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HOW SECURE WAS LIBERAL ITALY IN 1914?, How great a challenge did WW1 and…
HOW SECURE WAS LIBERAL ITALY IN 1914?
HOW WAS A UNITED ITALY CREATED?
THE RISORGIMENTO
- Unification of Italy in 1861
KEY PROBLEMS FACED IN ITALY
North and south were divided as the north was more industrialized and the south was seen as backward by the elite.
Many Italians didn't seem to identify with the newly formed state - They didn't realize that they were now Italians.
Most Italians were uninvolved with the state affairs and had
limited suffrage
The country had an
inferiority complex
due to unification wars fought. As a result, govt had a lot of debt and increased taxes.
There was a lot of unrest among the people especially in Sicily.
The Pope was hostile towards the states as the Pope was previously under control of the states.
There was a
defeat in Adowa in 1896
Further investigated later
How successful were the Liberal Govts by 1900s in reducing internal conflicts in terms of :
Social and Economic change
The North and South were divided as the north was more industrialized and the south was seen as more backward.
Even though north was industrialized it lacked
coal and iron
which were KEY RESOURCES. The south was more agricultrual and that had failed during the war
The govt had
abolished internal tariffs
allowing free trade amongst different industries - However smaller business (which were in the south) were unable to compete with the industries in the north and this
created division
The priority of the state was to
balance the state budgets
. Due to the wars of unification, there was a lot of debt that had to be paid and the taxes increased, especially for the poor people.
The Catholic Church
There was a great influence of the Catholic Church on the people. The Pope was the ruler of the Papal states, which central Italy
However during
1861 - 1870
, the Kingdom of Italy was formed and the Pope was only given St Peter's Church, Vatican City. This angered the Pope, who said that
Liberalism is a sin
because it allowed freedom of all religions. The Pope believed that Catholicism was the only true religion.
In
1874
, the Pope instructed Catholics to prevent taking part in the state - such as voting, and told the bishops and priests to reinforce this message. They were the main source of information to the people.
However, by the 20th century, the rift between the Church and the state lessened as the
rise of Socialism was seen as a bigger threat
Politically
Most of the elites took place in the govt and focused more
balancing state budget and Italy's military strength
Ordinary people had no say in the govt and had
limited suffrage
. Political parties often
did not reflect the popular wishes
of the people
Political parties did deals amongst themselves and this was called
Trasformismo
. They would deal among themselves in return for a better job position and to get more support from Deputies
The govt was corrupt and ran on bribery and this
alienated
the people as they felt like they were forced upon to pay taxes.
Foreign policy
"Large appetite but little teeth"
Italy was dissatisfied because they never gained 'unredeemed lands' (
Italia Irredenta
).
They wanted to make foreign policy in a way where Italians could identify with their country but the cost of war would
increase discontent
.
Nevertheless, Italy joined the
ANTI
Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria Hungary
In
1896
, they were defeated at Adowa which created humiliation.
There was mass unrest during the 1890s because there was going to a
more authoritarian govt
and repression
HOW FAR DID GIOLITTI SUCCEED IN UNITING THE PEOPLE IN 1914
SOCIALISTS
The development of industries in the North was parallel to the growth of trade union and organisations (CGL). This is when socialism started to grow - in the 1890s
By 1900s, a socialist party emerged called the Italian Socialist Party (PSI) and by 1913, they won 20% of the votes.
There was division among the Socialists. They were split in the
Minimalists and the Maximalists
Minimalists were moderates who argued that peaceful pressure could help gain reforms.
Maximalists were radicals who wanted a full programme socialists state
There were Syndicalists who wanted a society based on union organisations
GIOLITTI'S REFORMS
25% wage increase
and reduce child and female labor.
