Taking advantage of political unrest

Question 1

resignation of nitti

Answer 1

9 june 1920
NITTI: Due to deteriorating economic situation, lingering situation in Fiume, ongoing strikes.
Replaced by Giovanni Giolitti (80 years old, despised by nationalists due to anti-interventionist policy in WW1).

Question 2

Giolitti’s tactics

Answer 2

Giolitti employed old tactics of compromise and absorption to address unrest during Biennio Rosso. Solution to 1920
strike was to seek compromise with workers, pressured banks to withdraw support from companies refusing to
negotiate with workers.

Question 3

end of strikes

Answer 3

25 september 1920

Giolitti’s actions were successful in short term. Considerable anger from middle class,
industrialists, nationalists, landowners and Catholics as he gave into workers’ demands. Contrasted fascist violence.

Question 4

PSI split

Answer 4

january 1921

PCI was more radical and support from Russia, wanted revolution and end to capitalism in Italy. This
split weakened left-wing movement. There was a growing desire of many Italians for a more stable social andeconomic situation.
Mussolini claimed reason for Biennio Rosso’s failure was actions of fascists. PCI was too smallto provide political threat by ballot box or revolution, but an official communism party financed by Bolsheviks wasexcellent propaganda for Mussolini.
Formation of PCI was proof to middle class that Italy was on the verge of revolution.

Question 5

1921 election

Answer 5

ELECTION: Giolitti tried to absorb fascists by offering members a place on his ‘national bloc’ on the ballot
paper. Mussolini announced he would vote with the opposition. 1921 election was a disaster for Giolitti; parliament
made of 123 socialist, 15 communist, 107 PPI, 35 fascist deputies.

Question 6

Giolitti resignation

Answer 6

Giolitti chose to resign. He was followed by

Ivanoe Bonomi and then Luigi Facta, both weak liberal politicians unable to deal with serious problems.

Question 7

PSI ad PCI strike

Answer 7

July 1922

Attempt to encourage further pressure on political system by backing the call for a 24 hour
general strike. Most workers did not support and the strike faded out. Mussolini claimed failure was due to fascists’
actions. Myth that it was the PNF that spared Italy from revolution was more widely believed.

Question 8

Transformismo

Answer 8

Giolitti’s tactics were proving inadequate in post-war Italy, where the ideological split was
more defined. Parties were less likely to be ‘bought off’ and support Giolitti. Increase in parties; harder to organise
working coalition with majority.