L'Italia post-unitaria

Chiara Spalatro

14 Feb 201710:56

Summary

TLDRThis video lesson covers Italy’s challenges after unification in 1861, highlighting the nation’s economic, social, and infrastructural struggles. Italy was a divided country, with different dialects, low literacy rates, and a predominantly agricultural economy, particularly in the impoverished south. The government introduced reforms like mandatory military service and new taxes, which led to discontent and uprisings, such as brigandage in the south. Despite efforts to centralize the state and address these issues, problems like regional inequality persisted. The video teases a follow-up on how Italy completed its unification.

Takeaways

🇮🇹 The Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed in 1861, but the country faced significant challenges in unification.
🗣️ Italy was divided linguistically, with Italian spoken mainly in Tuscany and other regions speaking various dialects.
📚 Around 75% of the population was illiterate, with the southern regions facing an illiteracy rate of over 90%.
🚜 Italy was primarily an agricultural country, with 70% of the population working in agriculture, especially in the underdeveloped southern latifundia.
🚂 Italy's infrastructure was underdeveloped, with only 1,800 km of railways compared to France's 10,000 km and England's 15,000 km.
🏛️ A centralized state was chosen, requiring reforms in public administration, judiciary, taxation, and education to unify the country.
🗳️ Voting rights were limited to wealthy, literate men, leaving most Italians without a say in politics.
💸 The historical political group 'Destra Storica' ruled from 1861 to 1876 and supported a centralized government and economic measures to address Italy's debt.
🪖 Southern Italy protested against military conscription and taxes, especially the grain tax, which hit the poor the hardest.
⚔️ The Southern unrest led to the brigandage phenomenon, a violent uprising supported by former Bourbon forces, locals, and even the exiled Bourbon monarchy.

Q & A

What were the main problems Italy faced after its unification in 1861?
-Italy faced many problems after unification, including significant cultural and linguistic differences between regions, a high illiteracy rate, especially in the south, and an economy dominated by agriculture. There was also a lack of infrastructure, such as railways, and a need to unify the administration, judiciary, and military systems.
How widespread was illiteracy in post-unification Italy?
-Illiteracy was widespread, with three-quarters of the population unable to read or write. In southern Italy, the illiteracy rate was even higher, exceeding 90%.
What percentage of Italy's population worked in agriculture, and what were the conditions like in the south?
-Around 70% of Italy's population worked in agriculture, and conditions in the south were particularly poor. The land was dominated by wealthy landowners (latifundisti), who made little effort to improve agricultural practices, and the laborers were very impoverished.
How did Italy's railway system compare to other European countries in 1861?
-Italy had only 1,800 kilometers of railways in 1861, with 850 kilometers located in Piedmont. In contrast, France had 10,000 kilometers, and England had 15,000 kilometers of railways, showing how underdeveloped Italy's infrastructure was.
Who had the right to vote in post-unification Italy?
-The right to vote was limited to literate men who owned property or had a certain income. This meant that only around 400,000 out of 22 million Italians, mostly wealthy landowners, professionals, and military officers, could vote.
What was the 'Historical Right,' and what role did they play in early post-unification Italy?
-The 'Historical Right' was a political group that controlled Italy’s government from 1861 to 1876. They were heirs of Cavour’s liberal and moderate political ideas and opposed universal suffrage, favoring a strong central government.
Why was a centralist government chosen over a federal system after unification?
-A centralist government was chosen because it was seen as a quicker way to unify Italy politically. A federal system, as proposed by Carlo Cattaneo, would have taken longer and could have risked dividing the country further.
What measures did the Historical Right implement to centralize and strengthen the new Italian state?
-The Historical Right extended the Statuto Albertino to all of Italy, unified the civil and penal codes, introduced the metric system, established the Italian lira as the national currency, abolished internal tariffs, introduced mandatory military service, and imposed new taxes to address the public debt.
What was the 'Southern Question,' and how did it relate to post-unification Italy?
-The 'Southern Question' referred to the economic and social problems of southern Italy, which was much less developed than the north. Issues included poor agricultural practices, widespread poverty, and dissatisfaction with government policies like mandatory military service and new taxes.
What was the phenomenon of brigandage in southern Italy, and how did the government respond?
-Brigandage involved bands of outlaws, ex-soldiers, and peasants in southern Italy resisting government authority. The government responded by sending the military, declaring a state of siege, and using brutal tactics such as mass executions and the destruction of villages to suppress the unrest.

