Establishing an Authoritarian State Flashcards

1
Q

administration
what did mussolini create to gain more control over the fascist party?

A

December 15, 1922
fascist grand council

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

administration
what power did the fascist grand council have?

A
  • supreme decision-making body within Fascist Party
  • discuss proposals for government action
  • Mussolini insisted sole power over appointments to his council
  • Mussolini established total control over fascist policy-making
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

administration
how did mussolini change administration in provinces?

A

August, 1925
* 93 provinces
* mayors and councils replaced by appointed fascist officials (podesta)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

administration
why did mussolini appoint podesta to run the provinces?

A
  • many were conservatives
  • mussolini excluded them from real power in the provinces
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

administration
how did mussolini increase personal power within central government?

A

December, 1925
* appointed himself ‘head of government’
* assumed formal power over ministers

January, 1926
* assumed power to issue decrees without parliamentary approval
* King must secure personal approval before appointing new ministers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

administration
how many ministerial posts did mussolini have by 1929?

A

8

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

administration
who did mussolini initially appoint as finance minister and why?

A

Alberto de Stefani
* reduce government control on industry and trade
* cut taxes

  • please industrialists, boosting support amongst conservative elites
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

military / use of force
how did the squadristi aid in Mussolini establishing power?

A
  • first formed in 1919
  • paramilitary organisation
  • attacked political opponents and strikes to intimidate and control population
  • provided security at fascist rallies
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

military / use of force
what was the msvn?

A
  • January, 1923
  • National Security Guards (MSVN)
  • fascist squads form government-funded national militia
  • swore oath to mussolini, not the king
  • break strikes and force workers to return to their jobs, intimidate and attack political opponents
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

military / use of force
what was the impact of forming a militia?

A
  • Mussolini had control over** 30 000** men which could be used against anti-fascists
  • reduced power of the provincial ras
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

political
what was acerbo law?

A
  • **new electoral law **
  • established july, 1923
  • gave party with most votes 2/3 of parliament seats
  • percentage had to be no less than 25% of votes cast
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

political
how did acerbo law benefit mussolini?

A
  • claimed to give italy strong stable government
  • give fascists total, but legally acquired control over italian politics
  • little chance to vote fascists out of office
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

political
how did mussolini ensure acerbo law was passed?

A
  • threatened to abolish parliament
  • placed armed guards on the doors to intimidate deputies
  • liberal leaders advised supporters to approve the law **
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

political
how did fascists perform in the 1924 election, and thus benefited from acerbo law?

A
  • fascists win 65% of votes
  • group ‘Ceka’ unleashed wave of terror against anti-fascists
  • voting certificates seized
  • fascists voted on behalf of dead people
  • -ballot boxes where fascists expected defeat stolen
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

political
how did mussolini gain political support from the vatican?

A
  • renounced atheism
  • made religious education compulsory
  • banned contraception
  • punished swearing in public
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

political
how did mussolini gain political support from the vatican and why?

A
  • renounced atheism
  • made religious education compulsory
  • banned contraception
  • punished swearing in public

reduce political power of the popolari party

17
Q

political
how effective was mussolini in gaining support from the vatican?

A

Pope Pius XI, a fascist sympathiser, signalled willingness to withdraw support for the Popolari

18
Q

political
what occurred in april, 1923?

A
  • Mussolini sacked all Popolari ministers from his government
  • claimed they refused to give full support
19
Q

political
What happened to the popolari party by the summer of 1923?

A

Support from conservative Catholics declined, and party had lost most of its political importance