L'Italia post-unitaria
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
🇮🇹 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.
📜 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.
💥 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
💡Analfabetismo (Illiteracy)
💡Latifondo (Latifundium)
💡Railway development
💡Historical Right (Destra Storica)
💡Brigantaggio (Brigandage)
💡Southern Question (Questione Meridionale)
💡Tax on grain milling (Tassa sul macinato)
💡Mandatory military service
💡Centralization
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.
Transcripts
ciao a tutti ragazzi e ben ritrovati in
questa nuova lezione di storia parleremo
dell'italia post unitaria come già
sappiamo
nel 1861 fu proclamato il regno d'italia
ma i problemi che affliggevano il paese
erano enormi
l'italia era formata già da secoli da
stati molto diversi tra loro
persino le lingue erano diverse
l'italiano che parliamo oggi era parlato
allora solo in toscana nel resto della
penisola si parlavano dialetti diversi e
gli abitanti e le varie parti d'italia
spesso non si capivano tra loro sul
piano culturale e dell'istruzione
i tre quarti della popolazione erano
analfabeti e nel meridione
il tasso di analfabetismo superava
addirittura il 90 per cento
pochissimi italiani leggevano libri e
giornali
poiché pochissimi sapevano leggere e
scrivere sul piano economico
l'italia era ancora un paese
prevalentemente agricolo dove il 70 per
cento della popolazione
coltivava una terra al sud dove
prevaleva il latifondo l'agricoltura era
molto arretrata perché i nobili facevano
coltivare la terra da migliaia di
braccianti poverissimi senza investire
denaro per migliorare l'agricoltura
all'indomani dell'unità l'italia era
ancora un paese diviso per esempio la
sua rete ferroviaria era assai poco
sviluppata rispetto a quella di altri
paesi europei l'italia possedeva
solamente 1.800 chilometri di ferrovie
di cui circa la metà 850 solo in
piemonte per capire quanto fossero
insufficienti
pensate che la francia ne possedeva
10.000 e l'inghilterra 15.000 nello
stesso periodo in italia le merci
venivano trasportate su strade
malridotte con carrozze
trainate da cavalli oppure fermare con
imbarcazioni a vela per unire l'italia
c'era innanzitutto bisogno di costruire
nuove linee ferroviarie forti e strage
il nuovo stato andava organizzato anche
dal punto di vista amministrativo
c'era bisogno di uniformare la pubblica
amministrazione
il sistema giudiziario il sistema
fiscale
il sistema elettorale il sistema
scolastico e le forze armate oltre a
mettere ordine in tutte queste cose
bisognava innanzitutto risanare l'enorme
debito pubblico in modo da rendere
l'italia uno stato efficiente e
sviluppato nel italia ha soste unitaria
il diritto di voto era concesso solo ai
cittadini maschi che sapevano leggere e
scrivere e possedevano un certo reddito
gli elettori erano quasi solo nobili
proprietari terrieri imprenditori liberi
professionisti ufficiali dell'esercito e
funzionari della pubblica
amministrazione
si trattava di circa 400 mila persone su
una popolazione totale di 22 milioni di
abitanti una ristrettissima minoranza di
gente colta e ricca ma la stessa cosa
accadeva del resto anche in altri stati
europei
i voti di questa ristretta minoranza
andavano di preferenza a deputati di
tendenza liberale e moderata cioè gli
eredi del pensiero politico di cavour
questo gruppo politico e l'ha chiamato
la destra storica e restò al potere per
15 anni dal 1861 al 1876 e si erano
contrari al suffragio universale cioè al
diritto di voto esteso a tutta la
popolazione
nel primo parlamento italiano la destra
storica aveva circa l'ottanta per cento
dei deputati la prima decisione
importante che i deputati della destra
dovettero prendere su decidere
l'impostazione politica da dare al nuovo
stato
eh sì optarono per uno stato centralista
cioè uno stato dotato di un forte potere
centrale per accelerare il processo di
unificazione reale dell'italia dopo che
nel 1861 era stata ottenuta quella
politica l'idea di uno stato federale
che lasciasse ampia autonomia politica
alle singole regioni proposta già
nell'età del risorgimento da carlo
cattaneo era troppo difficile da
realizzare poiché avrebbe richiesto più
tempo e avrebbe potuto produrre uno
