itsluy
Only thirty years after the Piedmontese army marched into Rome to unite Italy under one government, the country suddenly found itself on the brink of the twentieth century and a rapidly changing world. The twentieth century would mark the beginning of great changes throughout Europe, and Italy would not be left untouched. What set the stage for these changes, though, were the years just prior to, and directly after 1900. The decade before 1900 can be thought of in terms of its government leaders, most notably, Francesco Crispi. Crispi attempted to lead Italy with administrative reforms and expansion abroad. The 1890s, however, also marked a time of great crisis, as riots over the prices of food grew increasingly common, and government oppression became more and more blatant. It was not uncommon for the prime ministers of the time to issue decrees without parliament by claiming royal authority, or to dissolve opposition parties. Even the end of the Sicilian fasci movement, which carried out strikes and opposition demonstrations, came when Crispi sent the military in on one of their strikes, imprisoning all
In addition, the Giolitti government's treatment of the south left much to be desired. Mainly agricultural, the south did not enjoy the economic boom that characterized much of Giolitti's era because of an on-going tariff war with France, one of southern Italy's main markets. Often the rights given to those in the north, where industry was booming and money being made (due, not in small part, to the founding of Fiat), took precedence over injustices in the south. The Italian government held positivist philosophy dear, even then, and explained southern Italy's backwardness with racist claims of its people's inferiority. Southern politicians clamored for tax relief and government aid, but were often met with indifference. Even the nominal attempts at tax relief that were made were rendered ineffectual by the beginning of World War I. This atmosphere led to a vast emigration from southern Italy to the United States, from which many Italians returned within a few years with new experiences and new values. When the final major political conflict of the nineteenth century came, then, Italy was ripe for change. The co
Some common words found in the essay are:
Crispi Crispi, Giolitti Giolitti, , United Italians, World War, Europe Italy, Crispi Illiberal, Emmanuel III, world war, twentieth century, middle class, tax relief, beginning world, beginning world war, southern italy's,
Approximate Word count = 760
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
