1922-28 Mussolini's Consolidation of Power Flashcards
Why was Mussolini’s position of minister of the interior important?
It gave him control over the police
What did Mussolini use the threat of fascist violence to do?
Intimidate parliament
What did Mussolini try to persuade MPs about granting him dictatorial powers?
- He claimed that they would be acting in their own interest and the interests of Italy itself
- Tried to convince them that the breakdown of law and order was so serious and the threat of socialist revolution so great that extraordinary measures were needed to deal with the situation
What did Mussolini say he would do once the country had been stabilised?
He said he would give up his special powers and return to normal parliamentary rule
Why did the conservatives and liberals support Mussolini’s request for special powers?
- They were mesmerised by the supposed threat from the left
- They genuinely believed the assurances that Mussolini would relinquish power once normality had been restored
What did MPs remain convinced that Mussolini could be transformed into?
A traditional, respectable PM whose movement could be found a place within the regime
How did Mussolini take immediate action to increase his power upon becoming PM?
He demanded parliament give him the right to rule by decree for 12 months. This would allow him to impose new laws without consulting parliament
How did Mussolini justify his demand that he be allowed to rule by decree?
He stated that only a strong government could carry out the stern measures that were required to restore law and order and put the country back on its feet
How did Mussolini fare in his attempt to be given the right to rule by decree?
MPs gave him a massive vote of confidence. Only the socialists and communists opposed the motion, with Giolitti, Salandra and Facta all offering their support
What was the grand council of fascism?
The supreme body within the fascist movement, which discussed policy proposals and made all key appointments within the party
Why did Mussolini create the grand council of fascism?
In order to try and increase his authority within his own party
How did Mussolini use the grand council to increase his power within the fascist party?
He gave himself the right to make all appointments to the grand council
Why did Mussolini encourage fascist violence?
To deter political opponents
How did Mussolini manage to convince conservative businessmen that he wasn’t radical?
By deciding not attack the wirdespread tax evasion
What did Mussolini try to do to gain support from the church?
He intended to ban contraception and make religious education compulsory in state schools
How did Church support prove beneficial for Mussolini?
The Pope began to withdraw support from the Popolari, to the point of instructing its leader, the priest Don Sturzo, to leave Italy. This meant that the Popolari had dropped from the governing coalition by 1923, as it had lost the backing of catholic conservatives. This meant that its political significance was now effectively at an end
List the four key groups that Mussolini gained the support of in his first year as PM, as a result of his reassurances and concessions
- Liberals
- Conservatives
- The church
- Business
Why had the 4 key groups decided to give Mussolini their support?
- Most had convinced themselves that he was a man who could destroy socialism and inject energy and dynamism into Italian politics
- They believed Mussolini could be influenced or perhaps even controlled
- They saw him as a PM who wanted to share power rather than monopolise it for himself
Who put mussolini under pressure to take power?
The ras
What happened on the 24th October 1922
A fascist Congress was held in naples
Who was the march on Rome in tradition of?
Garibaldi
What happened on the 27th October?
- fascist squads prepared to seize public buildings
- 10,000 men assembled 20 miles outside of Rome, ready to march into the city the next day
What did Mussolini proclaim on the eve of the march
‘either the government will be given to us or we shall take it, descending upon Rome. it is now a question of days, perhaps hours
What assuaged mussolinis doubts about the march?
- he felt there was more of a problem if he resisted his most aggressive fascists
- he thought the threat of a fascist march could intimidate the king into appointing him
10,000 squadristi assembled outside of Rome. How many were supposed to be there?
50,000
What was the problem for the squadristi who did manage to meet?
They were in bad shape, poorly armed, drenched by rain, with sinking morale. They did not look like an irresistible force
What had PM Facta historically failed to do that contributes to this issue?
Tackle the fascist threat
What did Facta request of the king?
That martial law be declared, so that the army could take steps to crush the revolt
What does Lyttleton say about victor Emmanuel’s position in dealing with the march on Rome?
‘the only man who could do anything was convinced of his impotence’
What were the factors that influence Emmanuel’s timid response to the march?
- like many other elites, he overestimated the strength of fascism
- his mother and cousin, the Duke of Aosta, sympathised with the movement
- the king feared the fascists might replace him with Aosta
- some of his generals were involved with the fascists
- he was aware of the fact that he could provoke a civil war
At what time did Facta accept the request for martial law to be imposed?
2am
Who replaced Facta after he resigned?
Salandra
Why was salandras premiership a failure?
