The Italian Power Before 1914

By Vi, Leanna, and Matt

Italian Unification by 1871-After the work performed by Giuseppe Mazzini, Camilo, Conte di Cavour, and Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italy was unified after the Kingdom of Naples was created. -In the Austro-Prussian War, the new Kingdom of Italy managed to acquire Venetia, soon declaring war on Austria.

-In 1870, the Franco-Prussian War started, allowing for Rome to be unprotected by France. A siege in Rome allowed for the nation-state of Italy to gain the papal states by a plebiscite on 9 October.

THE FATE FROM GRAPESFrom 1870-1880, Italy had been suffering through an economic crisis. At this time, they had been overproducing grapes at this time. This, combined with France’s near destruction of the vineyard industry,

Ended up causing an extreme debt for the Italian people not able to sell their grapes.

The Triple Alliance

In 1882, prime minister Agostino Depretis’ cabinet minister Francesco Crispi signed for a military alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy was formed. This promised mutual support in the case of an attack, like a potential French attack against Italy or Europe.

Occupy Egyptian SudanIn 1885, Italy had been offering to give Britain military support for Britain’s planned occupation of Egyptian Sudan, in order to protect the borders of Sudan with the Sudan Defense Force.

Giovanni Giolitti

In 1892, Giovanni Giolitti had been voted in as the new Prime Minister of Italy.

EthiopiaIn 1895, Ethiopia turned their back on an agreement to follow Italian foreign policy. Italy took these renunciations as a reason to invade. Their army failed the Battle of Adowa.

Strike in MilanIn 1878, workers in Milan organized a strike against Antonio Starrabba di Rudini’s government, holding him responsible for famine and high costs of living. Fiorenzo Bava-Beccaris ordered troops to fire at demonstrators, killing 118 and wounding 450 others.

ASSASSINATION!

In order to avenge the victims of the repression, Gaetano Bresci came from America in 1900 to assassinate King Umberto I, the king at the time.

Occupy LibyaGiolitti then sent forces to occupy Libya as an Italian colony. Around this time, Italy also declared war of the Ottoman Empire due to the Libya situation, which they won a year later.

We’re Off To War!World War I was now declared! Italy was remaining neutral. Italy then claimed that the Triple Alliance was meant for defensive purposes. This started the war in Italian eyes.