The rise of dictatorships after World War 1 content

Question 1

Conditions enabling dictators to rise to power in the interwar period: Italy

Answer 1

• Post-war disgruntled population
• Economic difficulties
• Political instability
• Fear of Communist revolution
• Use of terror and violence
• Governments underestimation of the threat from the right

Question 2

Conditions enabling dictators to rise to power in the interwar period: Italy (post-war disgruntled population)

Answer 2

• Had been promised land in the Treaty of Versailles and a protectorate over Albania
• Mussolini promised to secure land promised in Treaty of London

Question 3

Conditions enabling dictators to rise to power in the interwar period: Italy (economic difficulties)

Answer 3

• Poor and couldn’t meet war expenses → printed more money
• Severe economic depression - inspired by Russian peasant land takeover

Question 4

Conditions enabling dictators to rise to power in the interwar period: Italy (political instability)

Answer 4

• Govt relied on proportional rep & party list system - premier usually held office for a short time - fascist advocated for strong, centralised govt

Question 5

Conditions enabling dictators to rise to power in the interwar period: Italy (fear of Communist revolution)

Answer 5

• Socialists tried to revolt based on Lenin’s success - scared businessmen/landowners
• Fighting bands of veterans - foundation of Mussolini’s Fascist Party - Encouraged rifles, trucks, gasoline, assigned officers - Police encouraged to look away - judges release

Question 6

Conditions enabling dictators to rise to power in the interwar period: Italy (Use of terror and violence)

Answer 6

• Fascists burned labor-union/newspaper offices, & Socialist HQ
• Estimated 2000 died from October 1920-22