Why did some anarchists turn from rural uprisings to attacks on political leaders?

The shift from rural uprisings to attacks on political leaders was a strategic evolution driven by the failure of earlier insurrectionary efforts. Initially, Italian anarchists engaged in rural insurrections intended to mobilize the illiterate masses of the countryside. When these attempts failed to achieve their goals, anarchist activism transitioned toward the doctrine of "propaganda of the deed."

Under this doctrine, individual protesters carried out acts of terrorism by targeting ruling figures. These symbolic murders were intended to demonstrate the vulnerability of the state and to inspire the public through the self-sacrifice of the perpetrators. Between 1890 and 1901, this strategy resulted in the assassinations of several high-profile leaders, including King Umberto I of Italy, President Sadi Carnot of France, and President William McKinley of the United States. While these acts were meant to serve as a catalyst for social change, they ultimately fostered a public perception of anarchists as mindless destroyers and invited increased state repression.12