Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
3: Mussolini Becomes Prime Minister - Coggle Diagram
3: Mussolini Becomes Prime Minister
Mussolini's background
Expelled as editor for promoting WW1 intervention in Avanti (Socialist newspaper) but he was pleased about this
1910 part of a Socialist group in Forli
1911 organises protests against the Libyan war
Born in 1883 to lower middle class family who were socialist
Even after defeat a Caporetto he was determined to carry on (he had seen this in the newspaper)
1915 he was conscripted and enjoyed being a soldier as this is where his ideas developed
Sets up 'Popolo d'Italia' which had a strong pro war position
Injured in 1917 "I had 27 operations in one month... without anaesthetics" trying to portray himself as strong
Growth of fascism through violence
Directed towards the socialists during the Bienno Rosso
Involved destruction and burning of socialist houses
Forced socialists to drink caster oil mixed with dangerous things
Burnt all socialist buildings (union buildings)
Showed some strength in government after long, weak liberal governemnt
Disguised the weak fascist government underneath
Seen as crude but necessary to get rid of socialism
Changes in policy
In 1919 there is a stress on Italy as s great nation but in 1921 it was more that there was still national glory
1919 wanted abolition of obligatory military service but in 1921 wanted obligatory military service
1919 confiscation of all property belonging to religious organisations whereas in 1921 there was no reference to church property
1919 founding of the Fascio de Combattimenti and published the New Programme in 1921
1919 8 hour working day and education for all whereas in 1921 8 hour working day apart from agricultural and industrial requirements and schools train to promote future soldiers
1919 confiscation of unproductive income whereas in 1921 this wasn't the case
1919 peaceful competition in foreign policy whereas in 1921 Italy wanted a major role in the Med
May 1921 elections
Violence
Immediate results
Would assert his dominance
Socialist background always envisaged some sort of uprising
Liberal government is weak and not likely to face much opposition
Supporters know he has used violence against socialists and have admired it
Legitimate
Stable
Might be able to stay in power for longer which is more desirable
Some supporters are uneasy about violence
King would be forced to accept Mussolini
Gaining support
Across 1921 Mussolini moved back right leading to some Ras protesting and dropping out
Throughout 1920 due to increasing fear of socialism and Mussolini drops out radical ideas he gains more support from the elites, Ras and squads, petty bourgeosie (involves peasants and public servants
Fascism emerged in 1919 with support from mainly only ex-soldiers but only got 2% of votes
May 1921 election Giolitti supports hoping to tame fascism (and achieve transformissmo) but Mussolini refused to work with them (got 35 seats) and he also gained the Kings support here
Process to PM
March 1919 Fasci de Combattimento presents party programme
November 1919 Fascists only achieve 1.8% of vote
Early 1921 Fascism moves to rural areas where they attack socialist villages
May 1921 Giolitto includes fascists in the 'big list' elections
July 1921 Pact of Pacification which is an attempt to be a peacemaker but failed showing Mussolini's lack of control over his men
October 1921 founded the PNF which gave Mussolini more control
November 1921 New Programme which removed radical elements of the original programme
Summer 1921 General strike where fascist squads openly attacked strikers which made the Government look weak
28th October 1922 March on Rome where the King agrees to use the army against the fascists but changes his mind between 2am and 9am, the PM resigns and Mussolini gets offered a place in the cabinet, he declines this, then he get offered PM and march is a celebration
Became PM through own skill of negotiation
March on Rome he was offered a coalition and later the role of Prime Minister
July 1921 Pact of Pacification
Pact made him look like a peace negotiator
Had to threaten to resign to persuade blackshirts to stop beating up socialists
2000 opponents were killed by fascism between 1919 and 1922
Became PM through use of dual policy
Dual policy
Using the legitimate and violent route at the same time
Led to 300,000 members by October 1922
Pact of Pacification made him look like peacemaker but also it demonstrated his lack of control of his squadristi
Founding of the PNF tries to make him seem more legitimate
Due to him being fascist leader, he took credit for squadristi action and convinced Ras to support him
March on Rome
Used both violence and legitimacy
However, had to be persuaded by his own men because he was scared of the Italian army
Became PM due to fascism being a mass movement
March on Rome in October 1922 involved 50,000 blackshirts in Rome
Has 34 deputies after May 1921 election
Strike breaking in 1921 by beating up union leaders and socialists showed the blackshirts power as one
Mass support being gained in rural, central and northern Italy
1921 survey of fascist membership involved teachers, civil servants, small landowners, shop keepers and young people (10% in 1921)
Became PM due to new attractive policies for right wing
October 1921 founding of PNF makes him seem more legitimate
November 1921 New Programme removed radical ideas attracting more of the middle class
Became PM through weakness of others and the media
Violence towards the socialists made socialists appear weak
Popoloa d'Italia (own press) made him look popular
Liberal press to the side of the fascists
Media created an environment which accepted fascism
March on Rome made the liberal government look weak due to last minute change in mind when it came to Marshall Law
Some actions didn't grow fascism but made the Liberal Government look weaker (5 governments between 1919-22)
Became PM due to threat of socialism
Fascism grows in areas with more socialism and fear of socialist revolt in Northern and Central Italy
PSI split due to more radical PCI
When fascism moves to rural areas and breaks up strikes it instilled more fear of socialism
1920 commercialised Po Valley leading to 200 killed and 1000 wounded
General strike made socialism seem stronger