The rise and fall of fascism (1919-1926)

Question 1

What was the name of the commanding officer of the squads and what did they wear?

Answer 1

RAS- blackshirt uniform, carrying a revolver and manganello (club) as weapons

Question 2

When was Mussolini appointed as Prime Minister?

Answer 2

30 October 1922

Question 3

What was the occupation of Fiume?

Answer 3

Gabrielle d’Annunzio and 2000 ex soldiers, futurists, students and patriots seized the port of Fiume without fighting on 12 September 1919

Question 4

What did the ‘Blackshirts’ wear?

Answer 4

Black uniform

Emblem with a black flag with a white flag

Question 5

What were the economic and social issues after war?

Answer 5

Demobilised soldiers seeking employment
Inflation levels were high
Wages and pensions declined rapidly
Companies (Fiat) struggled to stay afloat

Question 6

What is meant by the term ‘mutilated victory’?

Answer 6

(Gabrielle d’Annunzio)- national shame disgracing 600,00 soldiers who lost their lives in the war, demonstrating Italy’s weakness compared to the other powers

Question 7

How were the parliamentary elections of 1919?

Answer 7

Government changed proportional representation
Increase in number of people voting by 11 million
New law- Italians who served at front and males over 21 could participate

Question 8

What was ‘Biennio Rosso’?

Answer 8

(1919-1920) Period of political turmoil whereby left wing socialists and communists were at their peak/ violent riots, telegraph worker strikes, army troops strikes, railway strikes

Question 9

What was Niti condemned as and why?

Answer 9

“Cagoia”- abject coward. He allowed Yugoslavia to take Dalmatia and deemed Fuime neutral under the protection of the L.O.N, also reducing military spending because he wanted to be in favour with the allies as Italy needed coal and money

Question 10

What was the PNF?

Answer 10

Partito Nationale Fascista(PNF)- political party Mussolini used whereby they founded local branches and tried to recruit more ‘respectable’ members

Question 11

Which lands did Italy acquire as part of the T.O.L?

Answer 11

Trent, Trieste, Istria, Northern Dalmatia

Question 12

What was the impact of the Occupation of Fiume?

Answer 12

D’Annunzio showed that the liberal government were weak and this was crucial in the rise of fascism as it showed that violence and decisive action leads to success

Question 13

What was the impact of ‘Biennio Rosso’?

Answer 13

Chaos and fear led people (especially middle-class) to Fascism as they could violently confront the left-wing movement

Question 14

What is meant by the term ‘trinceristi’?

Answer 14

Returned soldiers with the strength and morality to lead a new Italy, replicating the patriotic feeling of unity

Question 15

Who had the Fascists appealed to by the end of 1921?

Answer 15

Urban middle classes
Professional white-collar workers
Small business owners
Landowners
Wealthy farmers and peasants

Question 16

What did Vittorio Orlando argue that Italy should have?

Answer 16

Territory promised in T.OL and the port of Fiume

Question 17

What was the PPI?

Answer 17

Partito Popolare Italiano (PPI)-1919

Catholic political party led by priest ‘Luigi Sturzo’

Question 18

Results of 1919 elections

Answer 18

PSI won the greatest share of the vote with 32%
156 socialist deputies in parliament
PPI won 101 seats

Question 19

What are the ‘squadrismo’?

Answer 19

Small, military units or squads of Fascists who answered socialist threat through violence

Question 20

What was in the ‘New Programme’ (May 1920)

Answer 20

Calling for compulsory military service
Education system providing future soldiers with physical and moral training
Promising to sell off nationally owned businesses to private owners

Question 21

What was the Fasci di Combattimento?

Answer 21

Organisation of ex soldiers formed by Mussolini on 23 March 1919

Question 22

Who appointed Mussolini as Prime Minister?

Answer 22

King Victor Emmanuel III

Question 23

What was the Acerbo law?

Answer 23

A law proposing that 2/3 of parliamentary seats would go to the party that won more than 25% of the vote

Question 24

What were the terms of the Fasci programme made in June

Answer 24

Confiscation of church property
End to monarchy, form a republic
Suffrage extended to women and younger Italians
8 hour working day
Nationalisation of armaments industry
Progressive taxation

Question 25

Who did the squads target and what were their methods?

Answer 25

Socialist supporters and councils
Key PSI members
Beaten and forced to drink castor oil

Question 25

What were the results in the May 1921 general election

Answer 25

Fascists won 7% of the vote

35 parliamentary seats

Question 26

Who were the Quadrumvirs?

Answer 26

4 main leaders of fascism who organised the March on Rome
Michele Bianchi
Emilio De Bono
Cesare Maria de Vecchi
Italo Balbo

Question 27

What day was Mussolini sworn in as prime minister?

Answer 27

30 October 1922

Question 28

What happened on the 28th October 1922?

Answer 28

The king withdrew from his agreement on martial law and doesn’t arrest Mussolini, Facta resigns and the king turns towards Salandra who is unable to form a government

Question 29

What was Mussolini’s dual policy?

Answer 29

To obtain power Mussolini played up the threat of violence from the socialists