Italy Chooses a Republic
On June 2 and 3, 1946, people across Italy made a choice about their country’s future. At polling places, adult voters placed ballots in boxes. Their votes would help decide who would lead the nation.
Italy was rebuilding after World War II. Buildings, roads, and communities needed repair, and Italians faced important decisions about how to govern themselves. In a national vote called a referendum, voters chose between a monarchy and a republic. Under the monarchy, Italy had a king. A republic would have no king; instead, its leaders would be chosen through a system of elections.
Women as well as men took part in the referendum. Earlier in 1946, women had also voted in local elections in Italy. During the national vote, each voter made a choice on a ballot and placed it in a ballot box. After voting ended, officials counted the ballots and reported the totals.
More voters chose the republic than the monarchy. The Court of Cassation announced initial results on June 10 and confirmed the final results on June 18, 1946. About 12.7 million valid votes favored a republic, while about 10.7 million favored keeping the monarchy.
- rebuilding:
- Repairing or creating again after damage.
- national:
- Related to a whole country.
- officials:
- People given responsibility for carrying out public duties.
- initial:
- Happening or announced first.
- confirmed:
- Declared to be certain or final.
- valid:
- Accepted because it meets the rules.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is the main idea of the passage, and which two events support it?
- 2How were a monarchy and a republic different in the 1946 vote?
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About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“Italy Chooses a Republic” is a explanatory article reading passage about Italian Republic Day, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (259 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.