La Sinistra Storica, In 6 Minuti (Storia d'Italia)

Non Puoi Non Saperlo

24 Sept 202106:15

Summary

TLDRThe 'Historical Left' era in Italy spanned from 1876 to the late 19th century, marked by significant political, social, and economic reforms. Agostino Depretis' government, supported by a segment of the historical Right, implemented transformative policies like the Coppino Law making elementary education free and compulsory, and the Zanardelli electoral reform expanding the electorate. Socially, the era introduced worker protections and investigated rural living conditions, revealing widespread malnutrition and poverty. Economically, it focused on tax relief, industrial development, and protectionist tariffs. Internationally, it shifted alliances towards the Triple Alliance and pursued colonial ambitions, notably the failed Adwa campaign of 1896, which led to the downfall of Francesco Crispi and the end of the Historical Left period.

Takeaways

😀 The historical left era in Italy spanned from 1876 to approximately 1896, marking a significant period in Italian political history.
🏛️ The term 'historical left' was used to distinguish this period from the mass parties and movements that emerged in the 20th century.
👑 After the resignation of the right-wing government in 1876, King Victor Emmanuel II tasked Agostino Depretis to form a new government, which included support from some right-wing factions.
📚 The Coppino Law of 1877 made elementary education free and compulsory for three years, significantly increasing school attendance.
🗳️ The Zanardelli electoral reform of 1882 expanded the electorate by lowering the voting age and introducing literacy as a voting criterion, thus including a part of the working class.
🏭 The historical left introduced social measures to protect workers and initiated studies to examine living conditions in rural areas, revealing widespread malnutrition and poverty.
🌾 Economically, the historical left abolished unpopular taxes, sought fiscal reliefs, and invested in industrial development, also implementing protectionist policies to shield domestic industries.
🛃 In 1878, under industrial pressure, the government introduced tariff protections for the textile and steel industries, later extending these to agriculture to counter cheap grain imports from the USA.
🌍 In foreign policy, the historical left shifted from an alliance with France to joining the Triple Alliance with the Central European empires, and initiated Italian colonialism with the occupation of Massawa in Eritrea.
🔄 After Depretis, Francesco Crispi became a key figure in Italian politics, characterized by both authoritarian measures and progressive reforms such as reducing the workday and approving social assistance laws.
🏰 Crispi's foreign policy included fostering friendship with Germany and antagonism towards France, culminating in the disastrous defeat at Adwa in 1896, which led to his resignation and marked the end of the historical left era.

Q & A

What is the historical period referred to as 'sinistra storica'?
-The 'sinistra storica' refers to the period in Italian history from 1876, following the fall of the historical right, until around 1896 when the end-of-century crisis began, leading to the Giolittian era.
Why was the term 'sinistra storica' used to distinguish political movements?
-The term 'sinistra storica' was used to distinguish the political parties and movements of that time from those that would emerge later in the 20th century, which were also referred to as 'sinistra' or left-wing.
What significant event marked the beginning of the 'sinistra storica' period?
-The beginning of the 'sinistra storica' period is marked by the resignation of the historical right's last government, led by Minghetti, in March 1876, leading to King Victor Emmanuel II appointing Agostino Depretis to form a new government.
What was the transformative political strategy known as 'trasformismo'?
-The strategy of 'trasformismo' involved Agostino Depretis' government seeking broad convergences with opposition sectors on specific issues, thus creating a new political alignment that included elements from both the historical right and left.
What was the Coppino Law and what did it achieve?
-The Coppino Law, approved on July 15, 1877, made elementary school free and extended the school term to five years, while also increasing the compulsory schooling to three years, significantly increasing literacy rates.
How did the Zanardelli electoral reform of 1882 change the Italian electorate?
-The Zanardelli electoral reform lowered the voting age to 21 and reduced the tax payment requirement for voting, thus expanding the electorate to 6.9% of the Italian population, up from 2.2% in 1880, and granting a significant portion of the working class the right to vote.
What were the social measures introduced by the 'sinistra storica'?
-The 'sinistra storica' introduced the first measures to protect workers and initiated studies to examine the living conditions of the rural population, such as the 'inchiesta gli acini' which revealed widespread malnutrition, high infant mortality, and poor hygiene.
What economic reforms did the 'sinistra storica' implement to support Italian industry?
-The 'sinistra storica' pursued a policy of tax relief and investment in industrial development, and to protect domestic industries from foreign competition, they introduced protective tariffs, first for the textile and steel industries in 1878, and later for agriculture in 1887.
How did the foreign policy of the 'sinistra storica' under Depretis differ from previous Italian alliances?
-Depretis shifted from the traditional alliance with France and joined the Triple Alliance with the Central European empires of Austria-Hungary and Germany, also promoting Italian colonialism with the occupation of Massawa in Eritrea in 1884.
What were the key characteristics of Francesco Crispi's domestic and foreign policies?
-Domestically, Crispi's policies included some authoritarian measures such as suppressing the Sicilian Fasci revolt and dissolving the Italian Socialist Party, but also progressive reforms like reducing the workday, social assistance laws, and the abolition of the death penalty. In foreign policy, he cultivated friendships with Germany and increased hostility towards France, leading to an unsuccessful attempt to provoke a war in 1888.
What was the outcome of the Italian colonial campaign in Adwa in 1896, and what were the consequences for Crispi?
-The Italian colonial campaign in Adwa in 1896 ended in a disastrous defeat with over 6,000 Italian soldiers dead. Crispi was accused of recklessness and misjudging the situation, leading to his resignation and marking the end of the 'sinistra storica' era.

