After the re-unification of Italy, the country showed itself as predominantly agriculture state that had over 27 millions of  people.

The level of literacy was one of the less in Europe, the children death rate was one of the main. There was also a  decisive  division between the developed north and the agriculture south. In this period, from the re-unification of Italy to the1876, the direct class called “destra storica”(historical right) went up to the power and it united the moderate right and the moderate left.

The targets of the historical right was essentially:

1) To restore the disastrous budget of the Italian finance after the                                    independence  wars

2) To begin a political line about public works for the enlargement of the infrastructures.

3) To conquer Rome and Veneto to complete the re-unification of Italy .

For resolving the first two points a lot of money was needed, but one of the problems in this period is the  state balance that blocked the economic development.

The measures to resolve this problem:

1) Increase of the taxes.

2) Trade the public property.

3) The credit.

The increase rate result excessive.  Before the Italy unit the rate was less excessive.

The most famous rate of the grain 1868 (tassa sul macinato) that cause many popular revolts.

In the 1876 Minghetti declared that the state balance was restore; the right of the govern lose the election.

In the march 1876 the premier was Agostino Depretis, farmer, that managed the left-opposition.

The historical left and right was very different, in particular the historical right supported the merchants, the big mans of property and the farmer of  the north Italy. Their approved this policy liberalism.

After a capitalism crisis in the 1873 the industrial country dropped the economic liberalism and the Italian trader managed the situation whit a new economy policy.

In this period Depretis proposed many reforms: reduction of the taxes, more person whit right to vote and the increasing of the compulsory schooling.

Depretis not realized completely his plan.      

He started the colonialism plan in the north of Africa. After Depretis, Crispi increased the colonial policy and suppressed the popular insurrection after the birth of the new socialist party.

In the end of this period king Umberto I was assassinated for avenge the person that died in the popular insurrection.

After this events, Giolitti  supported the proletarism and the situation in the south of Italy. 

By Umberto Forletta