Collapse of Liberal Italy/ Rise of Facism Flashcards

1
Q

What was Mussolini’s background before he was the leader of the Fascist Party?

A
  • Grew up socialist
  • Jailed for socialist activities and was editor of socialist newspaper in 1910
  • Expelled from socialist party for supporting WW1
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2
Q

Describe the Fascist vision in 1919

A
  • Italy led by the ex-servicemen of WW1 - trincerocrazia created by the military bond help to govern
  • A politically, economically and socially united country
  • Nationalism was key
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3
Q

Describe the Fascist views of labour in 1919

A
  • 8hr working day
  • Minimum wage with workers representatives
  • Establish same confidence in labour unions as given to industry executives
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4
Q

Describe the Fascist views of taxation/govt. ownership in 1919

A
  • Strong progressive tax on capital
  • Revision of military contracts and seizure of 85% of their profits
  • Armermanets factories nationalised
  • Reorganisation of the railways and transport sector
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5
Q

What did the Fascists want to do with military affairs in 1919?

A
  • Create short-service national militia

* Peaceful but competitive foreign policy

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6
Q

What were the opinions of the church, monarch and social elites in 1919?

A
  • Anti-clerical & wanted to confiscate all their property
  • Abolition of bishoprics
  • Create a republic
  • Remove all noble titles
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7
Q

What did Fascist produce in May 1920?

A

The New Programme

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8
Q

What was the Fascist’s vision under the New Programme?

A
  • A politically, economically and socially united country

* Nationalism was key

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9
Q

Describe the New Programme’s labour policy

A
  • Anti-socialist, with fascist unions to replace current once
  • No mention of minimum wage
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10
Q

Describe the New Programme’s taxation policy

A
  • No mention of nationalisation. but nationalised industries to be privatised
  • Proportional tax system
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11
Q

Describe the New Programme’s foreign policy

A
  • Compulsory military service
  • Raise Italy to great power status
  • Provide training for future soldiers through education
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12
Q

Describe the New Programme’s attitudes towards the church, monarchy and elites

A

No attacks on any of these groups, their property or power

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13
Q

When and how was the fascist party formed?

A
  • 23rd March 1919

* Mussolini called together representatives of round 20 ex-servicemen leagues to form the Fasci di Combattimento/Fasci

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14
Q

Why did the squadristi form?

A
  • Early fascist predominately made up of arditi - crack troop commandoes formed following Caparetto, wore black shirts associated with the fascist movement
  • Formed themselves into small, military units called squadristi
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15
Q

How did WW1 contributes to the growth of the Fascist party between 1919-1922?

A
  • The war created a strong culture of violence amongst the returning soldiers
  • They begun to view the socialists as an internal threat within Italy
  • The Mutilated Victory highlighted the weakness of the liberal government, turned military against them
  • Alignment with the militaristic views of the PNF who promised a better solution to the post war problems
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16
Q

What evidence is there of weakness of the Liberal state between 1919 and September 1922?

A
  • After squadristi violence on 15th April 1919, no fascists arrested or attempts to close down their actions
  • February 1920 - production of wheat fell 38 million quintals compared to pre-war levels of 52 million, industrial production also falling 15%
  • The Beinnio Rosso strikes lasting a month in 1920
  • Spring 1921 - police looked other way as fascists crushed socialist power in Emilia & Tuscany
  • May 1921 - election resulting in no one party controlling parliament , trasformismo no longer worked
  • By July 1922 violence weakened PM Facta with PNF de facto government in many of Italy’s provinces
17
Q

How did the weakness of the liberal state contribute to the rise of the Facists?

A
  • They appeared to be inept at tackling the issues faced by Italy - socialism, economic problems, rebuilding after the war
  • Pushed the public towards more extreme parties - PNF, PSI
18
Q

What actions did fascists take in response to the rise of socialism in Italy between 1919 and September 1922?

A
  • 15th April 1919 - 200-300 fascists burnt down ‘Avanti!’ newspaper, three socialists and a fascist killed
  • First 5 months of 1921 saw 200 people killed in clashes between socialists and fascists
  • Took control of Emilia and Tuscany in Spring 1921
  • May 1921 elections - saw 100 socialist sympathisers killed
  • Attacked areas across Italy with socialist controlled local councils in 1922
  • By September 1922 - squads controlled areas around Rome, were ready to seize capital
19
Q

How did the fear of socialism contribute to the rise of the fascist party?

A
  • Highlighted weakness of Liberals to stop rise of socialism e.g 1919 got greatest share of votes at 32%, 1920 they controlled 26/69 provinces in Italy, won 123 seats in May 1921 elections
  • Wealthy in Italy (conservative elites, wealthy industrialist) happy to see socialism stopped - wanted to keep wealth and power
  • Seen to be removing socialist threat, added to the fascist propaganda
20
Q

How did Mussolini’s actions and popularity contribute to the fascist party’s success between 1919 and September 1922?

A
  • Encouraged the formation of more squadristi across Italy
  • Introduced the New Programme after realising the first one was too socialist
  • Propaganda - ‘the fascists save ital from soclaism’
  • August 1921 Established self as sole leader of movement, elevate fascism above a group of thugs but a political movement
  • Stopped violence to gain support of the middle classes
  • 1922 Dual policy - said he would use democratic parliamentary meant to gain power, but still encouraged the violence of squads to the fascist party
21
Q

Give evidence for the rise in popularity of the Fascists between 1919 and 1922

A
  • 1919 November elections - got less than 5,000 votes and no seats
  • 1921 May elections - won 35 seats
  • Grown to 320,000 members by July 1922
22
Q

How did the March on Rome start?

A
  • Ras (squadristi leaders) wanted to take over the capital but Mussolini wanted to be appointed Prime Minster democratically due to it giving him a stronger position
  • 16th October 1922 - A plan to have 300,000 fascists march on Rome was created, mainly to blackmail politicians
  • 24th October - Mussolini made a speech to squadristi in Naples asserting that the PNF must be given power of face the seizing of Rome
23
Q

What happned on 27th October 1922?

A

Starting in Milan squadristi took over government offices, railway stations and police stations

24
Q

How did politicians and officials respond to the March on Rome?

A
  • 2 am 28th Oct - King ready to declare state of emergency, have Mussolini arrested
  • 9 am - King decides not to sign the declaration of emergency
  • 29th October - King asked Mussolini to become prime minister
25
Q

How did various politicians’ actions contribute to Mussolini’s appointment?

A

• Facta - seen to be weak, king had no confidence in him, he resigned
• Salandra - convinced king not to sign the emergency decree due to desire to become PM
• Orlando - said he’d work with Mussolini in a fascist coalition if he could be PM
• Giolitti - failure to stop socialism and fascism become popular (due to ineffective governance)
Many liberals were too concerned with fighting off own party members and underestimated Mussolini so called for his appointment

26
Q

How did the King contribute to Mussolini’s appointment to power?

A
  • Didn’t sign emergency decree - lack of confidence in Facta, fear military wouldn’t stop them fascist and hint from Mussolini of being replaced by the Duke of Aosta (his cousin)
  • Asked Mussolini to become the Prime Minister