He failed to gain support and Mussolini refused to join his government
Where has mussolini planned to escape had the march failed
Switzerland
On what day was Mussolini formally asked to form a government?
30/10/1922
What did Mussolini say upon meeting the king?
‘i have come straight from battle, which, fortunately, was won without bloodshed’
How many other fascists were there in the coalition government?
3
What roles did mussolini take up aside from PM?
Foreign and interior minister
What happened after Mussolini was made PM?
50,000 Blackshirts, interspersed by troops, marched Infront of Mussolini and the king
How had the tide already been turning in the fascists’ favour heading into the march?
- They had been gaining control of local government
- Several fascist squads had expelled socialist councils and seized power
What did many local fascists do on the night of the 27 October 1922?
Tries to seize control of government and public buildings with mixed success in the towns of northern and central
What did Giacomo Matteoti do on 30th May 1924?
He gave a 30 minute speech in the chamber of deputies in which he denounced fascist violence and called for an annulment of the 1924 election results
What did Matteoti say as he left the chamber, showing that he was well aware of the likely outcome of opposing the fascists?
‘Now you can prepare my funeral oration’
What happened to Matteoti 11 days after he delivered his speech?
He found his way to the chamber blocked by a gang of ex-squadristi. They bundled him into a car and stabbed him 36 times
What did Matteoti shout as he was being captured?
‘You may kill me, but you will not kill the idea. The workers will bless my dead body’
Who did the car that abducted Matteoti belong to?
Filipelli, a leading fascist
What was the negative impact of the crisis for Mussolini?
He faced a crisis that could topple him from power. There was a widespread belief that he was involved in the murder of his primary political opponent. Fierce criticism came from many sections of the press. Large crowds gathered in the streets to protest. People tore up fascists membership cards. The communists called for a general strike
What question did the crisis raise about the fascist movement?
Was it a terrorist regime whose opponents were at the mercy of fascist thugs, or was it merely a strengthened form of parliamentary government that acted within the law
How did the Matteoti crisis impact Mussolini’s health?
He suffered with depression, which was partially caused by severe ulcers
What did most opposition deputies do?
They walked out of parliament in a move known as the aventine secession, after a group of politicians who has set up a rival assembly on the aventine hills above rome. They met elsewhere and declared themselves the true representatives of the Italian people. They expected the King to dismiss Mussolini
Why was the aventine secession not a major threat to Mussolini?
- His opposition was divided
- King Emmanuel wanted him to take control
- Much of the elite thought that a Mussolini government would be the best option, especially considering the political turmoil would now make Mussolini easier to control
What did fascist leaders want Mussolini to do in response to the M crisis?
They wanted him to take the initiative to abandon the conciliatory approach and set up a full fascist dictatorship
What was Mussolini’s initial policy response to the M crisis?
A policy of repression and concession
What happened to worsen Mussolini’s position on the 27th December?
A newspaper published Rossi’s testimony, which implicated Mussolini in the murder. However, the King refused to act, or even read the report
How was Mussolini under pressure from his own party?
Fascist radicals feared that if Mussolini lost power their chance at a revolution would disappear. The Ras pressured him to act, cultminating in a tense meeting on the 31st December 1924, finally causing Mussolini to take the plunge
What did Mussolini do in his address to the deputies on 3rd January 1925?
He took responsibilty for fascism and said he would set up a dictatorship within 48 hours
What happened in January 1926?
Over 2,000 decrees were issued, and the powers of the government to act against critics were massively extended
What was the name of the new secret police that was established?
The OVRA
What did Mussolini to do quell any potential opposition?
Other parties were banned and elected councils were replaced by appointed officials
What did the government become as Mussolini established his dictatorship?
It transitioned from a ministry into a regime
Why were the ras disappointed with the nature of the dictatorship that had been created
It was a personal one rather than a fascist one
What two factors allowed Mussolini to survive the Matteoti crisis?
- The actions he took
- The limitations of his opponents
define the key dates of mussolinis transition from pm to dictator
1922
oct: mussolini appointed pm
nov: right to rule by decree
dec: creation of the fascist grand council
1923
jan: fascist squads converted into national military
jul: acerbo law changed electoral system garenteeing fascist majority
1024
apr: first general election under acerbo law made fascist majority
jun: muder of mateotti
jul: press censorship introduced
1925
jan: m announced intention for dictatorship
dec: opposition and free trade unions banned
1926
jan: m gained right to make laws without parliament
what were the lateran pacts
made in 1929, a ‘coalition’ made between M, the king and the catholic church to gain their support
