Growth Of Fascism

Question 1

The initial growth of fascism can be largely attributed to what?

Answer 1

A series of locally formed fasci, led by Ras, some of whom had different ideas to Mussolini

Question 2

Where did the main group of active fascist supporters come from?

Answer 2

The petty bourgeoisie. A wide range of people from the middle and working class, bound by a collective sense of insecurity.

Question 3

Why did small farmers support fascism?

Answer 3

They saw socialism as a threat to their land ownership. The resented socialist land leagues (socialist organisations which controlled the rural labour market) because they bullied farmers into hiring workers when they weren’t really needed

Question 4

Who were the agrari?

Answer 4

Groups of large landowners willing to fund any group that would combat the socialists

Question 5

Why did industrialists support fascism?

Answer 5

They feared socialism and thought the liberal government was making too many concessions to workers

Question 6

Why did youths support fascism?

Answer 6

They wanted action and adventure and were angry at their lack of prospects. It was an exciting contrast to the old men of liberal politics

Question 7

What was a real fascist?

Answer 7

Someone who whole heartedly joined the fascist movement

Question 8

What was a tactical fascist/user of fascism?

Answer 8

Someone who joined the movement for their own ends, without being committed to the cause

Question 9

How many fascist members were there in 1921

Answer 9

500,000

Question 10

What % of fascist members were ex-servicemen in 1921?

Answer 10

50

Question 11

What was the name of the group Mussolini created in march 1919?

Answer 11

Fascio italiano di combattimento

Question 12

Why did Mussolini claim that only 45 people came to fascio italiano di combattimentos inaugural meeting?

Answer 12

He wanted to present them as a small, dedicated band of revolutionaries

Question 13

What is a fascist of the first hour?

Answer 13

An early member of the fascist movement

Question 14

Why did mussolini create a fluid movement rather than a party with a manifesto?

Answer 14

He wanted the flexibility to attract a wide range of voters

Question 15

Who were the arditi?

Answer 15

A military wing of the movement. Important early recruits to fascism, often former members of Italy’s elite units

Question 16

List the factors that contributes to mussolinis early failure

Answer 16

• his ideas weren’t coherent or politically credible
• he couldn’t decide exactly what he believed in
• local groups drew up their own political programmes in the 1919 election, leading to a disjointed campaign
• some local fascist groups were much more right wing than Mussolini
• in the 1919 election, not a single fascist was elected, and, even in their Milan stronghold, they achieved only 5,000 of the 270,000 votes cast

Question 17

What were the factors that revived fascism?

Answer 17

• Dannunzios capture of Fium
• the growth of rural fascism in Ferrara and bologna

Question 18

What did fascist membership increase by between march and may 1921?

Answer 18

It went from 80,000 to 187,000

Question 19

Why did rural fascism grow towards the end of 1920?

Answer 19

• Landowners and the middle classes had become fed up with socialist gains during the biennio rosso
• recession and falling incomes made them determined not to make any more concessions
• socialists were unfairly blamed for a clash between the fascists and socialists at Ferrara town square. This stimulated fascist recruitment

Question 20

How many members did the fascia have in Ferrara and bologna by 1921

Answer 20

7,000 and 5,000

Question 21

Who were the fascist ras?

Answer 21

Local leaders

Question 22

What tactics did the ras use to combat socialism and assert their authority?

Answer 22

• violence and intimidation
• attacking leaders
• smashing up premises
• tax strikes
• forcing workers to leave socialist unions and join fascist ones which renegotiated contracts in favour of the employer

Question 23

What made rural fascism successful?

Answer 23

• large landowners were prepared to finance and equip them
• they were also supported by the lower middle class and share croppers

Question 24

What did Mussolini do to shift fascism to the right?

Answer 24

• looked for the support of conservative businessmen
• abandoned anti-catholic rhetoric
• allowed his black shirts to be used as strike breakers and security guards for industrial firms
• ordered regional leaders to organise their Blackshirts along paramilitary lines

Question 25

Why did giolitti call a general election in may 1921?

Answer 25

He thought socialism was on the wane

Question 26

Why was fascist participation in the 1921 election a disaster?

Answer 26

It became an orgy if fascist violence, with 40 people killed on polling day alone

Question 27

How many fascists were elected in 1921

Answer 27

35