Fascist Italy Pre 1918 Flashcards
(28 cards)
What was the battle of Caporetto like for Italy
Occurred 24th October 1917, 10000 troops killed and 30000 wounded, Italian troops retreated due to low morale and poor leadership. Provoked anger and debate within Italy and the nationalist wanted a revolution
What changes did the Nationalists make in the Italian war effort
Military industry grew substantially, better rations, General Diaz appointed new general, make quality of life changes such as more rations and more time off, woman and peasants worked in factories to produce weaponry for Italian military
What was the mutilated victory
The Italian people felt betrayed because they had not been granted the territories agreed in the treaty if London signed in 1915
What was the intervention crisis
26th April 1915: Italy signed the treaty of London pledging support to Britain,France,Russia
Early may 1915: Giolitti denounced the treaty of London and 300 deputies announced their opposition to Salandras decision
13th may 1915: Salandra offers his resignation
16th may 1915: Salandra was re-appointed prime minister after Giolitti refused
20th may 1915: Salandra was granted emergency powers by parliament
25th may 1915: Italy formally declared war on Austria
What were some of the social impacts on ww1 on Italian people
Real wages fell 25%, promises of social reform after Caporetto, 75 hours a week of work, bread and pasta rationed in 1917 and sugar and meat consumption fell sharply, government t increased direct taxation
What were some of the economic impacts of ww1
The state spent 148 billion lire, links between the state and industry became close, national debt increased from 16 billion lire in 1914 to 85 billion in 1919, increased employment among woman, wages fell by 25%, major industries saw massive expansion such as fiat and Ansando, price index increased from 100 in 1914 to 413 in 1918.
What were the political impacts of ww1
Government powers increased, parliament became a ‘ rubber stamp ‘ , PSI advocated neither support nor sabotage
What were the military impacts of ww1
5 million men conscripted, 1 million Italians wounded, 600000 Italian troops killed
What was the roman question
The split between the Italian state and the Catholic Church which refused to recognise the legitimacy of the unified nation.
What were the reasons for Italy for invading Libya
Popular enthusiasm for the invasion, powerful business interest in Italy, needed to assert its claims in the region, Giolitti hoped to weaken nationalist support.
What events occurred during the Italian invasion of Libya
.Italy declared war on 29th September 1911
. 70,000 troops sent and within 3 weeks the Italian navy had seized many ports and coastal towns
. Natives didn’t see the Italians as liberators and the Italian army ended up fighting the Turks and the Arabs
. Italy put diplomatic pressure on turkey
. On 8th October 1912 turkey surrendered Libya to Italy
. 50,000 troops permanently stationed in Libya to maintain dominance
. War cost 1,300 million lire and 3500 Italian troops died
What was the political system like in the early 20th Century
. The constitution guaranteed equality before the law , rights of free assembly and free press
. Set up the system of constitutional monarchy, the king was head of the state
. The king had the power to appoint and dismiss ministers and controlled foreign policy
. Prime minister ran the everyday affairs of the country
. Prime minister had to retain the support of parliament to retain his position and pass laws
What Political weaknesses were their in the early 20th century
. Many Italian felt that alienated from the political system and political corruption was widespread
. The system had been dominated by a small and wealthy elite
. The system was extremely confusing
. Became known as transforismo and led to instability within Italian politics
. Between 1870 and 1915 their were more than 20 prime ministers
What was Catholicism like In the early 20th century
. When Italy was unified in 1870 a significant chunk of land was seized from the pope
. No pope recognised the existence of the Italian Kingdom until 1929
. The Catholic Church was hostile to the new Italian state and the institution established by it
. Church relations with the state became better when Pope Pius X was determined to defeat the threat of socialism
. The catholic movement aligned with the liberals under Pope Pius X
What were economic and social problems faced by the government in the early 20th Century
. The north-south divide worsened due to northern Italy being much more industrial and southern Italy being much more agricultural
. Higher illiteracy rate in the south compared to the north
. 1901-1913 each year 200,000 southern Italians were leaving Italy
. Companilismo - people felt more attached to their region rather than the country as a whole
What was Italian Foreign like in the early 20th century
. Italy desired to be a great power, equal of Britain France and Germany
. Gaining colonies oversea was one way to achieve identity and unity , as well as improving the economy
. Early attempts of colonisation in Tunisia in 1881 and Abyssinia in 1896 ended disastrously
. Italy once again tried to exert more influence in Morocco , Tunisia and Egypt through expanding trade connections
What was the influence of Giolitti like
. Liberal Leader Giolitti was prime minister of Italy from 1903-14
. He was prepared to use bribery and corruption to achieve support for his policies
. He was a political manipulator and a master of transformismo
. He aimed to bring together different political groups to co-operate and share ideas in order to achieve the goal of a more unified Italy
How did Giolitti improve relations with the socialists
. The socialist party was divided , with one group valuing co-operation with the government in order to peacefully achieve its aim and another group feeling that co-operation was not in the best interest to workers
.socialist politicians were prepared to compromise to some degree however the wider socialist movement was not
. Many Italian socialists believed the reforms did not go far enough and that the reforms were designed to avoid riots and political instability rather than help people
What was Giolitti’s relationship with the Catholic Church like
. Giolitti was the first liberal to successfully appeal to the organised catholic vote
. Catholics soon became influencal in local governments which worried the liberal government
.Giolitti aligned himself with the catholics due to the potential size of the catholic vote
. However he was hostile to the catholics forming their own party
. In the 1913 election the pope supported Giolitti and provided him with significant catholic backing
What was Giolitti’s relationship with the Nationalists like
.nationalism rapidly became a sign I can’t force in Italy and it was the party that most opposed Giolittis politics
. Nationalists argued for : ban on public sector strikes , stronger police powers , colonial expansion
. The nationalists believed that Giolitti’s was collaborating with the socialist too much
What was the impact of the franchise expansion in 1912
. In 1912 the Franchise was extended to all literate men over 21 years old and all men regardless of literacy over 30
. This was part of Giolitti’s plan to stabilise Italy, however it did not benefit Giolitti as he would have hoped
. In summer 1913 Giolitti dissolved Parliament and called new elections
. Giolitti relied on the catholic support to create a coalition but at the same time would lose supports from radicals and socialists
Why Did Giolitti resign in 1914
. By 1914 a wall of opposition had built up to Giolitti and his political methods
. His alliances had fallen apart and the radicals no longer supported a government that seemed to be conceding to the catholic parties
. Giolitti’s resignation was seen as a Betrayal by the catholics as he was abandoning the chance to work with them and establish a conservative stable government
Why did Italy declare neutrality in August 1914
. Giolitti decided in 1913 that Neutrality would benefit Italy and he refused to increase the budget for the countries armed forces
. Italy was not notified of the ultimatum that Austria Hungary sent Serbia and so Italy was freed from its obligation with the triple alliance
Why did some Italians favour neutrality
. An alliance with Germany and Austria Hungary was seen as unattractive as Britain supplied Italy with coal, they also saw joining Austria as betraying Italian patriotic ambitions
. The catholics and left wing political parties were opposed to intervention
