1912-1915 Flashcards
(27 cards)
When did Giolitti initially extend the franchise and for who?
1912
Only literate men over 21 —> all men with complete military service and all men over 30 years old
Why did Giolitti extend the franchise in 1912?
He believed it would:
-increase national unity
-strengthen vote in rural + industrial areas which dont tend to be radical
= increase popularity of liberals, undermine popularity of PSI
When was the first election under new suffrage?
1913
What happened in the first election under extended suffrage?
- liberals won 318 seats = loss of 71 seats from 1909
- socialists, nationalists, radicals and catholics gained seats
What scandal emerged after the 1913 elections?
- President of Catholic Electoral Union, Count Gentiloni said that he secretly asked liberal politicians to agree to 7 key points in return for the Catholic vote
- also claimed that 228/318 liberal seats owed election to the church
- Giolitti claimed to know nothing of the pact
How did Giolitti’s concessions and conspiracy with the church affect his position as PM?
-Transformismo impossible as Giolitti’s concessions to the church angered socialists and anti-clerical liberals
-March 1914 they withdrew their support for Giolitti after Count Gentiloni’s claims
=Giolitti resigned as PM
What happened as a result of Giolitti’s resignation as PM in 1914?
Infuriated the catholics who felt that with the anti-clerical faction of government gone, Giolitti could’ve formed a new, pro-catholic, block
Who took over from Giolitti in 1914 and what did he hope to achieve?
Antonio Salandra = very conservative liberal
—> hoped to revive liberalism by linking it closely with nationalism
How did Red Week begin?
June 1914, 3 protesters shot dead by police in Ancona
—> PSI proclaimed national strike
—> anarchists, republicans and other radicals joined in
What happened during Red Week?
- public buildings torched
- tax registers destroyed
- railways stations seized
- churches attacked
How did Red Week end?
Trade unions agreed to call of strike
Consequences of Red Week
- 100s of workers died to fight authorities
- verge of revolution
- demonstrated class + ideological divisions in Italy
Which alliance was Italy originally in?
Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
Since 1882
Why was Italy not obligated to join Austria-Hungary when war broke out in August 1914?
A-H had not consulted Italy’s government before declaring war on Serbia
= Italy remained neutral
How did the war in 1914 split Italy’s members of parliament?
Divided on question whether Italy should join the war, and on which side (interventionists vs non-interventionists)
What did non-interventionists believe?
- Italy was not economically ready to fight in major war (especially so soon after war in Libya)
- Italy could gain by negotiating with both sides to stay neutral
=majority of Italians and many members of parliament including Giolitti
What did interventionists believe?
- hoped victory in war would unite Italy and inspire Italian nationalism
- hoped it would distract from domestic problems
- if Germany and A-H won, they wouldn’t be sympathetic to an ally who failed to come to their side
=PM Salandra
What did Salandra do that ended the intervention crisis in parliament?
Salandra and Sidney Sonnino (foreign secretary) began secret negotiations with both sides of the war
—> triple entente offered best deal (gain of many irredente lands)
What was the ‘Treaty of London’ and when was it signed?
26th April 1915
—> Italy pledged to support Britain, France and Russia in the war
Why did the ‘Treaty of London’ cause a stir?
- conducted in complete secrecy, even army generals didn’t know
- PSI + most catholics (including the Pope) were firmly against intervention
- most provincial Italians were reported to be afraid of war and had little concern for the irredente lands
What happened as a result of the ‘Treaty of London’?
- rallies in support of war were held in the streets
- neutralists were called ‘traitors’
- parliament continued to be divided
- Salandra resigned as PM
What did the King do after Salandra resigned 1915?
The King invited Giolitti to form a new government, but he refused
Why did Giolitti refuse to form a new government in 1915?
- Treaty of London couldn’t be ignored as then Italy would betray both sides
- King might abdicate if Treaty not honoured
- Giolitti couldn’t support the treaty but also didn’t want to risk overthrowing the King
Who ended up forming a government after Salandra’s resignation and Giolitti’s refusal, 1915?
The King turned to Salandra again
—>Salandra reinstated as PM on 16th May 1915
