Pre- Reading Guide
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A-Level History Paper 2: Fascist Italy (1 91 1 - 1 946) PRE- READING GUIDE: Name: ____________________________________________________________________________ Teacher: _____________________________________________________________ _______________ Our Course Begins: The Liberal State in the 20th Century Background Note: Note for Revision: Until 1870, Italy did not exist. When it was finally unified, it was In this section of the course you are trying to understand: not done very well and the ҉ How strong and how unified Italy was as a country country suffered from a series of How the early problems contributed to the collapse of weaknesses. the Liberal State Many Historians have linked these problems with the eventual collapse of the Liberal State. The Political System ҉ Many of these There were several issues with the political system: problems were due to a lack of 1) The ‘liberal state’ was run by conservative liberal politicians – they introduced a national unity: monarchy a. He had key powers such as selecting the Prime Minister making him The king was needed potentially very influential (in actual fact the Kings in our period displayed to create a sense of rather weak character and so this was less of a problem than it could have national identity been) b. He could therefore very much influence government policy Politicians looked 2) They liked to protect their own interests after their own a. They had no clear political parties and so followed local interests interests because b. Politicians also were the rich elite – they had little time or incentive to care there was no about the problems of ordinary Italians tradition of political 3) This led to a policy of trasformismo groups – they had only a. Prime Minister could manipulate politicians into providing support in return previously for providing favour or funding needed to concern b. This was a way of ensuring a majority in the Chamber of Deputies which themselves with allowed policies to be passed issues that affected 4) This led to disillusionment and public contempt with the political system their state. This feeling that the regime did not really reflect public opinion or reflect the needs of ordinary Italians was arguably a reason that Italians began to support alternative groups such as the Socialists, Nationalists and Fascists in later years Key Terms: Liberal State: Liberal literally means those who favour individual freedom. As the politicians who came to run Italy were considered to be ‘liberal’ this is how the period between 1870 and 1922 has come to be referred to. In theory they represented an end to traditional authority – ruling families of different states. Trasformismo: Used to describe the political system. It is the way governments secured majorities among the different groups in parliament. It usually required bribery. The Situation in 1896 (continued) Society and the Economy The Liberal Italy was not doing well in either sense by 1896: governments never fully solved 1) Most of the population were involved in agriculture and there were huge these problems: regional variations this could be a) Share-cropping was used in central Italy (farmers gave half their crops to another reason landowners as rent for living on the land) why Italians began b) Large-scale farmers in the Po Valley to look to c) South was dominated by aristocratic owners who employed labourers alternative groups 2) Italy was poor and economically backward compared to other economic powers ҉ This was despite the fact that Italy believed it should be considered on ҉ The poor economy equal footing with Britain and France and a ‘great power’ was a big reason ҉ In reality, Italy could not really compete why Italy was 3) Industry was backward compared to other countries, and was found mostly in never as strong as the North of Italy other European a) Italy had not developed mass-production or a factory-based working countries, and a class key factor in Italy’s poor performance Revision Tip: Remember your vowels… A, E, I… in terms of gaining Empire and fighting in the The North-South Divide World Wars. Quick Note: Those who initially pushed for the unification of Italy as a Great Power Italy, never intended for the South to be included – it was considered to be too backward. This becomes a key problem Italy was desperate to be considered on an even for the Liberal politicians to deal with. Though a key issue in playing field with other European countries. As lack of unity within Italy, it is important to remember other such: dividing lines. 1) Italy entered an agreement with Britain to 1) The South was more backward and poor than other support them if war broke out between them parts of Italy. and France 2) It was also considerably more illiterate – around a. Britain actually hoped they would 80% remain neutral as they were a. This has political implications as the considered more of a hindrance than a franchise was based around literacy (all help! literate men over 21) 2) Italy joined the race for Empire a. But was severely disappointed when they were defeated by Abyssinia (bear in mind they were funded by other ҉ The Pope was also causing problems as he European powers) refused to allow Catholics to vote: This was b. It was hugely humiliating for Italy a clear indication of lack of unity from the 3) Italy considered lost lands of Italia Irrendenta very beginning. a. These were parts of Austria, but considered to really belong to Italy 4) Italy joined the Triple Alliance with Germany ҉ The war in Abyssinia was supposed to spark national and Austria pride and unity, and in fact achieved the opposite. It is a key example of Italy’s failings as a ‘great power’. Revision Tip: Remember a weak BELT Threats to Stability: 1911-1914 The growth of groups such as Catholicism and Socialism begin to undermine the system of trasformismo in this period. In later years this will become a key reason for the collapse of the Liberal State. ҉ These new groups also begin to create further divisions in an already divided Italy. These will become deeper and more apparent in the aftermath of WWI. ҉ The growth of Nationalism begins to put further pressure on the government to ensure that Italy is seen as a world power and are certainly an illustration that there were those in Italy who did not consider Italy to be strong. Socialism Key Term: Although Socialism becomes more of a threat after 1918, it begins to cause problems Socialism: This is a political for the Liberal government in this period also. belief which shows a commitment to 1) The growth of the working class in factories leads to calls for unionisation redistributing wealth to and the spread of Socialist ideas create a more equal society. This could certainly be linked to the lack of representation for working class Italians a. The General Confederation of Labour (CGL) is set up to represent the working class 2) By 1900 there was an organised Socialist party (PSI) This demonstrates a lack of a. In 1900, the PSI secured 32 deputies in the Chamber confidence in the liberal b. By 1913 they were winning over 20% of the total vote state already, and potential 3) There were a lot of strikes for alternative groups in a. 1904 a general strike was called Italian politics. Rembember, 4) Despite this, the Socialists were weak as there were many splits this is despite a lot of Socialism represents a reason for the collapse of the Liberal state, working class men not being but the fear of Socialism was far more significant than the actual able to vote in 1913 as threat posed universal suffrage has not yet been introduced. The Catholics It was important for the Liberal State to secure the support of the Church as it represented such an influential aspect in The Nationalists Italian society. From 1904 the Church plays a more prominent Although not a mass movement, they did call for a role in politics and poses another potential threat more aggressive foreign policy, and more 1) In 1904 Catholics are allowed to vote in elections spending on defence. They claimed responsibility where a Socialist might win for persuading the government to intervene in 2) There was loose co-operation between Catholics in Libya in 1911, and later to join WWI. the Chamber of Deputies and the Liberals to prevent a Socialist majority Note: in later years liberal politicians become increasingly dependent on assumed support from Catholic politicians Giovanni Giolitti You decide: Was Italy on the way to security, or was it still Giolitti dominated politics between 1903-14, either as far from secure? Prime Minister, or from behind the scenes. He was a master of trasformismo – skilful at winning majorities. He was also very good at resigning at just the right moment whenever things got sticky for him. Society and Economy Note: Giolitti returns as Prime Minister between June 1920 and July 1921. Giolitti hoped that reforms which would benefit the working classes would win over support for liberal Italy. This was a period of economic progress through Divisions balanced budgets and government spending to Giolitti aimed to bring all groups together if not reduce stimulate the economy. Real wages grew 25%. ҉ divisions, then manage them. However, it did not work in practice: 1) Giolitti remained neutral in industrial disputes Giolitti’s failure to deal with the threat a. This was supposed to give some support to of Socialism was something that the workers, while avoiding losing support Fascists played on later. It meant that from industrialists already the government was losing b. In practice, it upset both groups support from their traditional 2) Giolitti tried to absorb both the Socialists and supporters.