Rise of Mussolini Flashcards
3 Key reasons for the rise of Mussolini.
-Fear of Socialism
-Strength of Mussolini and the fascists
-Liberal weakness.
Evidence for fear of socialism being the main reason for Mussolini’s rise to power.
-PSI get 32% of vote in 1919.
-Bienno Rosso Strikes (the 2 red years) = a threat (1920)
-TU membership to 2,000,000 in Jan 1920
-Causes liberals to turn a blind eye to Squadristi violence eg 1921 when fascists took control of Emilia and Tuscany and squashed socialist power.
Evidence for strength of Mussolini and the fascists being the main reason for Mussolini’s rise to power.
-May 1920- Mussolini’s ‘new programme’- removes socialist aspects eg. removing the monarchy/ attacking the Pope’s power.
-Branding of movement ‘saving’ Italy from ‘traitors’ and building of myth that the Fascists were the reason for Socialist failure- eg. failed strikes of 1922.
-June 1921 Dual Policy: Mussolini seeking power through parliamentary means as well as strengthening fascist squads.
-PNF grew to 3200,000 members and half a million people joined fascist Trade Unions.
Evidence for Liberal weakness being the main reason for Mussolini’s rise to power.
-Reliant on Catholic support following failure in 1919 election
-4 PMs in 3 years
-Giolitti takes over from Nitti but is old and loses support from middle class, industrialists, Catholics.
-Complacent in fascist violence throughout.
-Giolitti allows Mussolini on to his electoral roll 1921
-Once Catholic support is lost, G’s gov collapses + 2 consecutive PMs, Bonomi and Facta.
King lacks confidence in Facta and Giolitti, Salandra and Orlando advocate for Mussolini to be PM due to hatred of one another
How many fascists were supposed to march on Rome and why did less show up?
30,000- due to bad weather.
What was stated in Mussolini’s speech to his Squadristi?
Either they would be ‘allowed to govern’ or they would ‘seize power by marching on Rome.’
Order of events during the March on Rome.
-27th October 1922- fascists take control of government offices, railway stations and police stations.
- Facta asks King to crush insurrection using the army; King refuses to declare a state of emergency since he doesn’t trust Factca and doesn’t want to be taken over by his cousin, the Duke of Aosta.
-Mussolini PM on the morning of the 28th.
