Rural Facism

Question 1

Why did the agricultural elite start to give funds to Facist squads?

Answer 1

The rural elite were worried by the Socialist threat and by government inaction so wanted the Facist to fight the Socialists

Question 2

Why did Fascism take off in the rural areas?

Answer 2

Because the rural elite and small landholders were being harmed by Socialist local government and were worried about a socialist revolution.

Question 3

What percentage of the composition of the Facist party in 1921 were Landowners?

Answer 3

25%

Question 4

Why do rich latifundia who own large land support Fascism?

Answer 4

They fear that socialists may take all their money so are happy to support Mussolini.

Question 5

What are three reasons why Fascists became successful in rural areas?

Answer 5

• Share croppers and small peasant proprietors were frightened of socialist aim of collecting the land
• Landowners hired local facist groups as protection
• their incomes were falling as the Italian economy moved into recession, landowners were determined to resist further demands from the Socialists

Question 6

Who are the three groups that made rural fascism so successful?

Answer 6

1. ) Large landowners
2. )Lower middle class
3. )Share croppers and small peasant proprietors