Mussolini And The Develoment Of Fascism Flashcards
When did Mussolini for the Fasci di Combattimento and what was the initial membership?
March 1919, 118 (veterans/ ex soldiers mainly)
What were the initial aims + 1919 programme?
vague, no clear ideology. Left wing opposition to socialism. Female suffrage, nationalisation of the arms industry, no compulsory military service, anti clericalism etc. Ambiguous, meant to attract support from different social classes.
What were the results of the November 1919 elections?
fascists didn’t receive any seats and Mussolini didn’t enter the Chamber of Deputies.
Which negatives did Mussolini and the fascist ideology emphasise?
Growing threat of socialism, weakness of Italian political system, failure to maintain law and order, Treaty of Versailles and the ‘mutilated victory’
How many supporters did they have at the end of 1919?
4,000 (many had left following election failure)
How was Mussolini able to save the fascist movement?
Exploited threat of socialism eg 500,000 workers took over factories in 1920, attracting more conservatives to fascism.
From when did the support of fascism move from mostly the northern towns to more rural areas?
Start of 1921 onwards as agricultural employers called for help against socialist and Catholic unions
What were the squadristi?
blackshirts, paramilitary units that attacked socialists, often aided by the army and police
Who supported the squadristi?
Local leaders eg landowners as well as smaller scale industrialists, as fascist squadristi were seen to be combatting socialism
By 1921, how much of the support was from students?
10%, saw fascism as an. Alternative to the current weak democratic system.
Who were the Ras?
Led fascists squads, had on power bases and held radical views.
How did Mussolini use the squadristi to boost his position?
He presented himself as the leader of fascism as he established the fasci di Combattimento. He also took credit for the squadristi (although ras were unwilling to give up their power)
When did Mussolini first adopt a dual policy?
1921, using fascist squadristi violence to convince urban followers it hadn’t ‘sold out’ and more moderate political measures to attract establishment figure who wanted a respectable leader
