Italy and Government Mla

When you think of Italy the first thing that people think of is ancient Rome, the coliseum, and the most famous Italian Julius Caesar. What most people do not know is of what happened in modern Italy during the 20th century, Economic, social, and political changes that made Italy what it is today. Italy 's history during the 20th century is filled with war and many political changes. In World War I Italy tried to remain neutral but could not, Italy joined the allied forces. From 1922 to 1943 Benito Mussolini ruled Italy, and initially in World War II he aided Adolph Hitler. ("ITALY" 317). In 1943 the Italian government over through fascism and the country cave its support to the allies. ("ITALY" 317) During the 1970 's political violence and terrorism marked Italy (ITALY, MSN). Also in the 1980 's conflicts within the coalition government led to many frequent government collapses ("ITALY" 317). The social lives of the people in Italy have gone through many changes during the 20th century with new art forms, more religious freedoms, education, and the family Art is and has been a major role in Italian culture and society. One of the major artistic movements was the idea of Futurism. Futurism was a movement in art that originated in Italy during the early 20th century (ITALY, MSN); on the other hand in America artists were more focused on Realism during this time period. Futurism was made famous by Filippo Marinetti who condemned all traditional art to be too static (MACHIAVELLI 61). One of the styles that emerged out of futurism was called cubism (ITALY, MSN). Religion is a major part of Italian culture. The main religion in Italy today is Roman Catholicism. However, in America Christianity is the main religion. In Italy, the Roman Catholicism makes up about ninety percent and about ten percent of Italians are Protestant, Muslim, and Jewish (ITALY, CIA). However this is not the case ancient Italy where mostly everybody was Roman Catholic. Education in Italy is much like it is in America. The modern educational system of Italy was formed in 1859, when a law was made providing a complete school system that extended from the elementary through the university levels. (ITALY, MSN) The maintaining of close family ties has always been an important tradition in Italy. The family has its strongest roots in small farming communities that existed throughout the nation before the industrialization ("ITALY." 317). However most Italians no longer live on farms and in villages, most Italians moved into the city and in more urban areas to find a better life, but still the family is one of the most important things in Italy today. Like America, Italy 's government today is a republic. However, during the span of the 20th century Italy 's Government has changed. Giovanni Giolitti was a main figure in Italian politics until World War I (ITALY, MSN). Giolitti served as Prime Minister of Italy for 5 terms, 1892 through 1921(ITALY, MSN). He adopted more appeasing tactics and attempted to address popular grievances through social welfare and reform actions (ITALY, MSN). During his terms he was responsible for the National Insurance Act and the introduction of universal male suffrage (ITALY, MASN). At the start of World War I, Giolitti tried to keep Italy neutral but was unsuccessful (ITALY, MSN). During the World War II period, Italian ruler Benito Mussolini ruled a fascist Italy. Benito Mussolini was the prime minister and dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943 (ITALY, CIA). Under Mussolini fascism promised the Italians greatness but delivered only humiliation (MACHIAVELLI 61)
. Later Mussolini entered World War 2 with an alliance with Germany. Mussolini gradually transformed Italy 's government into a dictatorship (ITALY, MSN). The birth of the Italian Republic came on June 2nd 1946 when the monarchy was abolished by popular referendum, hence the name Italian Republic (ITALY, CIA). Italy is divided into twenty regions, which are subdivided into a total of ninety-four provinces; these provinces are like our states in the U.S (ITALY, MSN). Italian society remains strongly divided politically. Another important political figure of Italy during the 20th century was Alcide De Gasperi. Alcide De Gasperi served as prime minister of Italy from 1945 to 1953 (ITALY, MSN). For being against fascism and against Mussolini he was jailed for three years (ITALY, MSN). During his years as prime minister, De Gasperi strengthened Italy 's ties to the United States, Great Britain, and France, and in 1949 Italy joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (ITALY, MSN).

1. In 1900, the first Fiat factory opened in Carso Dante, the workforce consisted of 150 workers (ALWARD). The first year saw twenty four cars roll off the assembly line (ALWARD). Fiat has held a leading role in the automotive industry since its conception which occurred at the dawn of the Italian industrialization era (ALWARD).

2. From 1918 to 1925 Italy fought on the side of the allies in World War I. When World War I began in August 1914, the Italian government brushed aside the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria and declared its neutrality. After failing to gain satisfactory terms from the alliance, Italy signed the secret Treaty of London with the Allied powers (ITALY…PEOPLE 201). In May 1915 Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary (ITALY MSN). On November 3, 1918, the Austro-Hungarian government and the Allies signed an armistice (ITALY…PEOPLE).

3. In 1925 Benito Mussolini ruled as prime minister of fascist Italy (ITALY…PEOPLE). Mussolini 's vast personal power, strong-arm methods, and extreme nationalism made him a model for leaders (ITALY, MSN). In 1920 and 1921 Mussolini took advantage of the chaos that included widespread labor strikes, riots over high food prices, and peasant land occupations (MACHIAVELLI 62). He slowly took control of the Italian government.

