Problems in Liberal Italy Flashcards
(29 cards)
3 main types of problem facing liberal Italy?
Social
Political
Economic
Economy: evidence of the North/ South divide in the early years?
1910: Northern Italy had 48% of the wealth while Southern Italy had 27%.
Agriculture was what Italian economy was dependent on; more fertile land in the North.
Economy: evidence of limited industry in the early years?
Localised due to lack of resources and poor transport.
Economic challenges in the South of Italy in the early years??
A series of natural disasters in the South damaged the economy; little aid was provided by government.
Economic success in the early years of Liberal Italy? Counter?
Exports increased by 4.5% 1911-14.
Significant economic growth; industrial production doubled 1899-1910. However, was limited to the North; Genoa, Milan and Turin accounted for 55% of industrial income.
Political: evidence of weak parties in the early years?
Weak and factions were formed to make coalitions- known as Trasformismo and often fell apart.
Political: weakness of the liberals in the early years?
Viewed as the party of the elite by socialists and hence saw growing competition; threatened by radicals and republicans, discontent in the South, Church, socialists etc.
Political: how many governments were there between 1870 and 1915?
20 1870-1915
Political: Threat from the church in the early years?
Hostile to unified Italy- papal states taken from the Church. Formed a coalition with the socialists in 1913.
What were MPs known as? Why were they weak?
Deputies; represented local interests and not national ones, meaning they often switched political allegiance and were open to bribes.
Social: How many people were illiterate in the early years?
69% in 1870; higher in the South.
Social: which factors contributed to mortality rates in the early years?
Diseases like cholera (25,000 died from in Naples) and typhus, TB and malaria.
Overcrowding in cities and high infant mortality rates (40% of registered deaths in Italy were under 5).
How many people emigrated per year?
200,000; 1912-13 around 1.5 million emigrated, mostly from the South.
Political: threat of the ANI in the early years?
Unwilling to work with the liberals and were the party most opposed to Giolitti; Giolitti unable to placate them; gained support in 1914 due to Giolitti’s handling of the Libyan War.
Political: Giolitti dealing with the PSI in the early years?
Gained massive popularity; initially Giolitti appeased them by passing social reform such as state subsidised sickness.
1906 policy of non-intervention in labour disputes; court to settle.
Political: increased threat of the PSI in the early years?
Maximalists didn’t want to work with Giolitti and wanted revolution. They took over the PSI and won 20% of the vote in 1913.
Political: threat of the Catholics in the early years?
Issue of the Roman question: Catholics want land back. Gain lots of the vote following the franchise extension in 1912 and Giolitti is reliant on their support.
Political: Giolitti ability to work with the Catholics in the early years?
Gave concessions like teaching Catholicism in schools. Pope swung support in favour of Giolitti in 1913.
Reasons for Giolitti’s invasion of Libya in 1911?
To gain support of the ANI and the Catholics; to satisfy and unite Italy.
Impacts of Libyan War: ANI
Giolitti unable to absorb nationalists; ANI support increased as they capitalised on dislike of Giolitti.
Impacts of Libyan war: Loss of life and money?
Huge loss of life: 3500 died.
1300 million Lire lost.
Impacts of the Libyan War: PSI?
Destroyed cooperation with the PSI.
Coalition between ANI and Catholics weakened the PSI, leading to the maximalists taking over.
Impact of franchise extension: illiteracy
70% of the franchise were now illiterate.
Impact of franchise extension: how many seats did Liberals lose?
71 compared with 1909
