Consolidation of Power Flashcards
Why did Mussolini decide to call a general election in 1924?
To provide the PNF with a parliamentary mandate
Why did Mussolini pass the Acerbo Law?
To make it easier to secure a parliamentary majority for himself
What did the Acerbo Law state?
That 2/3 of parliamentary seats would go to the party that wom more than 25% of the vote
What happened with the Acerbo Law?
- PCI and PSI opposed it
- Liberal elites (incl. Giolitti), king and vatican supported it
- Fascist demonstrations threatening took place in Tuscany and Umbria if the bill didn’t pass, Mussolini wore a black shirt to parliament the next day
- Law was passed and an election called for the 6th if April
Describe the events of the 1924 election
- Tainted by violence and intimidation - Blackshirts destroyed hundred of opposition buildings and clubs, murdered PSI candidate Antoni Piccinini
- Several prominant liberals (Orlando and Salandra incl.) ran on the fascist’s ‘National List’
What was the result of the 1924 election?
- Turn out 64%
- Mussolini gained 66.3% of the vote, Acerbo law was redundant
- fascists went from 35 deputies to 275
What were the other reason (beside fascist violence) did Mussolini win the 1924 election?
- Weakness of the opposition, unable to unite against the fascists
- electoral support of prominent liberals
- Belief that Mussolini could provide strong leadership Italy needed
When did Giacomo Matteotti give his speech to parliament?
What was is about?
- 30 May 1924
- PCI (communist) leader spoke out about corruption and violence during election, claimed fascist only won due to violence
- Also claimed to have a large file of fascist party corruption that he was about to make public
What happened to Matteotti after he gave his speech?
- 10 June 1924: kidnapped as he walked towards parliament
* 16th August 1924: found in a shallow grave outside Rome. Stabbed with a carpenter’s file
How was Mussolini tied with Matteotti’s murder?
People witnessed the kidnapping
• Number plate of car he was dragged to belonged to Mussolini’s press secretary, Cesare Rossi
• Leader of the kidnapping was Amerigo Dumini who was head of the Italian terror squad/secret police/cheka (arrested 12th June)
From where did Mussolini face pressure after Matteotti’s murder?
- Established elites - concerned about PM being associated with murder
- PSI, PCI and antifacsit parties - called for his dismissal/fascists to be overthrown
- The ras - saw it to be the start of a violent fascist revolution, with Mussolini stalling
What happened on the 13th June 1924?
100 antifascists left parliament to establish their own on the Aventine Hill outside Rome
What were the consequences of the creation of the Aventine Secession?
- Deputites couldnt agree on what to do, did not threaten Mussolini at all
- Dstroyed hope of parliament winning a vote to dismiss Mussolini
- Gave king excuse to do nothing
Why did the King, The Pope, the army and business/political elites continue to support Mussolini?
Believed him/PNF were the best option with a strong right wing anti-communist government