Outlines

00:00

🇮🇹 Challenges of Post-Unification Italy

Italy, unified in 1861, faced significant challenges due to regional differences. The country consisted of various states with distinct languages, cultures, and education levels. Only in Tuscany was Italian widely spoken, while other regions communicated in different dialects. The population had a high illiteracy rate, especially in the South, where over 90% couldn't read or write. Economically, Italy was predominantly agrarian, with a large portion of its population working the land. Southern agriculture was particularly backward, with vast estates owned by nobles who did little to improve the land. Transportation and infrastructure were severely underdeveloped, with Italy lagging behind other European nations in railways and roads. To unify the country, significant efforts were needed in building a stronger transportation system, administrative uniformity, and financial stabilization.

05:03

📜 The Rise of Centralized Government in Italy

Post-unification, Italy adopted a centralized government model, led by the 'Historical Right' (Destra Storica) party, which remained in power for 15 years. This political group, made up of the educated and wealthy elite, was against universal suffrage and favored a strong central authority to promote rapid national unification. A federal system, proposed by figures like Carlo Cattaneo, was rejected in favor of centralism. As a result, Italy was divided into provinces administered by government-appointed prefects. Key legislative measures were introduced, including the adoption of the Statuto Albertino, a unified civil and criminal code, and the implementation of the Italian lira as the national currency. However, many of these reforms, including mandatory military conscription and new taxes, sparked discontent in Southern Italy, leading to the 'Southern Question' – a deep socio-economic divide between the North and the South.

10:03

💥 Southern Italy’s Struggles and Rebellions

Southern Italy reacted strongly against the new central government's policies, especially military conscription and the hated 'milling tax.' The tax, which heavily impacted the poor whose diets relied on flour-based foods like bread and pasta, along with mandatory military service, stirred rebellion. Many young men refused to join the military, leading to the rise of banditry ('brigantaggio'). These bands, composed of former soldiers, landless peasants, and discontented Southerners, were supported by the exiled Bourbon monarchy and found sympathy among the local population. The government responded with military force, declaring a state of siege in Southern Italy, which led to mass executions and destruction of entire villages. Despite the brutal suppression, the Southern Question remained unresolved.

🧩 Incomplete Unification and International Resistance

By the mid-1860s, Italy’s unification remained incomplete. Territories such as Lazio, Veneto, Trentino, and Friuli were still outside of Italy's control, and the Pope refused any cooperation with the new government, branding the King of Italy an usurper. The French government continued to support the Papacy, creating further international obstacles. Although the Historical Right made efforts to finalize unification, the absence of strong leadership following Cavour’s death in 1861 left Italy struggling to address both internal and external issues. Despite the many challenges, the story of Italy’s full unification remained ongoing, promising further developments in the near future.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Post-unification Italy

This refers to Italy after its unification in 1861, when the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed. The video discusses the numerous problems the newly unified Italy faced, including economic, social, and political challenges. For example, the country was fragmented with regional differences in language, education, and infrastructure, which made unification difficult.

💡Analfabetismo (Illiteracy)

Illiteracy was a major issue in post-unification Italy, where three-quarters of the population could not read or write, with rates exceeding 90% in southern Italy. This educational gap is presented as a serious cultural challenge, hindering progress in the newly unified state. The video highlights how this issue contributed to societal disparities between different regions of Italy.

💡Latifondo (Latifundium)

Latifundium refers to large agricultural estates, especially common in southern Italy, where aristocrats controlled vast areas of land. These estates were cultivated by poor laborers with minimal investment in agricultural improvements. This system contributed to economic stagnation in the south and is depicted as a source of social inequality in post-unification Italy.

