Italy became a unified country in 1871.As a result of the unification, Italy had gained a huge
national debt, and so demanded high taxes.These high taxes affected Italy’s poor community
considerably.Also the
annual value of national agricultural product fell considerably before
1901.
A census in 1881 showed that only one in ten
peasants owned their own land or held it by share cropping.The rest were labourers, desperately competing for work.
Between 1880 and 1900 the population rose by four
million, this massive increase in population increased significantly
the level of poverty in Italy.
By 1911 Italy had a population of 34.7 million.
Although primarily an agricultural economy, there was considerable
kingdom in 1870.
In the north some Italians still obeyed the
Austrian rule.
‘Risorgimento’ was the term
given to the unification of Italy.
The Vatican and San Marino are still independent
states; they did not join up with the unified states which surrounded
them, becoming Italy.
The movement of unification meant Italy becoming
a country.However, the
risorgimento did not fulfil all of the hopes and myths which industry
in the northern areas of the country. To feed its growing population,
Italy needed to import some foods, notably grain from Russia and
Germany.
Italy was a constitutional monarchy (a monarchy
that is limited by a constitution). Victor
Emmanuel III had been king since 1900; he had reasonable power in
Italy.
