Development of the Nation

Victor Emmanuel II was succeeded in 1878 by his son Humbert I. Italy joined Austria-Hungary and Germany in forming the Triple Alliance. A severe depression in the late 1880's caused mass emigration of Sicilians and other southern Italians, many of them to the United States. Industrialization was begun in the north under national subsidy.

In the 1890's Italy attempted to build a colonial empire. The establishment of a colony in Eritrea led to war with Ethiopia and a crushing Italian defeat at Aduwa in 1896. Meanwhile, the peasants and many city dwellers were living in poverty. Marxist socialism was gaining great strength in Italy's cities. In 1900 King Humbert was assassinated by an anarchist. He was succeeded by his son, Victor Emmanuel III.

In the Libyan War, 1911–12, Italy took Libya, Rhodes, and the Dodecanese Islands from Turkey. The Triple Alliance of Italy, Germany, and Austria-Hungary was renewed in 1912. Italy, however, wanted the regions it called Italia irredenta (unredeemed Italy), including Trentino, Trieste, and Dalmatia. Austria-Hungary refused to cede them. After World War I broke out, Italy joined the Allies. In return for Italy's declaration of war against the Central Powers, Great Britain and France promised that if the Allies were victorious, Italy would be awarded Italia irredentain the postwar settlement. After the war, Italy received Trentino, Trieste, and South Tyrol, and renounced its claim on Dalmatia.