Mobilizing the Nation, 1888–1889
Mobilizing the Nation, 1888–1889
What chiefly endeared Francesco Crispi to Umberto were his aggressive foreign policy and his support for the army: nothing excited the Savoy kings as much as the prospect of war. The Chamber of Deputies in general proved remarkably loyal to Crispi. The threat of war added to the feeling that he was indispensable. Outside Milan, Crispi enjoyed a remarkable level of support from the press. Crispi wanted to use the minimum necessary force against his enemies. He believed in moral persuasion. This chapter examines public opinion of Crispi, his commitment to the Triple Alliance and his conflict with supporters of irredentism, his relationship with the pope and the Roman Catholic Church, his reform of local government, his dispute with France that almost led to a war, and his obsession with the nationalization of the Italian diplomatic corps.
Keywords: Francesco Crispi, Italy, France, foreign policy, public opinion, irredentism, Roman Catholic Church, local government, nationalisation, diplomatic corps
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