Italy at the beginning of the XX Century

Industry was finally developing

The south remained backward ,agriculture based on latifondo

unempolyed increased,

only solution was to emigrate

King was Vittorio Emanuele III

Giolitti Prime Minister 1900-1914=Giolittian era

MInister of internal affairs.

workers were a resource for
Italy, so he favoured dialogue between industrialists & workers

Achievements of his government:

Infrastructures

education compulsory until 12 years

prohibition to work for children younger than
12 years;

reduction of the working hours

maternity protection, old­age
pension and invalidity pension;

the paid rest day.

South Italy:

The laws supporting the workers were not applied

Giolitti did not want to lose the support of the
great landowners

He decided to conquer Libya. It was a poor
country

strategic position in the Mediterranean Sea.

Italian nationalists, thought by conquering Lybia ,restore Italy's international
prestige and solve the problem of migrants.

Italians thought it would be an easy conquest because it was of the Ottoman Empire

took more than a year,huge
military expenses, to succeed,soldiers were brutal

Libya was
arid and desert.

Universal male suffrage (1912)

Bourgeoisie was concerned that the socialisr party obtained majority in parliament

tried to get the
votes of the Catholics.

Ptto Gentiloni

Catholics voted liberals but they needed to disapruve the laws against the church

Socialist party got many votes.

March 1914, Giolitti was forced
to resign.

Thoughts

mediating to get
the majority in Parliament.

others said he was "Ministro
della malavita", acused of TRASFORMISMO