The Liberal State: Giolitti's Government

Question 1

What was Giolitti like as a leader?

Answer 1

• Giovanni Giolitti was involved in government for a long time and was Prime Minister for most of the period 1903-1904
• Even when he was not Prime Minister he held other roles such as Minister of the Interior
• Very skilled politician good at forming the coalitions necessary for Trasformismo to function
• Manipulator who used bribery and the offer of promotions to achieve success
• His vision of Italy was for it to be stronger, united, modernised
• It led him to implementing modernising policies and he was prepared to deal with a range of different political groups in order to achieve his aims

Question 2

What were the reforms Giolitti made and how effective were they?

Answer 2

• Made reforms related to Welfare, Literacy and Economic Prosperity
• They led to significant improvement in these areas but did not help all of those whom they targeted
• Industrial workers became increasingly organised and joined organisations like unions to help achieve redress for their grievances

Question 3

What kinds of unions were there and how did Giolitti deal with them?

Answer 3

• Agricultural unions like the Federation of Agricultural Workers (1901)
• Socialist and Catholic unions
• Instead of banning them, Giolitti tried to create reforms that brought the organisations and their members within the political progress
• He enacted measures that allowed them to organise, protest and strike, hoping it would help them feel less alienated and reduce their interest in striking

Question 4

Did Giolitti’s measures end worker grievances?

Answer 4

• No
• The police supported the elites against the workers, sometimes violently repressing strikes
• Economic production was still prioritised over worker grievances
• Workers continued to support the unions and parties they thought protected their interests
• On the other hand, some wealthy and powerful Italians who thought Giolitti was not protecting their interests sought other ways to achieve their goals
• This included supporting authoritarian parties or groups