Mussolini's Rise - Political reforms, growth and elections

Question 1

What did the government hope the Italian parliamentary elections of 1919 would help ease?

Answer 1

Public anger through political reforms that would allow more Italians to play a role in the political system. 11 million more could vote

Question 2

Which law did the government introduce in 1919 in terms of who could vote?

Answer 2

New law that all Italian’s who had served at the front and any other male over 21 could now participate in elections

Question 3

How did the government change the method of voting in 1919?

Answer 3

Proportional representation, so public vote would have greater influence on which parties got elected to parliament

Question 4

Proportional representation

Answer 4

Number of representatives elected into parliament is proportional to the percentage of votes a party gets . It is more representative but difficult for one party to get a majority in parliament so its more unstable

Question 4

PPI

Answer 4

Partito Popolare Italiano

Question 5

Partito Popolare Italiano (PPI)

Answer 5

Formed in 1919, a Catholic political party led by priest Luigi Sturzo However it was not officially affiliated to the Vatican or the ‘Roman Question’

Question 5

What did the PPI support?

Answer 5

Land reform and farming areas to be made for peasants. Catholic interests and values

Question 5

What about the PPI made forming Giolitti-style coalitions more difficult?

Answer 5

Its hostility to the liberal regime

Question 6

What made the PPI a strong political force?

Answer 6

The strength of Catholic feeling and the popular agitation for land reform

Question 6

What had encouraged the PSI in a more radical direction?

Answer 6

The war and the Russian revolution

Question 7

What were the effects of the PSI being more radical?

Answer 7

Refused to work with liberals and calling for revolution. Supported strikes and factory occupations.

Question 8

Which party won the greatest share of votes in the 1919 election?

Answer 8

PSI with 32%, resulting in 156 socialist deputies in parliament, 3x that of 1913

Question 8

Which party was the second largest in the 1919 elections?

Answer 8

Newly formed PPI supported by the CC which won 101 seats

Question 9

Why did the old liberals retain power and put coalitions together in 1919 elections despite the successes of PPI and PSI?

Answer 9

Neither PSI or PPI had full majority or were willing to work together in a coalition

Question 10

When did Nitti’s government fall?

Answer 10

June 1920

Question 10

Who did parliament turn to when Nitti’s government fell?

Answer 10

Giolitti