Italian and German Expansion, 1933-1940 Case Study #2

Italian Expansion 1870-1933

Italian Unification

Italian Unification Occured in 1861 (efforts of Cavour and Garibaldi) Still divided across geographic, religious, and social lines This (along with involvement in WWI) weakened the Italian government and caused civil unrest Camillo de Cavour Guiseppi Garibaldi

Liberal Italy People choose type of government Open, free elections Protection of individual rights Period between 1870 and 1923 Weakness during this period facilitated the development of Fascism

Lack of National Identity Laws and politics of Piedmont were imposed on other states Regionalism was still powerful Most support for gov’t found in industrialized areas North Industrialized Nationalist South Rural Regionalist

The Catholic Church Breakdown in relations between the State and the Church after unification Worsened by anti-clerical policies Catholics urged by the Vatican not to vote until 1914

Working-class Protest Politics dominated by middle- and upper-class Liberal governments infamous for corruption and misrepresentation Working-class protests and strikes grew in the 19th century 1892- Italian Socialist Party (PSI) founded

Working-class Protest Giovanni Giolitti- Prime minister from 1903-1914 Moderate; wanted support of the masses Electoral and welfare reform Allowed religious education in schools Seizure of Libya in the Italian-Turkish War (1911-12) resulted in criticism from the left Two largest parties were PSI and Catholic Party after WWI Giovanni Giolitti

Nationalist Opposition Italian Nationalist Association founded in 1910 by Filippo Marinetti Glorified war; criticized gov’t for failure in becoming a “Great Power” Claimed unification unfinished without Trentino and Trieste (belongs to Austria) Also wanted an empire Only minor gains in Africa Humiliated by Abyssinia in 1896 after attempt at conquest

The Treaty of London, signed by Britain, France, Italy, and Russia on April 16, 1915 Article 4 By the future treaty of peace, Italy is to receive the district of Trentino; the entire Southern Tyrol up to its natural geographical frontier, which is the Bremner Pass; the city and district of Trieste; the Country of Groizia and Gradisca; the entire Istria Article 9 France, Great Britain and Russia admit in principle that fact of Italy’s interest in the maintenance of the political balance of power in the Mediterranean, and her rights, in case of a partition of Turkey, to a share, equal to theirs, in the basin of the Mediterranean Article 11 Italy is to get a share in the war indemnity corresponding to the magnitude of her sacrifices and efforts

What is Fascism?

Origin and Definition No clear founding doctrine or manifestation in history Commonly attributed to Giovanni Gentile Fascism tends to include a belief in… the supremacy of one national or ethnic group a contempt for democracy an insistence on obedience to a powerful leader and a strong demagogic approach

What is Fascism Against? Communism Class struggle Internationalism Multi-party system Liberal democracy Pacifism

Key Features of Fascism Nationalism Social Unity Militarism Authoritarian Social Darwinism