He wanted to bring all groups together
- But this failed because in an attempt to please one section, he ended up alienating the other section. For instance, while trying to please Catholics and Socialists, he alienated the Liberals
He tried to make the state more neutral in terms of industrial dispute
- But this failed and the growth of socialism continued. This policy scared some industrialist as they felt that their interests would not be protected and therefore wanted an more authoritarian from of government
Policy of Foreign Expansion
- He gave into Nationalist pressure and attacked Libya in 1911 and won the war. However, many Italians resented war as they were conscripted and did not know what they were fighting for. This may have reduced the pressure from the right but increased opposition from the Socialist
He tried to increase the number of civil servants
- This included petty bourgeoises and small traders. they were increasing as the economy was increasing. But most of them were concerned of
growth of Socialism & big businesses
. Therefore they were looking for an alternative to Liberalism.
He tried to make Italians identify with the state by passing laws to assist them
. However, he still used corrupt methods in the parliament such as Trasformismo.
In
1914
there was an outbreak of mass political unrest and failed attempts for protest by the Socialists called the
Red Week
. This had frightened the bourgeoisies and showed that Giolliti's policy to absorb Italians had failed. He did not satisfy key groups .
How great a challenge did WW1 and Socialism pose to the Liberal State?
During the WW1 many people such as
D' Annunzio
and nationalists favored the war, whereas some bitterly opposed it. In
April 1915
, the govt made a secret treaty called the
Treaty of London
where Italy was promised land after the war to encourage Italy to join the war.
How was Italy affected by WW1??
- Mass mobilization affected the Italians and it divided them. Troops suffered demoralization.
Battle of Caporetto
- suffered a major defeat and had low morale. In return the govt promised them reforms.
Oct 1917
Battle of Vittorio Veneto
- Italy won that war and felt that they deserved some reward and their expectation was raised.
Oct 1918
Soldiers
- Low morale, low wages and low rations. Lack of good supplies and were killed by diseases.
Most were conscripted
which was not favored.
Why were post war years turbulent?
Mutilated Victory
In 1915, they had been promised secret territories. However, after 1919, Italy felt like they did not gain the lands that they were promised. As a result PM Orlando stormed out in protest and but this had no effect
Nationalists were disgusted by the failure to gain lands
Italians felt like they did not receive the
Italia Irredenta
and felt cheated.
Gained lands like South Trystol, Terentino & Istria but not Fiume
D' Annunzio's occupation of Fiume
Italians claimed Fiume to be a part of their country even thought it was not discussed in the Treaty of London. And he describes this as mutilated victory.
In
Sept 1919,
D Annunzio took 300 ex soldiers to seize control over Fiume. The govt took non action
Only in Dec 1920, did Giolitti reassert authority and sent troops. The allies then claimed it to be a free city.
This showed
Giolitti's and the govts inadequacy
Economic and Political crisis
Italians were divided before the war
and decision about joining the war created even further divisions along with the Humiliation of Caporetto. Territorials gains raised expectations
Many soldiers believed that they still had to make Italy great again.
They were scornful of the mutilated victory and found it hard to settle and missed the trenches of war. Found Fascism to be appealing.
Attacks from the Left and Right
. The Socialist revolution in Russia encouraged the same in Italy. They were winning local elections and got major gains. Workers were drawn to socialism and caused more strikes
Industries were heavily hit by the end of war
. Most weapons companies were hit and there were a lot of war debts, inflation, and demobilization.
Rising unemployment
1919 elections in Italy
A new party called the
Popolari
was formed which was not controlled by the Church but represented Catholic views.
Both the PSI & PPI did well in the elections. If they would have worked together, they could have gained a majority in the parliament. However, due to Giollit's attempt to unite them in the past, they remained separate
Liberal govt was still in the parliament. Trasformismo was still occurring and the parliament was largely unrepresentative.
Succession of the Liberal govt failed to solve Italy's economic, social and political problems
Socialist Revolution in 1919-20?
1920 - Socialists won the local town elections with over
200,000 members with Avanti as its newspaper with 300,000 people reading it
Italian Socialists played a huge part in the success of Fascism as the threat of socialism drew elite more towards fascism.
Socialist claimed that they were a Marxist party aiming for workers interest.
