involvement in the Balkan Wars.

Question 10

What was the economic impact of the Libyan war?

Answer 10

It was extremely costly- 1,300m lire.

Question 11

Why did the economic impact continue after the Libyan war?

Answer 11

The Arabs continued to resist Italian control for many years, and so Italy had to keep large numbers of troops in Libya even after the end of the war –> more expensive.

Question 12

What were the positive impacts for Giolitti of the Libyan war?

Answer 12

-He could take credit for the military victory and the acquisition of Italy’s first colony.

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Question 13

What were the impacts concerning the Nationalists after the Libyan war?

Answer 13

• The Nationalists took credit for pushing Giolitti into taking action–> They gained popularity as a result.
• They blamed Giolitti for the loss of ife and the cost of war, arguing that had it been managed properly, Italy would have had even more success.

Question 14

What were the impacts concerning the Nationalists with the Catholics after the Libyan war?

Answer 14

It led them into a temporary alliance, and weakened the moderate Socialists.

Question 15

What were the impacts concerning the electoral franchise after the Libyan war?

Question 16

Why was the electoral franchise sped up after the Libyan war?

Answer 16

Because conscripted men were fighting overseas and it was proposed as a symbol of national unity that they be given the vote.

Question 17

What was intended by the extension of the franchise following the Libyan war?

Answer 17

To bring more conservative rural voters to the polls, although it had the opposite effect, making government even more difficult.

Question 18

What were the negative impacts for Italy of the Libyan war?

Answer 18

• Libya produced the same crops as Italy, leading to a fall in Italian crop prices.
• Emigrants refused to move to Libya to start an Italian colony.
• The Ottoman Empire expelled 50,000 Italians in retaliation for the war –> Loss of trade.