Final answer:
The 1912 franchise extension in Italy broadened suffrage to include more men, thus enlarging the electorate during a period of political challenges and the rise of Fascism under Mussolini.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 1912 franchise extension in Italy significantly impacted the country's electorate. Prior to the extension, the Italian electorate was limited to half a million property-owners out of a population of twenty-two million. The franchisement of 1912 expanded suffrage to more men, which consequently increased the number of eligible voters. This was an important step, albeit modest, towards a more inclusive democracy at a time when the Italian government was characterized by patronage and the burdening of taxes on the less affluent. This extension occurred amid political and economic challenges, including fears of corruption and fraudulent voting, regional disparities between the north and south, as well as the global influence of emerging political ideologies like fascism. Ultimately, these changes set the stage for subsequent political developments in Italy, including the rise of Fascism under Benito Mussolini, which sought ideological and emotional engagement with the Italian populace through youth movements and recreational clubs while suppressing dissent.