4. In 1936 Mussolini and German dictator Adolf Hitler signed an agreement called the Rome- Berlin Axis (ITALY…PEOPLE). Mussolini gave support to Hitler 's demands. Also this agreement extended the axis powers from Rome to Tokyo. 5. In 1943 Italian forces surrenders to the allies unconditionally (MACHIAVELLI 62). Italian forces surrendered after Italy was invaded by allied forces. Italy was immediately invaded by Germany for nearly two years to fight off the allies. Italy was divided and soon became a battlefield.

6. In 1945 Benito Mussolini was executed by anti-fascists (ITALY…PEOPLE). In the last days of the war in Italy Mussolini tried to escape allied forces by hiding in a German convoy headed towards the Alps (MACHIAVELLI 62). They soon imprisoned him and he was later executed with his mistress and fifteen fascist leaders.

7. From 1953 to 1963 Italy 's economy moved into a new phase of expansion. This phase is generally referred to as "the economic miracle." (ITALY, MSN) Because of low wages and U.S. financial support, Italy became a major manufacturer and exporter of consumer goods, which ranged from domestic appliances to motor scooters and popular Fiat cars (ITALY, MSN). This helped create some economic growth in Southern Italy (ITALY, MSN).

8. In 1978 the Prime Minister of Italy Aldo Moro was kidnapped and assassinated by the red brigade (MACHIAVELLI 61). The red brigade wanted to trade Aldo Moro in exchange for imprisoned terrorists (ITALY, MSN). The Italian government refused to deal with Moro 's kidnappers, and he was later found dead (ITALY, MSN).

9. In 1978 Karol Jzef Wojtyla also known as John Paul II was elected pope (ITALY… PEOPLE). Pope John Paul II was also known as the traveling pope because he met millions of people. John Paul II wrote lengthy texts, often full of emotional appeals and quotations from his own previous pronouncements (MSN, ITALY). John Paul also tried to promote the growth of the Roman Catholic Church (MSN, ITALY).

10. In January 1999 Italy changed its currency from the Lira to the Euro (ITALY… PEOPLE). This allowed Italy to become part of the European Monetary Union (ITALY, MSN). Treasury secretary Carlo Ciampi was credited with the introduction of the euro and he later became President of Italy (ITALY, MSN) However, today Italy is considering going back to the Lira because Italy has gone into recession due to inflation (ITALY, MSN). The most important event in Italian history during the 20th century is the birth of the Italian republic. The birth of the Italian republic was officially on June 2nd 1946 (ITALY, MSN). Before this Italy was a monarchy ruled by the House of Savoy (ITALY, MSN). On 1 March, the government of Alcide De Gasperi gave its approval for the referendum to be Republic or a Monarchy ("ITALY" 317). When the election day came, nearly 25 million people voted, and about 89 percent of the eligible voted, which for the first time included women voters (MACHIAVELLI 64). Of the voters, 54.3 percent chose a republic. On June 10, Italy became a republic (ITALY, MSN). In the 1946 vote for the Constituent Assembly the Christian Democrats won a plurality of 207 seats and emerged as the dominant party in Italy (MACHIAVELLI 65). The Socialist Party won 115 seats, the Communists won 104 seats, and four minor parties shared the remaining 117 seats (MACHIAVELLI 65). The Constituent Assembly created a new constitution for Italy. It was later approved on December 22, 1947, by a vote of 453 to 62; the document became effective on January 1, 1948 (ITALY, MSN). The constitution introduced a system of equal representation and restored the guarantees of civil liberties taken away by the fascist ruler Benito Mussolini (MACHIAVELLI 65). This new Italian Republic is the most important event in modern Italian history and makes Italy what it is today.

Works Cited

1. Alward, Mary M. "Fiat History." Life in Italy. 21 Mar. 2007 http://www.lifeinitaly.com/italian-cars/fiat-history.asp

2. "Italy." CIA. 15 Mar. 2007. 18 March. 2007. https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/it.html

3. "Italy." CultureGrams 2007 World Education. Loose-leaf ed. Provo UT: Pro Quest Information and Learning 2(2006) pg. 317

4. "Italy." MSN. 2007. 21 Mar. 2007.

5. "Italy People and Places". Chicago, IL: World Book Inc. 200-202. 6. "Machiavelli, Francesca", ed. Italy. New York City, 1996. pg. 61-65.

Cited: 1. Alward, Mary M. "Fiat History." Life in Italy. 21 Mar. 2007 http://www.lifeinitaly.com/italian-cars/fiat-history.asp 2. "Italy." CIA. 15 Mar. 2007. 18 March. 2007. https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/it.html 3. "Italy." CultureGrams 2007 World Education. Loose-leaf ed. Provo UT: Pro Quest Information and Learning 2(2006) pg. 317 4. "Italy." MSN. 2007. 21 Mar. 2007. 5. "Italy People and Places". Chicago, IL: World Book Inc. 200-202. 6. "Machiavelli, Francesca", ed. Italy. New York City, 1996. pg. 61-65.