Notes for World History
WHY WAS MUSSOLINI ABLE TO COME TO POWER?
- Italians were disappointed at Italy’s gains from the Versailles settlement; they felt cheated in view of their great efforts and loss during the war.
- The effects of the war on the Italian economy and the standard of living were disastrous. Govt was under huge debt.
- Proportional representation was introduced in the 1919 elections which meant that there were many parties in the Parliament. This made it difficult for any one party to gain an overall majority.
- There were wave of strikes accompanied by rioting and looting in 1919 and 1920 in Italy by socialist party and trade unions. This led to sinking of govt prestige to even lower level.
- Mussolini and the fascist party were attractive to many sections of society as he proclaimed to rescue Italy.
- The anti-fascist groups failed to co-operate with each other and made no determined efforts to keep the fascists out.
