Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Impact of the First World War: intervention crisis; military stalemate,…
Full specification wording
The liberal state, c1911–18: Impact of the First World War: intervention crisis; military stalemate, 1915–16; defeat at Caporetto; socialist responses to war; the war economy and cost of war; the significance of victory.
Italy entered the First World War in May 1915 after a bitter intervention crisis, with Salandra and Sonnino signing the Treaty of London for territorial gains.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 4 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Italy entered the First World War in May 1915 after a bitter intervention crisis, with Salandra and Sonnino signing the Treaty of London for territorial gains. The front along the Isonzo and Karst produced stalemate and huge casualties through 1915–16. In October 1917, Caporetto became a catastrophic defeat, forcing a retreat to the Piave and bringing Orlando to power. Socialists split: maximalists opposed the war, reformists and some interventionists supported it, while the PSI maintained a neutralist stance. The war economy expanded heavy industry and state control, but inflation, debt and food shortages hurt workers and peasants. Victory in November 1918 was framed as a triumph, yet it left a mutilated peace and deep social divisions.
What earns the marks
- Explains the intervention crisis of 1914–15 as a conflict between neutralists and interventionists, culminating in the Treaty of London and Italy's entry in May 1915.
- Describes the military stalemate on the Isonzo front in 1915–16, with repeated offensives gaining little ground and causing massive casualties.
- Analyses the defeat at Caporetto in October 1917 as a military and political disaster that triggered a retreat to the Piave, a change of government and a more defensive war effort.
- Explains socialist responses to the war, including the PSI's opposition, the split between maximalists and reformists, and the tensions with interventionist socialists.
- Assesses the war economy and cost of war: industrial expansion, state intervention, inflation, debt and hardship for workers and peasants.
- Evaluates the significance of victory in 1918 as a moment of national triumph that failed to resolve Italy's territorial and social grievances, contributing to post-war instability.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating Caporetto as the end of Italian resistance.
Put it right: See it as a severe defeat that nonetheless led to a stabilised front.
Assuming all socialists opposed the war.
Put it right: Distinguish PSI maximalists from those who supported the war.
Confusing the cost of war with only military casualties.
Put it right: Include inflation, debt, food shortages and industrial unrest.
Exam tips
- Connect each wartime development to the theme of impact on the Liberal state and post-war instability.
- Use specific dates and places, such as the Treaty of London 1915, the Isonzo battles, Caporetto 1917 and Vittorio Veneto 1918.
- When discussing victory, weigh the territorial gains against the phrase 'mutilated victory' and the domestic discontent it masked.
Try the lesson
The start of the The liberal state, c1911–18: Impact of the First World War: intervention crisis; military stalemate, 1915–16; defeat at Caporetto; socialist responses to war; the war economy and cost of war; the significance of victory. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which side did Italy join when it entered the First World War in May 1915?
Listen
Italy entered the First World War in May 1915 after a bitter intervention crisis, with Salandra and Sonnino signing the Treaty of London for territorial gains. The front along the Isonzo and Karst produced stalemate and huge casualties through 1915–16. In October 1917, Caporetto became a catastrophic defeat, forcing a retreat to the Piave and bringing Orlando to power. Socialists split: maximalists opposed the war, reformists and some interventionists supported it, while the PSI maintained a neutralist stance. The war economy expanded heavy industry and state control, but inflation, debt and food shortages hurt workers and peasants. Victory in November 1918 was framed as a triumph, yet it left a mutilated peace and deep social divisions. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains the intervention crisis of 1914–15 as a conflict between neutralists and interventionists, culminating in the Treaty of London and Italy's entry in May 1915. Describes the military stalemate on the Isonzo front in 1915–16, with repeated offensives gaining little ground and causing massive casualties. Analyses the defeat at Caporetto in October 1917 as a military and political disaster that triggered a retreat to the Piave, a change of government and a more defensive war effort. Explains socialist responses to the war, including the PSI's opposition, the split between maximalists and reformists, and the tensions with interventionist socialists. A common slip: Treating Caporetto as the end of Italian resistance: the error is ignoring the recovery on the Piave. Instead, see it as a severe defeat that nonetheless led to a stabilised front. Exam tip: Connect each wartime development to the theme of impact on the Liberal state and post-war instability.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Italy entered the First World War after the intervention crisis
- 2. Victory was framed as a triumph but left deep social divisions
- 3. Caporetto became a catastrophic defeat, forcing a retreat to the Piave
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Intervention and the collapse of Liberal consensus
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Total war and military stalemate
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Socialist and popular responses to war
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War economy, cost and the contested meaning of victory
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Intervention and the collapse of Liberal consensus
- The bitter crisis in which neutralists and interventionists conflicted, culminating in the Treaty of London and Italy's entry in May 1915.
- Total war and military stalemate
- The front along the Isonzo and Karst produced stalemate and huge casualties through 1915–16, with repeated offensives gaining little ground.
- Socialist and popular responses to war
- Socialists split, with maximalists opposing the war, reformists and some interventionists supporting it, while the PSI maintained a neutralist stance.
- War economy, cost and the contested meaning of victory
- Heavy industry and state control expanded, but inflation, debt and food shortages hurt workers and peasants, and victory left a mutilated peace and deep social divisions.
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