Mussolini and the development of fascism
- Fascism became extremely popular in the rural areas of North
The stages of development of fascism and Central Italy
- Created local squads of fascists w/ local bosses known as the
1. Creation of a combat group 1919 Ras
- Mainly patriotic ex-soldiers - Ras became more politically and socially radical than
- Inaugural meeting of the Fascio di Combattimento Mussolini
- Wanted to provide new leadership in a nat’l revolution - Attracted small landholders that were concerned by the growth
- Movement not a party of Socialist local gov’ts
- Expressed radical social ideas → nat’list, socialist alternative to - Anti-socialist violence made Fascism a popular movement
PSI
6. Internal conflict 1921
2. Slow growth 1919 - Original fascists disliked the movement’s new appeal to the
- Heterogeneous group of supporters united by their opposition bourgeoisie and the shift to the Right → dropped out
to the non-patriotic nature of the gov’t - Several Ras out of Mussolini’s control protested
- Il Popolo d’Italia was the main mouthpiece of the movement - Protests ended once they realised the strength and unity of Il
- Attempted to enter gov’t in 1919 general election w/ a Popolo d’Italia
radical programme → failed and only gained 2% vote
7. Giolitti’s attempts to tame Fascism 1921
3. Shift in attitudes towards the fascists 1920 - Giolitti wanted to absorb the movement by putting the fascists
- Industrial and rural elite were concerned by the growing on the recommended list of candidates for the May 1921
socialist threat election
- Some saw the fascists as the best defence against socialism → - Fascists gained 35 seats and Mussolini entered parliament
- Giolitti offered Mussolini to join the gov’t as a junior partner
funded fascist squads
but Mussolini refused
4. Change in programme 1920 8. Internal division 1921
- Mussolini took advantage of the fascist movement’s new - Seizure of power legally vs. through violence
appeal to the elite - Mussolini disliked the growing Fascist violence that did not
- Changed the party programme from left-wing ideas to right- match his character as a respectable member of parliament
wing ideas - Signed a ‘pact of pacification’ with the socialists → angered
the Ras
5. Growth of fascism 1920-21
- Fascism became extremely popular in the rural areas of North
The stages of development of fascism and Central Italy
- Created local squads of fascists w/ local bosses known as the
1. Creation of a combat group 1919 Ras
- Mainly patriotic ex-soldiers - Ras became more politically and socially radical than
- Inaugural meeting of the Fascio di Combattimento Mussolini
- Wanted to provide new leadership in a nat’l revolution - Attracted small landholders that were concerned by the growth
- Movement not a party of Socialist local gov’ts
- Expressed radical social ideas → nat’list, socialist alternative to - Anti-socialist violence made Fascism a popular movement
PSI
6. Internal conflict 1921
2. Slow growth 1919 - Original fascists disliked the movement’s new appeal to the
- Heterogeneous group of supporters united by their opposition bourgeoisie and the shift to the Right → dropped out
to the non-patriotic nature of the gov’t - Several Ras out of Mussolini’s control protested
- Il Popolo d’Italia was the main mouthpiece of the movement - Protests ended once they realised the strength and unity of Il
- Attempted to enter gov’t in 1919 general election w/ a Popolo d’Italia
radical programme → failed and only gained 2% vote
7. Giolitti’s attempts to tame Fascism 1921
3. Shift in attitudes towards the fascists 1920 - Giolitti wanted to absorb the movement by putting the fascists
- Industrial and rural elite were concerned by the growing on the recommended list of candidates for the May 1921
socialist threat election
- Some saw the fascists as the best defence against socialism → - Fascists gained 35 seats and Mussolini entered parliament
- Giolitti offered Mussolini to join the gov’t as a junior partner
funded fascist squads
but Mussolini refused
4. Change in programme 1920 8. Internal division 1921
- Mussolini took advantage of the fascist movement’s new - Seizure of power legally vs. through violence
appeal to the elite - Mussolini disliked the growing Fascist violence that did not
- Changed the party programme from left-wing ideas to right- match his character as a respectable member of parliament
wing ideas - Signed a ‘pact of pacification’ with the socialists → angered
the Ras
5. Growth of fascism 1920-21
