Only 2% spoke Italian - vast majority spoke dialiects - communication restricted
Different currencies for different areas restricted trade
People's loyalties were to family or immediate locality, not the state
Unity was limited as people did not act as citizens of one country
1 of 5
Political Weaknesses
Italy had been formed hastily and against the will of the majority
Italy was not a true democracy
Only 2% had suffrage so deputies were elected with around 300 votes
Politicians were middle class and didn't represent the masses
Only the elites could be part of politics
The majority were peasants who felt uninvolved
There were no clearly defined parties
Politicians were corrupt and self interested
They used the corrupt process of transformismo to form majorities, which were unstable
There were 29 prime ministers in 52 years
2 of 5
Economic weaknesses
Debt of 2450 million lire meant high tax for the poor
Tarrifs put on imports from other countries who then did the same, which damaged trade and caused a banking crisis
Industry was undeveloped and lacked resources like iron ore and coal
Agriculture was backward and 30% of each year's produce went to repaying debts
Infrastructure development was costly and required high tax, reducing peasant living standards further
3 of 5
Territory
A divide between the industrialised north and poor south
0.01% of the population owned 50% of the land and agriculture was backward and inefficient
Communication problems
Humiliating defeat at Adowa in 1896 stunted Italy's attempts to become a great nation
4 of 5
Opposition
Catholic church opposed Liberal Italy as it allowed religious freedom
Unification had stripped the pope of much of his land - left with just Vatican City
Pope announed that any Catholics taking part in politics or working for the new state would be excommunicated - problem as 90% of the population was Catholic
Socialists were also a threat
They promised better working conditions e.g. 8 hour day, universal male suffrage and women's rights
Therefore received much worker support and in 1900 obtained 32 seats in Parliament
Took advantage of liberal reform in 1881 - allowed 2 million more Italians to vote
Nationalists wanted aggressive foreign policy and higher military spending
They felt liberal politians were self interested and corrupt and wanted Italy to be a great power
Angry at 1896 Adowa defeat
Opposition groups caused splits in the country - challenged the liberal's monopoly of power
Comments
No comments have yet been made