Growing challenges to liberal political dominance (1896-1915) Flashcards
What happened to the economy in the first 20 years of liberal Italy?
It grew
What happened to the liberal economy in the 1890s?
It fell into a depression as a result of foreign competition and trade disputes with France, Italy’s main export market (corn laws). Companies and banks went bust as a result
Explain the Banca Romana scandal
The Banca Romana had printed and issues a large number of banknotes illegally
How did the Banca Romana scandal impact the reputation of liberal politicians?
The bank had given interest free loans to leading politicians, PM Crispi and opposition leader Giolitti accepted loans 30 times larger than the average annual income for Italian citizens
How did the 1890s protests lead to social disorder and protests?
The first signs of unrest appeared in Sicily, the poorest part of the country. Workers organised strikes and demonstration demanding higher wages and lower rents
How did Crispi’s government view the protests in Sicily?
As a subversive, potentially revolutionary movement, sponsored by the church or foreign powers. Crispi feared it would lead to a revolutionary movement across the whole of Italy
How did Crispi respond to the unrest in Sicily?
He ordered the arrest of workers’ leaders. Sicily was placed under military rule and 40,000 troops. Opposition groups were banned throughout the country and opposition newspapers were censorship
What was Crispi’s goal on the foreign policy stage?
He wanted Italy to become a ‘great power’ on the level of France and Britain. Britain and France were carving out empires in Africa, and Crispi felt like Italy deserved a share.
Why did Crispi’s decision to order troops into Abyssinia destroy his political career?
5,000 Italian soldiers were left dead in a humiliating defeat at the 1896 Battle of Adowa.. It was the first time a European power had been defeated by an African state and it was the biggest military defeat of the century
When was the humiliation of Abyssinia avenged?
In 1936, when the fascists conquered Ethiopia
What was the consequence of liberal politicians presiding over economic depression, national humiliation and political corruption from 1893-6?
It damaged their reputation to such an extent that opposition movements began to challenge the liberal monopoly on power
How did industrialisation in 1880s Northern Italy aid socialism?
It produced a sizeable working class who were attracted to socialist ideas concerning pay, working hours and the ownership of industry
What was the consequence of an 1881 liberal reform allowing 2 million more Italians to vote?
It gave an incentive for them to organise. Turati made the first attempt to create a single, unified socialist party when he created an Italian Workers’ Congress in Milan
How did the socialist movement split into two at the 1892 Genoa Conference?
The first dedicated itself to revolutionary strikes and and refused to participate in elections or parliamentary politics
- The second but larger group held the same goals but argued that this should be brought about through piecemeal reform and political participation
How did the more moderate wing of the socialist movement fare?
They became the PSI under the leadership of Turati. They had 27,000 members and ran their own newspaper, avanti. In received over 200,000 votes in the 1900 election and won 32 seats in the chamber of deputies
