Italy Booklet 3- The Development of Fascism and the Rise to Power of Mussolini 1919-1922 Flashcards

1
Q

How many votes and seats did the fascists get in the 1919 election?

A

Less than 5,000 and they failed to win any seats.

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2
Q

What was Mussolini’s background like?

A

Son of an extreme socialist blacksmith father. Suspended from school 4 times for reasons including stabbing an older boy with a penknife. Became a teacher for 6 months but fled to Switzerland to escape his debts. In 1910 he became Secretary to the Socialist Party in Forli and was nicknamed the madman. Jailed for 5 months for protests against the Libyan War. Became editor of Avanti! and massively increased its circulation to 100,000.

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3
Q

When was the Fasci di Combattimento founded and what were the 3 declarations that Mussolini set out at the first meeting of the Fasci di Combattimento?

A

Founded on 23rd March 1919.
1) Want rights for everyone, specifically those that fought in the war.
2) To oppose imperialism and accept Italy’s borders were they are.
3) To prevent neutralists from WW1 gaining power in political parties.

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4
Q

When did a fascist squad of around 200 to 300, dressed in black, attack a Socialist demonstration without the organisation or authorisation of Mussolini?

A

April 1919.

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5
Q

What didn’t happen after the first squadristi violence in Milan and why was this significant for Mussolini?

A

The government and police made no attempt to close down the fascists or condemn their actions. It showed Mussolini that they would allow squadristi violence because of their fears of a socialist revolution. Later, many weapons used by the squadristi would even be supplied by the local police and army barracks.

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6
Q

What did the squadristi do?

A

They were organised like military units under a ras (commanding officer) and they wore an black shirt and carried revolvers and clubs. They attacked Socialist councils and supporters in an attempt to weaken their power. Key PSI members were targeted and forced to drink castor oil and many were murdered.

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7
Q

How did the squadristi violence gain Mussolini support?

A

It created the myth of fascism, that it was saving Italy from revolution. A key part of fascist propaganda was the idea that the soldiers had saved Italy from the external enemy, Austria and now they were saving Italy from the internal enemy, the socialists. It was particularly popular in the countryside where wealthy landowners were happy to see Socialist land leagues destroyed.

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8
Q

Why did the industrialists and petty bourgeoisie support the fascists?

A

They were angry at the government’s weak response to socialist threat and the mass strikes and factory occupations. They were also angry about increased taxation.
The fascists were engaging in strike breaking and forced unions to disband. They were also pro-business and supported privatisation.

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9
Q

Why did landowners support the fascists?

A

Threatened by socialist and Catholic unions pushing for land reform and land redistribution which would restrict their wealth.
Fascists attacked the Socialist Land Leagues and weakened their power.

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10
Q

Why did ex soldiers support the fascists?

A

They felt betrayed by the government for the mutilated victory and viewed the PSI as the new internal enemy for sabotaging the war effort.
The fascists wanted returning soldiers to lead the new Italy and promised to punish neutralists.

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11
Q

Why did some of the working class support the fascists?

A

They were forced to join fascist syndicates but also some opposed strikes and felt intimidated by the PSI to get involved. The fascists also had policies like fair wages and prices. Small business owners also tried to get workers to turn to fascism instead of socialism.

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12
Q

Why did young people and students support the fascists?

A

They were tired of the corrupt liberal government and liked the dynamic new force of fascism as well as the promise of an 8 hour working day. In 1921, 10% of fascist supporters were students.

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13
Q

What were some key fascist policies in 1919?

A

An 8 hour working day with guaranteed minimum wage.
Abolition of obligatory military service.
Heavy and progressive tax on capital.
Confiscation of all property belonging to religious organisations.
Liberty of opinion and conscience.

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14
Q

Which policy stayed the same by 1921?

A

An 8 hour working day.

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15
Q

What other policies were there in 1921?

A

Citizen freedoms limited in relation to the needs of the nation.
Taxes proportional to income with no forcible confiscations.
No references to confiscating property of Catholic Church.
Obligatory military service.
Expansion of Italy’s influence in the Mediterranean.

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16
Q

Overall, fascist policies changed from…

A

mostly left wing to right wing policies.

17
Q

When was the PNF founded and what did it do for fascism?

A

It was founded in October 1921 and provided fascism with improved coordination, respectability, legitimacy and gave Mussolini greater control over the movement. It also made fascism less radical and allowed it to take part in politics legitimately.

18
Q

What did Mussolini do in the New Programme?

A

It was very anti-socialist and right wing and he massively exaggerated the threat of socialism to appeal to anti-socialists. He also declared opposition to divorce to appeal to the middle class and Catholics. Not anti-semitic and lots of Jews supported the fascist movement.

19
Q

How many members did the PNF have by 1922?

A

300,000

20
Q

How many fascists won seats in Parliament in the 1921 election?

A

35, including Mussolini.

21
Q

When did Mussolini say that “either we are allowed to govern or we will seize power by marching on Rome”?

A

24th October 1922

22
Q

What happened on the 27th October 1922?

A

Squadristi occupied government offices and telephone exchanges. Facta requested for the King to allow martial law to stop the fascists.

23
Q

What did the King do when Facta requested the use of martial law?

A

On the 28th October- at first he agreed and an order was drawn up for Mussolini’s arrest but at 9am the same morning he changed his mind and refused to allow martial law.

24
Q

What happened after Facta resigned?

A

The King asked Salandra to form a coalition with Mussolini but Mussolini demanded to be sole Prime Minister. Salandra, Orlando and Giolitti all believed they should be made Prime Minister but their hatred for each other meant they recommended the King choose Mussolini over each other.

25
Q

What happened on 29th October 1922?

A

Mussolini received a message from the King with an offer of Prime Minister of a coalition government (however there were only 35 fascists deputies in Parliament).

26
Q

How many fascists marched on Rome on 31st October as a victory parade to create the myth of a March on Rome that acquired the fascists power though force (rather than the political trading that had actually occurred)?

A

50,000 (it would actually have been easy to defeat the fascists if martial law had been used as this is a relatively small number).

27
Q

What are some examples of liberal mistakes that allowed Mussolini to come to power?

A

-Failure to stop squadristi violence before it gained popularity.
-Socialist concessions like legalising land seizures.
-Failure to work with Mussolini in a coalition government and this outreach gave fascism political legitimacy.
-Granted Mussolini special powers.
-Didn’t put aside their differences to work together.
-Facta resigned leaving the king with few options.
-Failure to act sooner in D’Annunzio’s occupation of Fiume- showed their weakness and gave Mussolini the idea to use assertive nationalism.
-Couldn’t control socialist threat.

28
Q

What are some examples of factors other than liberal mistakes that helped Mussolini come to power?

A

-Biennio Rosso and increased socialist threat.
-Russian revolution which makes PSI become more radical.
-Mussolini was a great public speaker so was a strong front for fascism.
-King decided not to use martial law and gave into the fascists demands quite easily.
-Military and police were sympathetic and failed to stop squadristi violence, even supplying them with weapons.
-Economic difficulties.
-Mutilated victory- Mussolini argued that Italy had been stabbed in the back and this was popular.

29
Q

Who was tasked with organising the March on Rome?

A

The Quadrumvirs:
-Cesare de Vecchi
-Italo Balbo
-Emilio De Bono
-Michele Bianchi

30
Q

Why didn’t the King allow the use of martial law?

A

He lacked confidence in Facta to control the situation. He also feared the military would not follow his orders as they were sympathetic towards the fascists. The King’s cousin- the Duke of Aosta was also fascist and he feared being replaced by him after Mussolini hinted at this.