Mussolini's Rise - Political unrest and dual policy

Question 2

What was Mussolini’s rise to power aided by?

Answer 2

A worsening political situation in Italy, a deteriorating economic situation, Fiume and the ongoing strikes since the resignation of Nitti

Question 3

When did Nitti resign?

Answer 3

9th June 1920 and was then replaced by Giolitti

Question 4

How did Giolitti address the industrial unrest of Biennio Rosso?

Answer 4

Old tactics of absorption and compromise

Question 5

What was Giolitti’s solution to the 1920 Strike?

Answer 5

Seek compromise from workers, pressure Italy’s banks to withdraw support for companies that don’t negotiate with strikers

Question 6

What was the outcome of Giolitti’s tactics in 1920 to deal with strikes and bienno rosso?

Answer 6

Successful in the short term as by 25th September the strikes had ended but there was anger from the middle class, industrialists nationalists, landowners and catholics that Giolitti had ‘given in’ to workers demands

Question 7

PCI

Answer 7

Partito Comunista Italiano, In January 1921. Radical members that had previously split from the PSI, More radical and had support from Russian Bolsheviks

Question 8

Why did Giolitti’s old tactics of Trasformismo family in post-war Italy?

Answer 8

Ideological splits were more defined and deep rooted and the PNF, PPI and PCI weee less likely to be brought off and coalitions weren’t working

Question 9

How did Giolitti try to absorb Fascists during the 1921 election?

Answer 9

Offering the members of parliament a place in his national bloc on the ballot paper

Question 10

How was Giolitti’s attempt to absorb the Fascists in the 1921 a mistake?

Answer 10

Immediately after being voted into parliament as a government backed candidate, Mussolini announced he would vote with the opposition and parliament had 123 socialists, 15 communists, 107 PPI and 35 fascists. Giolitti resigned

Question 11

Who came after Giolitti after the 1921 elections?

Answer 11

Ivanoe Bonomi and Luigi Facta

Question 12

When did Mussolini call an end to squadristi violence in 1921?

Answer 12

July

Question 13

Why did Mussolini call for an end to Squadristi violence in 1921?

Answer 13

Concerned with the fear of communist revolution fading and middle classes and industrialists would question why fascist violence was continuing when the aims had been achieved

Question 14

Pact of Pacification

Answer 14

August 1921, signed by Mussolini with the Socialist trade union and PSI members in parliament. Mussolini hoped that the liberals and Catholics within parliament would come to a deal to stop him working with socialists

Question 15

Who were the 3 most powerful ras bosses?

Answer 15

Dino Grandi, Italo Balbo and Roberto Farinacci

Question 16

What was a key issue for Mussolini concerning the ras?

Answer 16

Until October 1921 fascism was a movement not a part and he led the movement but multiple squads had a strong loyalty to their ras and they were funded at a local level not by a centralised body and he failed to control the ras

Question 17

What did the Pact of pacification call an end to?

Answer 17

Violence and it was an attempt to assert dominance over fascism but it failed

Question 18

What did the three most powerful ras bosses condem?

Answer 18

The pact of pacification, as it was a deal with socialists

Question 19

Why did Mussolini resign on 18 August 1921?

Answer 19

To show political skill by asserting that if they were not ready to follow policy direction he would resign as leader of the fascists but the Ras were unable to work together so this just strengthened Mussolini’s position

Question 20

What was Dino Grandi offered to support Mussolini?

Answer 20

A prominent role on a new fascist journal

Question 21

[Gap Fill] At the PNF ____________ in __________ 1921, Fascist delegates overwhelmingly voted to support ___________ as leader and confirm the organisation of the movement into an ________ _____

Answer 21

At the PNF Conference in November 1921, Fascist delegates overwhelmingly voted to support Mussolini as leader and confirm the organisation of the movement into an official party

Question 22

What did the programme of the PNF confirm for the squadristi and the ras?

Answer 22

The squadristi was under control of the party leadership not the ras

Question 23

What concession did Mussolini have to make in November 1921 PNF conference?

Answer 23

Drop the pact of pacification

Question 24

After the November 1921 PNF conference, what did Mussolini encourage rather than stop?

Answer 24

Upsurge in fascist violence hoping he could blackmail the government into giving him power

Question 25

How were squads organised at the end of 1921?

Answer 25

More formally into ‘cohorts’ under the command of ‘consuls’ under zone commanders

Question 26

How did Fascist violence expand from spring 1922?

Answer 26

Blackshirts attacked areas across Italy where socialists controlled the local council and towns in northern italy fell to the fascists. The government responded inadequately.

Question 27

When did Bonomi’s Government collapse?

Answer 27

February 1922

Question 28

Who replaced Bonomi’s government

Answer 28

Luigi facta

Question 29

How many members were in the PNF by 1922?

Answer 29

320,000 and half a million in fascist trade unions