sfaldamento del paese si scelse allora
la via più breve quella del centralismo
e l'italia venne divisa in province
amministrate da un prefetto nominato dal
governo anche i sindaci erano nominati
dal governo ma scelti tre consiglieri
comunali eletti dalla popolazione del
comune
i provvedimenti che la destra adottò per
costituire uno stato centralizzato e per
risolvere gli urgenti problemi
dell'italia unita furono l'estensione
dello statuto albertino concesso da
carlo alberto al regno di sardegna nel
1848 a tutta in italia l'unificazione
del codice civile e penale
l'introduzione ovunque del sistema
metrico decimale per pesi e misure
l'introduzione della lira italiana come
moneta unica
l'abolizione dei dazi doganali e la
formazione di un mercato unico sul
territorio nazionale
la leva militare obbligatoria per tutti
i cittadini maschi e l'introduzione di
nuove tasse per sanare il debito
pubblico non tutti questi provvedimenti
vennero ben accolti dalla popolazione in
particolare da quella del sud italia
nacque infatti la questione meridionale
cioè il problema rappresentato dalla
rete a testa del meridione d'italia
qui le terre erano meno fertili che al
nord non esisteva una borghesia capace
di sviluppare l'industria e il commercio
e l'agricoltura e l'ha dominata dai
latifondisti che vivevano nell'uso
sfruttando il lavoro dei poveri
braccianti gli abitanti del sud italia
protestarono particolarmente su due
provvedimenti la leva militare
obbligatoria e l'imposizione della tassa
sul macinato la leva militare
obbligatoria più sentita come un sopruso
dai contadini del sud infatti sotto i
borboni il servizio militare era
facoltativo inoltre mandare i propri
figli a svolgere il servizio militare
significava per i poveri contadini del
sud perdere giovani braccia per il
lavoro dei campi
molti furono infatti i giovani che non
adempivano a quest'obbligo
per quanto riguarda la tassa sul
macinato questa colpiva soprattutto le
classi
più povere la cui alimentazione era
costituita prevalentemente da pane pasta
e polenta
quindi dai derivati della farina questa
fu una tassa odiatissima e solleva
numerose proteste tra la popolazione nel
sud italia tutto questo malcontento
esplose nel fenomeno del brigantaggio le
bande di briganti erano costituite oltre
che da veri briganti da ex soldati
borbonici da piccoli proprietari
terrieri da contadini senza terra da
giovani renitenti alla leva cioè che non
volevano fare il militare
tutta questa gente si riuniva in bande e
commetteva atti di violenza
nascondendosi nei boschi e nelle
campagne i briganti erano appoggiati e
finanziati dai borboni in esilio e
benedetti dallo stato pontificio
oltre che appoggiati da gran parte della
popolazione che non vedeva di buon
occhio le imposizioni del governo lo
stato reagirà al brigantaggio inviando
l'esercito del sud italia fu proclamato
lo stato d'assedio
e i militari eseguirono fucilazioni di
massa diedero alle fiamme interi paesi
uccisero donne e bambini e anziani
il fenomeno del brigantaggio durò
all'incirca dal 1861 al 1865
c'è un dato impressionante che ci fa
capire quanto sia stato terribile
questo periodo per la storia dell'italia
pensate che il numero dei caduti nella
lotta al brigantaggio da entrambe le
parti o superiore ai morti dell'intero
risorgimento e nonostante tutto la
questione meridionale non fu
assolutamente risolta
nell'italia post unitaria
oltre al brigantaggio vi erano altri
gravi elementi di debolezza
l'unità non era compiuta poiché
mancavano il lazio il veneto il trentino
e il friuli il papa rifiutava ogni
dialogo con il governo e considerava il
re d'italia usurpatore e la francia
continuava a sostenere il papa i primi
governi della destra storica fecero di
tutto per realizzare il completamento
dell'unità ma tra i successori di cavour
come sapete è morto prematuramente nel
giugno del 1861 nessuno nostro di essere
all'altezza del grande statista
a questo punto sorge una domanda come e
quando venne completata l'unità d'italia
visti tutti i problemi che il governo
italiano aveva ancora da risolvere
bene se siete curiosi di capello non
perdete la prossima video lezione per
oggi è tutto
grazie per l'attenzione e ciao ciao
della vostra prof
[Musica]
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