There were divisions among the socialists -
Maximalist and Minimalists
Maximalists
claimed that they wanted
a revolution
Minimalists
wanted a parliament to enact reforms
There was also an industrial wing called the
CGL
The PSI controlled local town elections but failed to operate effectively as they were all internally divided. They failed to form a coherent strategy.
Strategies adopted by Socialists
Socialists agricultural trade union of the Federterra
- wanted a control of supply labour and employment. Had economic demands of wages and hours.
Prepared to use violence against Blackleg Labor.
Strikes - For instance, half a million workers responded to a lock out threat in Sept 1920 by occupying 300 factories and running them without govt intervention.
Overall, Socialists talked about revolution but failed to achieve any strategy. During the 1920, there was mass unrest among the workers due to unemployment and created a lot of trauma for the people.
The fascists, however, benefitted from the weakness of socialists.
FASCISM
Mis of socialists and nationalistic ideas cemented by the idea that there should be a powerful duce. Main aim of Mussolini was to gain power. He wanted to establish common aims without tying it to close to an ideology. However, in 1919, it was still seen as a left winged party
WHO WERE THE SUPPORTERS OF FASCISM?
MIDDLE AND UPPER CLASS
Exploited their fear of Bienno Rosso
Many formed locally formed Fasci, led by the Ras.
PETTY BOURGEOISIES
most of them were working and middle class people who
felt a collective sense of insecurity
They often turned radical and were ex - soldiers who felt humiliated due to the "mutilated victory"
RURAL LOWER MIDDLE CLASS
Most of them were small farmers who had improved their position
Found that rural socialism threatened their gains and the landowners would bully them for hiring laborers which was unnecessary.
ready to fight socialists
Agrari were ready to finance the fascists and so this turned into a mass movement.
YOUTH AND STUDENTS
bitter about the rising wages and detested their boring life and prefered joining fascists sqauds.
Some criminals even joined them
WORKERS
some were against the blackleg labor used by socialists.
many were ex-syndicalists and found that joining fascists syndicates was the only way of getting employed.
fascists did retain some radical ideas socialist ideas.
WHAT DID FASCISM OFFER?
Fascist party aimed to restore Italy's power and make it great
Wanted to abolish harmful state controls
Wanted to develop the economy through production
Wanted to curb left wing subversives and
re-establish strong leadership
Mussolini wanted more action than policies because he felt that Fascism would be less appealing if it was stuck to a set of agendas.
Promises made
8 hr working days
workers participation and management in industries
education and liberty of opinion
foreign policy of peaceful competition among the nation
WHY WAS FASCIST VIOLENCE SO SUCCESSFULL?
It was a necessary antidote to
socialism
Many elites and landowners were disgusted by the Liberal govt and its weaknesses and decide to cooperate with the fascists
If the authorities had worked together, they might have succeeded to put them down.
APPEAL OF FACSISM
Evolving policies
June 1919
- male and females suffrage
1919 June
- confiscation of religious property , Nov 1921- no longer focused on this.
June - peaceful foregin policy, nov focused on italian unification
changed policies for gaining support
after bienno rosso, wanted a strong govt, then wanted church support and national support from paris peace conference.
STRONG LEADERSHIP
gained supporters from popoli di italia, more followers
charismatic public speakers
mussolini is the best
How strong a contender for power was fascism by 1922?
Had 1/2 a million supporters
1/4 million blackshirts
Controlled many regions
promised reforms and strong leadership
violence to smash socialism
support from industrialists and elite
Opponent weakness
Benefitted from the weakness of the Liberal govt and socialists party
PSI, PPI and liberal govt were ready to work together to form anti - fascist coalition govt. But liberal govt wanted to put their interest first
Socialists had demoralized and unemployed workers with failed strikes - For instance, the socialist called a
"legaritarian strike"
but this failed due to less support and the fascists took advantage of this by crediting themselves to solve the socialist threat.
Weakness of fascists
Caused a lot of chaos and disorder
Internally divided as to how to achieve power
WEAK PARLIAMENTARY BASE (7%)