The Liberal State, c1911-18 - Growing Instability, 1912-14

Question 1

What did the socialists increasingly believe about the Liberal-led government?

Answer 1

• That the system was used to protect the elite and intimidate th W/C.
• That Italy’s wealth was being wasted on Foreign campaigns such as Libya.

Question 2

By 1913, what 5 of the total vote was the PSI winning?

Answer 2

over 20%

Question 3

What other major group was becoming more powerful in this period?

Answer 3

Nationalists.

Question 4

Who were the nationalists drawing support from?

Answer 4

A mixture of business interests, journalists, poets and painters.

Question 5

What did the Nationalists believe about the Liberals?

Answer 5

That they were failing to deal with the Socialist threat.

Question 6

What were the impacts of the franchise extension what Giolitti expected?

Answer 6

He expected that it would lead to more votes from conservative voters and support from greateful Socialists.

Question 7

Were the impacts of the franchise extension what Giolitti expected?

Answer 7

No

Question 8

What was the result of the 1913 elections?

Answer 8

Giolitti’s Liberals won fewer seats, declining from 370 to 318, but Giolitti still had a comfortable majority control of the Chamber of Deputies.

Question 9

Why was Giolitti increasingly reliant on the Catholic Union?

Answer 9

He formed a coalition government with them following the 1913 election. The conservative peasant had given their vote to the Catholic party rather than the Liberals, and so he became increasingly reliant on Catholic support.

Question 10

Why were Radicals and Socialists no longer willing to collaborate with him?

Answer 10

Because he was forced to make concessions such as make civil marriages precede a religious service under the Catholic coalition.

Question 11

What was the issue facing Giolitti by 1914?

Answer 11

He was facing opposition from all sides.

Question 12

Why did the Radicals withdraw support for Giolitti’s coalition in February 1914?

Answer 12

Because of the concessions to the Catholics.

Question 13

Why did the coalition between the Liberals and the Catholics collapse?

Answer 13

Because all support was withdrawn.

Question 14

When did Giolitti resign?

Answer 14

21 March 1914, but remained a Deputy.

Question 15

What did Giolitti hope for by remaining a Deputy?

Answer 15

To rebuild his reputation and make a successful return to government.

Question 16

In reality, what did Giolitti’s resignation mark the end of?

Answer 16

Trasformismo.

Question 17

What was different about the political parties following the resignation of Giolitti?

Answer 17

They were not loose groupings, but were ideologically motivated and organised, unlike the Liberals and the politicians of the past.

Question 18

What was the trend amongst parties after 1913?

Answer 18

They tended to be Nationalist, Catholic or both.

Question 19

What did the rise of a more aggressive form of politics coincide with?

Answer 19

The rising tensions internationally prior to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.