AQA AS HISTORY Italy and Fascism, c1900–1945 Component 2L The crisis of Liberal Italy and the Rise of Mussolini, c1900–1926 Tuesday 23 May 2023

AQA AS HISTORY Italy and Fascism, c1900–1945 Component 2L The crisis of Liberal Italy and the Rise of Mussolini, c1900–1926 Tuesday 23 May 2023 Afternoon Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes Materials For this paper you must have: • an AQA 16-page answer book. Instructions • Use black ink or black ball-point pen. • Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7041/2L. • Answer two questions. In Section A answer Question 01. In Section B answer either Question 02 or Question 03. Information • The marks for questions are shown in brackets. • The maximum mark for this paper is 50. • You will be marked on your ability to: – use good English – organise information clearly – use specialist vocabulary where appropriate. Advice • You are advised to spend about: – 50 minutes on Section A – 40 minutes on Section B. Section A Answer Question 01. Source A From a speech to the Italian parliament by Orazio Raimondo, 6 December 1913. Raimondo was a Socialist politician. Giolitti has an overwhelming personal majority. The truth is that under a democratic banner we have gradually arrived at a dictatorial regime. Giolitti has four times conducted the elections, in 1892, 1904, 1909 and 1913. In his long political career he has nominated all the senators, prefects, and all the other high officials in the country. With this enormous power of his, he has gained support through his reforms and through giving personal attention to individual deputies. Politicians have abandoned their political beliefs and majorities are now formed by trickery and corruption. In this way parliament is weakened and transformism, which cannot be justified in any way, is achieved. 5 Source B From ‘A History of Italy 1871–1915’ by Benedetto Croce, published 1927. Croce was a minister in Giolitti’s government in 1920–1921. He was an academic, historian and anti-fascist. Giolitti held the reins of power for nearly eight years in total between 1903 and 1914. He was recognised by everyone as a man of great skill and had a wide experience of parliament. Giolitti had a wholehearted devotion to his country, a strong political sense, and clear-cut ideas. In his speech he reduced his ideas to their simplest and most essential form, so that he overcame opposition by the impression which he gave of his practical wisdom. To a man of his democratic views, it was natural for him to feel sympathy with the sufferings and needs of the poorer classes. 5 0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, which of these two sources is more valuable in explaining the role of Giolitti in Italian politics before 1914? [25 marks] Section B Answer either Question 02 or Question 03. Either 0 2 ‘In the years 1919 to 1922, the most significant consequence of the First World War for Italy was economic weaknesses.’ Explain why you agree or disagree with this view. [25 marks]