Mussolini's Rise - Political reforms, growth and elections Flashcards
What did the government hope the Italian parliamentary elections of 1919 would help ease?
Public anger through political reforms that would allow more Italians to play a role in the political system. 11 million more could vote
Which law did the government introduce in 1919 in terms of who could vote?
New law that all Italian’s who had served at the front and any other male over 21 could now participate in elections
How did the government change the method of voting in 1919?
Proportional representation, so public vote would have greater influence on which parties got elected to parliament
Proportional representation
Number of representatives elected into parliament is proportional to the percentage of votes a party gets . It is more representative but difficult for one party to get a majority in parliament so its more unstable
PPI
Partito Popolare Italiano
Partito Popolare Italiano (PPI)
Formed in 1919, a Catholic political party led by priest Luigi Sturzo However it was not officially affiliated to the Vatican or the ‘Roman Question’
What did the PPI support?
Land reform and farming areas to be made for peasants. Catholic interests and values
What about the PPI made forming Giolitti-style coalitions more difficult?
Its hostility to the liberal regime
What made the PPI a strong political force?
The strength of Catholic feeling and the popular agitation for land reform
What had encouraged the PSI in a more radical direction?
The war and the Russian revolution
What were the effects of the PSI being more radical?
Refused to work with liberals and calling for revolution. Supported strikes and factory occupations.
Which party won the greatest share of votes in the 1919 election?
PSI with 32%, resulting in 156 socialist deputies in parliament, 3x that of 1913
Which party was the second largest in the 1919 elections?
Newly formed PPI supported by the CC which won 101 seats
Why did the old liberals retain power and put coalitions together in 1919 elections despite the successes of PPI and PSI?
Neither PSI or PPI had full majority or were willing to work together in a coalition
When did Nitti’s government fall?
June 1920
