Consolidation of Power

Question 1

What did Mussolini do in 1922 to appease ruling elites and reassure industrialists?

Answer 1

Appoint De’Stefanni as finance minister (orthodox economist).

Question 2

How did Mussolini appease the Catholic Church?

Answer 2

Increased clerical pay, put crucifixes in schools and had 2 PPI members in his cabinet.

Question 3

When was the ANI absorbed into the PNF?

Answer 3

28th October 1922

Question 4

How was Mussolini’s cabinet made up?

Answer 4

4 Liberals, 4 Fascists, 2 PPI members, 2 members of the army and 1 ANI member.

Question 5

When was the Acerbo Law passed?

Answer 5

November 1923

Question 6

What was the Acerbo Law?

Answer 6

Set out that the largest party (which got at least 25%) would get 2/3 of seats in the Chamber of Deputies.

Question 7

In elections in April 1924, what percentage of seats did the PNF get?

Answer 7

66.3% (Acerbo Law wasn’t necessary).

Question 8

When did Mussolini set up the Fascist Grand Council?

Answer 8

December 1922

Question 9

When did the Fascist Grand Council set up the MVSN?

Answer 9

January 1923

Question 11

When did PSU leader Matteotti give an impassioned speech about violence and corruption during the 1924 election?

Answer 11

30th May 1924

Question 12

When was Matteotti kidnapped ?

Answer 12

10th June 1924

Question 13

Why was the kidnapping of Matteotti traced to Mussolini?

Answer 13

It was done in broad daylight and the car belonged to his press secretary.

Question 14

Who called for Mussolini’s dismissal?

Answer 14

Some liberals incl. Salandra, PSI, and PCI.

Question 15

When was the Aventine Succesion and how many deputies left?

Answer 15

13th June 1924, 100 deputies.

Question 16

How did Mussolini reassure elites after the Matteotti Crisis?

Answer 16

He made Federoni interior minister and Rocco foreign minister. He also sacked De Bono and Rossi who had been implicated in Matteotti’s murder.

Question 17

When did Mussolini announce his personal dictatorship?

Answer 17

3rd Jan. 1925

Question 18

Who did Mussolini appoint as party secretary in Feb. 1925?

Answer 18

Farrancci

Question 19

What did Farrancci do?

Answer 19

He diluted the power of the squads, increased party membership to 938,000 and purged the party of those who didn’t agree with Mussolini.

Question 20

What did Mussolini do after Zaniboni was arrested for attempting to assainate him in August 1925?

Answer 20

The Press Law - a press would be supervised by the state), sacked public employees who didn’t support the PNF and banned the PSU.

Question 21

When was the Palazzo-Vidoni Pact which meant that Fascist Unions became the sole representation for workers?

Answer 21

2nd October 1925

Question 22

When were all the Squadrisiti absorbed into the MVSN?

Answer 22

October 1925

Question 23

What did Mussolini call himself from Dec. 1925?

Answer 23

Head of Government and Duce of Fascism

Question 24

What power was Mussolini given in January 1926?

Answer 24

Rule by decree

Question 25

Following an assaination attempt what did Mussolini do in Oct. 1926?

Answer 25

Banned all political parties bar the PNF.

Question 26

What did Mussolini set up to prosecute anti-fascists?

Answer 26

Special Tribunals for the Defence of the State with no right to appeal.

Question 27

What were mayors replaced with?

Answer 27

Podestas appointed by prefect who were themselves appointed by the government.

Question 28

Who would take precedence in a conflict between prefects and ras?

Answer 28

Prefects