💡Railway development

Italy's railway system was underdeveloped compared to other European nations. In 1861, Italy had only 1,800 kilometers of railway, while France and England had far more. The lack of an efficient transportation network is presented as a key barrier to national unity and economic progress, underscoring the need for infrastructure improvement to connect the country's regions.

💡Historical Right (Destra Storica)

The Historical Right was a political faction that dominated Italy's parliament after unification, from 1861 to 1876. They were moderate liberals and followers of Cavour's political ideas. The video explains how this group implemented a centralized state structure, extended voting rights to a select few, and resisted universal suffrage, which limited broader political participation.

💡Brigantaggio (Brigandage)

Brigandage refers to armed groups that emerged in southern Italy following unification, composed of peasants, ex-soldiers, and landless laborers. These groups resisted the new government's policies, including mandatory military service and taxes. The video describes how the government responded with military force, declaring a state of siege and using violent measures to suppress the brigands.

💡Southern Question (Questione Meridionale)

The Southern Question refers to the socioeconomic and political problems of southern Italy after unification. Southern Italy was less developed than the north, with fewer industries and a predominantly agricultural economy dominated by latifundium owners. The video mentions how the government struggled to address these regional disparities, which fueled resistance and rebellion in the south.

💡Tax on grain milling (Tassa sul macinato)

This was a tax imposed on the grinding of grain, which affected the poorest Italians who relied on bread, pasta, and polenta as staple foods. The tax was highly unpopular and led to widespread protests, especially in southern Italy, where economic conditions were already dire. It is portrayed in the video as a catalyst for social unrest and brigandage.

💡Mandatory military service

The introduction of mandatory military service in post-unification Italy was met with resistance, particularly in the south, where it had previously been voluntary under the Bourbon regime. The video emphasizes how this measure was seen as oppressive by poor southern peasants, who relied on their sons' labor for survival, contributing to the rise of brigandage.

💡Centralization

After unification, Italy adopted a centralized form of government, with strong authority concentrated in the hands of the national government. This decision was made to accelerate the unification process and strengthen the newly formed state. The video explains how this centralization effort involved reforms in the judiciary, public administration, and tax system, but also led to tensions, especially in regions like southern Italy.

Highlights

In 1861, the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed, but the country faced numerous problems, including cultural, economic, and educational disparities.

Italy was composed of vastly different states with various languages, with modern Italian only spoken in Tuscany, while dialects were prevalent elsewhere.

Three-quarters of the population were illiterate, with illiteracy rates exceeding 90% in southern Italy.

Economically, Italy was predominantly agricultural, with 70% of the population working in agriculture, and the south suffering from outdated, unproductive farming practices.

Italy had a very underdeveloped railway system, with only 1,800 kilometers of rail, compared to 10,000 in France and 15,000 in England.

Unifying Italy required building new railway lines, creating a stronger state structure, and addressing a massive public debt.

The right to vote was granted only to men who could read, write, and had a certain income, meaning only 400,000 out of 22 million could vote, primarily nobles and wealthy individuals.

The Historical Right, a political group rooted in the liberal ideas of Cavour, held 80% of parliamentary seats and governed Italy from 1861 to 1876.

Italy's government opted for centralism to accelerate unification rather than a federal state, which would have taken longer and risked dividing the country.

Reforms included extending the Albertine Statute, unifying civil and penal codes, adopting the metric system, and introducing the Italian lira as the national currency.

Mandatory military service and a new grain tax were particularly unpopular, especially in the south, where they led to widespread protests.

Southern Italy faced deep economic struggles, including less fertile land, a lack of industrial and commercial development, and domination by landowners who exploited poor laborers.

The Southern Question arose from the economic and social divide between northern and southern Italy, which the government struggled to address.

The Brigandage phenomenon emerged as armed groups, including former Bourbon soldiers and disenfranchised peasants, resisted the new government, particularly in the south.

The Italian government declared a state of siege in the south, leading to violent military suppression of brigandage, including mass executions and village burnings.