First Fascio dei lavoratori founded in Catania (1891)

Giuseppe De Felice Giuffrida founded the first official Fascio dei lavoratori in Catania on May 1, 1891. This event established a key organizational base for the broader Sicilian Workers Leagues movement, which had earlier origins in Messina but remained dormant until this formal establishment in Catania.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. The Fasci Siciliani were a popular movement of democratic and socialist inspiration arising in Sicily between 1889 and 1894. While an earlier Fascio was established in Messina in March 1889, it became dormant after its founder Nicola Petrina was arrested. The movement gained momentum during the first term of Prime Minister Francesco Crispi, characterized by unpopular tax hikes and laws restricting personal freedoms.

Establishment in Catania. Giuseppe De Felice Giuffrida convened the first congress of workers' associations in Sicily in 1890. On May 1, 1891, he founded the first official Fascio dei lavoratori in his hometown of Catania. This event marked the beginning of the movement's real impetus, which later expanded significantly with the establishment of the Fascio of Palermo in June 1892.

Political Context. The founding occurred during a period of political instability, with Antonio Di Rudinì replacing Francesco Crispi as prime minister in February 1891. The movement's growth was influenced by the Italian Workers' Party, founded in Genoa in August 1892, which many Fasci joined. The Catania Fascio served as a foundational node for the broader network of Sicilian leagues.

People involved

Sources

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