Outlines

00:00

📜 The Historical Left Era in Italy (1876-1896)

The 'historical left' period in Italy spanned from 1876, following the fall of the historical right, to around 1896, marking the onset of the late-century crisis that preceded the Giolittian era. This era is distinguished from later left-wing movements that emerged in the 20th century. In March 1876, after the resignation of the Minghetti government, Victor Emmanuel II appointed Agostino Depretis to form a new government. Depretis' government initially relied on support from a segment of the right and later sought broader consensus with opposition groups on specific issues, a phenomenon known as 'transformism'. A significant legislative achievement was the 'Coppino Law' of July 15, 1877, which made elementary education free and compulsory for three years, extending the school term to five years. In 1882, the Zanardelli electoral reform granted voting rights to all men who had reached 21 years of age, previously 25, and had paid taxes of at least 19.8 lire, down from the previous 40, or had completed elementary education. This increased the electorate to 6.9% of the Italian population, compared to 2.2% in 1880. The reform favored urban areas and the north over the south, as a significant portion of the working class gained voting rights, though the illiterate masses were still excluded. The historical left also introduced the first labor protection measures and initiated studies to examine rural living conditions, most notably the 'Gli Acqui' inquiry, which revealed widespread malnutrition, high infant mortality, extreme poverty, and poor hygiene. Economically, the historical left abolished the unpopular milling tax from January 1884 and pursued a policy of tax relief and investment in industrial development, protecting domestic industries from foreign competition through protective tariffs. In 1887, tariffs were extended to protect the cereal sector from cheap grain imports, particularly from the United States. In foreign policy, the historical left under Depretis abandoned the traditional alliance with France and joined the Triple Alliance with the Central European empires of Austria-Hungary and Germany, also initiating Italian colonialism with the occupation of Massawa in Eritrea in 1884.

05:01

🔍 Crispi's Era and the End of the Historical Left

Francesco Crispi became the central figure in Italian politics from 1887 to 1896. His tenure was marked by authoritarian measures such as the suppression of the Sicilian workers' revolt and the dissolution of the Italian Socialist Party. However, he also implemented progressive reforms, including reducing the working day, approving social assistance legislation, and the Zanardelli Code, which abolished the death penalty and introduced the right to strike. In foreign policy, Crispi cultivated friendly relations with Germany and was part of the Triple Alliance with Italy, Austria, and Germany since 1882. He pursued an ambitious colonial policy, which, after some initial successes, led to the disastrous defeat at Adwa in 1896, resulting in over 6,000 Italian casualties. Crispi was accused of recklessness and misjudging the situation, leading to the unnecessary slaughter of Italian soldiers. This wave of criticism forced him to resign, marking the end of his political career and the historical left era. The video concludes with an invitation for viewers to share their thoughts in the comments and a thank you for their attention.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Sinistra Storica

The term 'Sinistra Storica' refers to the historical left in Italy, a political faction that emerged after the fall of the historical right in 1876. It is central to the video's theme as it sets the stage for discussing the political changes and reforms of the period. The script mentions that this era is characterized by the rise of political figures like Agostino Depretis and Francesco Crispi, who implemented various social and economic reforms.

💡Depretis

Agostino Depretis was a key figure of the historical left in Italy. He is mentioned in the script as the leader who formed a new government after the resignation of the last government of the historical right. His government sought to find common ground with opposition sectors, exemplifying the concept of 'trasformismo', which was a political strategy of building consensus across different factions.

💡Leggenda Coppino

The 'Leggenda Coppino', or Coppino Act, is a significant law passed in 1877 that made elementary education free and compulsory for three years, as highlighted in the script. This law is a key example of the social reforms undertaken by the historical left, aiming to improve education and literacy rates among the Italian population.

