The 1919 Election with Background Information

Futurists

• Futurists existed prior to fascists, though they held similar ideologies. Indeed, however, they were more radical in their views than fascists; and wished to see this in Mussolini, as a leader.
• The Futurist movement in art and culture began in 1909, established by Filippo Tomasso Marinetti. 
• They called for violence, destruction and patriotism; with the formation of a military government.
• Some futurists were founding members of the Fascist Party.

Gabriele D'Annunzio 

• Gabriele D'Annunzio was a national poet and notorious interventionist; who wished for Italy to be a unified, militarised nation.
• He insisted on fighting within the First World War himself; subsequently losing an eye in conflict.
• He bravely dropped 400,000 propaganda leaflets over Vienna via plane.
• He also led 300 nationalists in seizing the Port of Fiume on 12th September 1919.
• He introduced the fascist chant, slogan and uniform (black shirts).
• Both Vittorio Orlando and Benito Mussolini feared his rise to power. Hence, Vittorio Orlando made pleads with David Lloyd George. Meanwhile, Mussolini offered D'Annunzio a generous pension, a mansion by Lake Garcia and the role of 'Prince', so long as he stayed away from politics. 

The League of Nations

• The League of Nations was established towards the end of the First World War, in order to promote peace and reduced conflict between nations - through the means of security and negotiation.
• It was formed with 58 member states - including Italy - though the USA and the USSR were not included. 
• It was hindered by the fact that it lacked its own army; and instead was forced to depend upon the armies of member states.
• It had some success in the 1920s - stopping war between Greece and Bulgaria, and border disputes between Sweden and Finland over the Aaland Islands. However, this proved a short term phase - as major war was to break out again in 1939. Thence, the League of Nations was replaced with the United Nations, after the Second World War.

Urban Socio-Economic Issues - Post World War I

• Hyperinflation - a consequence of high dependency upon foreign loans and the excessive printing of bank notes - accounted for much redundancy. By 1919, unemployment levels in Italy had reached two million. Companies had to make cuts; as did the state and the Italian Royal Army. With the former, reductions were also made to welfare payments and pensions, whilst middle class individuals lost much of their savings. 
• Hyperinflation decreased international faith in the lire, and so trade was reduced; thus increasing unemployment whilst decreasing national income. 
• The temporary growth of certain companies (e.g. Fiat), throughout the war period, had…