Chapter 4 - Mussolini becomes dictator 1922-8

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What did Mussolini know once he became PM
gov cant yet be completely fascist, no majority yet and king (who controlled army etc) would not let him do his way w government
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Describe mussolinis first coalition gov
4/14 fascists, majority liberals and popolari which reassured liberals socialists were being crushed
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What positions did mussolini give himself
minister of the interior and minister of foreign affairs - therefore increasing his power
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What did he try to persuade MPs
socialist threat (revolution) was so serious extraordinary measures were needed, argued he would give up his special powers once condition of the country stabilised
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What did Mps believe until 1924
mussolini could be transformed into a traditional PM but by then it was too late as a dictatorship had already been established
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Explain the rule by decree
emergency powers for 12 months allowing M to create new laws wo consulting parliament - supported by liberals, opposed by socialists and communists
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When was the grand council of fascism established
Decembe 1922 - gave himself right to give all appointments - increased control over party
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What was the national milita
gave squads legal status, reduced provincial fascist leader power, M now effectively had a private army of over 30k men to use to intimidate opponents
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How did he gain the support of the confindustria (employers organisation) 1923
decided not to attack widespread tax evasion or raise taxes significantly on the better off
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How did he gain support from the church in 1923
agreed to ban contraception and make religious education compulsory in state schools - as a result the pope withdrew from the coalition and so PPI lost backing of conservative catholics so v successful
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What was the acerbo law
M's idea, said that whoever got majority should get 2/3 of all chamber seats - said this would prevent there from being weak coalitions which brought italy down in the past BUT normality restored once circumstances permitted
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What would the acerbo law mean for fascists
that they would get the majority meaning that once they had this it would be virtually impossible to vote them out of power
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What was the opinion on the acerbo law
huge majority when debated 1923, some mps thought it was needed to repress the left/ a break from coalition governments
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What was the election of 1924 like now that the acerbo law was in place
Fascists 66%, 374 seats, widespread blackshirt violence and ballot rigging had contributed though + 2.5mil voters still for socialists and communists (especially no fascist majorities in milan or turin)
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What did the Matteoti crisis (death of socialist trying to publicise fascist violence, June 1924) mean for M?
He denied all knowledge of the crime but evidence against him in press caused public opinion to turn against him
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What was the aventine seccession
opposition MPs walked out of parliament in protest of fascist violence hoping this was persuade the king to sack Mussolini
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How did Mussolini create the impression he wanted a fair investigation
put more blackshirts on the street to deter opposition but distanced himself by arresting fascist suspects, appointed a conservative as minister of the interior in charge of the police in his place
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Did this work
YES - Aventine seccession a complete failure and king avoided reading a report which directly implicated Mussolini in the murder (chief suspect M press secretary assistant) - King feared sacking him = civil war
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What was the liberal view of the Matteotti crisis?
saw as an oppurtunity to increase influence over M as he was weakened (Giolitti and Salandra), no viable alternative to him at this point
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When was press censorship introduced
July 1924
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what happened the following month
banned meetings by opposition political parties
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What was the ultimatum presented to M by the fascists, december 1924?
If he did not end the Matteotti affair immediately and move toward a dictatorship they would remove their support
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What did Mussolini tell parliament on Jan 3rd?
He accepted responsibility for all fascist crimes up until that date. He was cheered in the chamber
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What was formed in january 1925
a committee to reform the constitution
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What was the leggi fascistissime, december 1925?
fascist laws which banned all opposition parties and organisations, and free trade unions
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January 1926?
M granted the right to issue decrees carrying the full force of the law - could now make laws wo parliament. Fascist control of local gov increased by replacing elected mayors with nominated officials = podestas
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Final touches in 1928 included...
King lost the right to select the PM, instead a list would be drawn up by the Grand Council of Fascism from which the King would have to select someone
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Describe mussolinis first coalition gov

Back

4/14 fascists, majority liberals and popolari which reassured liberals socialists were being crushed

Card 3

Front

What positions did mussolini give himself

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What did he try to persuade MPs

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What did Mps believe until 1924

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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