💡Legge Zanardelli

The 'Legge Zanardelli', or Zanardelli Act, is an electoral reform mentioned in the script that expanded the electorate by lowering the voting age from 25 to 21 and reducing tax payment requirements for eligibility. This reform is a cornerstone of the video's discussion on political enfranchisement and the broadening of democratic participation during the historical left era.

💡Trasformismo

Trasformismo, as mentioned in the script, refers to the political strategy of seeking broad consensus by incorporating opposition parties into the government. It is a key concept in understanding the political dynamics of the historical left, as it allowed for a more inclusive and less confrontational approach to governance.

💡Inchiesta Giai-Acini

The 'Inchiesta Giai-Acini' was a significant investigation into the living conditions of the rural population in Italy, as discussed in the script. It revealed widespread malnutrition, high infant mortality, and poor hygiene, which were critical issues that the historical left aimed to address through social reforms.

💡Protezionismo

Protezionismo, or protectionism, is referenced in the script as a policy approach where the historical left implemented tariffs to protect domestic industries such as textiles and steel, as well as agriculture. This policy was aimed at fostering domestic development and shielding Italian industries from foreign competition.

💡Triplice Alleanza

The 'Triplice Alleanza', or Triple Alliance, is mentioned as a significant shift in Italy's foreign policy during the historical left era. It marked a move away from traditional alliances with France towards an alliance with the central European powers of Austria-Hungary and Germany, indicating a strategic realignment in international relations.

💡Colonialismo Italiano

Italian colonialism is highlighted in the script as part of the historical left's foreign policy, with the occupation of Massawa in Eritrea in 1884 as a notable example. This expansionist policy is a key aspect of the video's narrative on the ambitions and failures of Italian foreign policy during this period.

💡Crispi

Francesco Crispi, mentioned in the script, was a prominent figure of the historical left who succeeded Depretis. His tenure was marked by both authoritarian measures, such as suppressing the Sicilian workers' revolt, and progressive reforms like reducing the workday and approving social assistance laws. Crispi's policies and actions are central to the video's exploration of the complexities of the historical left's governance.

💡Disfatta di Adua

The 'Disfatta di Adua', or the Battle of Adwa, is a pivotal event discussed in the script that marked a significant military defeat for Italy and led to Crispi's resignation. This event is a key turning point in the narrative of the historical left, symbolizing the end of an era and the beginning of a period of introspection and change in Italian politics.

Highlights

The historical period of the Italian Left, known as 'sinistra storica', spans from 1876 to around 1896.

The term 'sinistra storica' is used to distinguish it from the mass parties and movements of the 20th century.

After the resignation of the Minghetti government in 1876, King Victor Emmanuel II appointed Agostino Depretis to form a new government.

The Depretis government sought convergence with opposition sectors, leading to the phenomenon of 'trasformismo'.

In 1877, the Coppino Law was approved, making elementary education free and extending the school term to five years.

The Zanardelli electoral reform of 1882 granted voting rights to all men who had reached 21 years of age.

The electoral reform significantly increased the electorate to 6.9% of the Italian population.

The new electoral law generally favored cities over rural areas and the North over the South of Italy.

The 'sinistra storica' introduced the first labor protection measures and initiated studies on rural living conditions.

The 'Inchiesta gli acini' revealed widespread malnutrition, high infant mortality, extreme poverty, and poor hygiene.

The study also highlighted the significant phenomenon of emigration.

Economically, the 'sinistra storica' abolished the unpopular tax on milled grain in 1884.

The Left sought to implement fiscal relief and invest in industrial development, protecting it with protectionist measures.

In 1878, under pressure from industrial groups, the government introduced tariff protection for the textile and steel industries.

In 1887, tariffs were extended to protect the cereal sector from cheap grain imports, especially from the United States.

Depretis abandoned the traditional alliance with France and joined the Triple Alliance with Austria-Hungary and Germany.

The Italian colonialism was initiated with the occupation of Massawa in Eritrea in 1884.

From 1887 to 1896, Francesco Crispi became a key figure in Italian politics, supporting the expedition of the 'Mille'.

Crispi's government was characterized by authoritarian measures, such as the repression of the Sicilian Fasci revolt.

Progressive measures under Crispi included reducing the working day, approving social assistance laws, and the Zanardelli Code.

Crispi cultivated friendly relations with Germany and increased hostility towards France, attempting to provoke a war in 1888.

The Crispi government pursued an expensive colonial policy, which led to the disastrous defeat at Adwa in 1896.

Crispi was accused of recklessness and misjudging the situation, leading to his resignation and the end of the 'sinistra storica' era.