Mussolini: Aims and Results of Policies Flashcards
How did Mussolini combat the poor currency? [3]
The battle for lira’ ‘26 tried to restore value to the lira and stop rising prices.
- Aimed to bring the lira down from 150 to 90 lire to the pound.
- Done by artificially revaluing at just above 92 to the pound.
How did Mussolini combat the falling population? [3]
- ‘The battle for births’ ‘27 to increase the population (at 40 mil), enabling Italy to have a large army and industry. - He gave maternity benefits, and encouraged women not to take paid employment.
- Bachelors had to pay extra taxes, and couples with more than 6 children paid none.
How did Mussolini combat food shortages?
- ‘The battle for grain’ ‘25 aimed to get farmers to grow more cereals, to reduce reliance on imports; free from ‘the slavery of foreign bread’
- tariffs were put on imported grains
- More land was made available, and in the north, farms were mechanised.
How did Mussolini combat poverty and lack of land? [2]
- ‘The Battle over the southern problem’ ‘24
- ‘The battle for land’ ‘26 increased farm land by draining marshes eg. Pontine Marshes near Rome.
- Impress foreigners, provide jobs, show gov’ action.
What was the purpose of the Corporations?
The ministry of corporations ‘22, represented workers and employers from the different economic sectors, which made decisions about economic policies in the General Assembly of Corporations.
What was the impact of the Corporations? [2]
Mussolini and the gov’ made most decisions independently.
- The employers were given unfair influence in the corps, as they were usually sided with by Fasc gov’ reps, and workers reps were often selected by the Fasc party.
What was the purpose of the Syndicates?
The confederation of Fascist Syndicates set up in ‘22 and headed by Rossoni replaced trade unions, and were intended to represent workers.
What was the impact of the Syndicates?
However, they had little power, as industrialists refused to make concessions.
- They prevented organised opposition among workers, as strikes were made illegal in Alfred Rocco’s Law ‘26.
What was the result of the Battle for the Lira? [3]
- Harmed the economy - Italian exports made more expensive abroad.
- Caused deflation - gov’ had to cut wages by 20%
- Industries dependant upon imports were boosted, eg. steel.
What was the aim and result of the Battle for Grain? [4]
- Wheat production doubled, and imports fell by 75% 1925-35.
- Italy was almost self sufficient in cereals by 1940.
- Other agricultural sectors, eg. animals and viticulture suffered.
- Increased imports of meat and eggs.
What was the aim and result of the Battle for the Marshes?
- The South was neglected - only 1/4 of land reclaimed was in the South.
- Had a large impact providing jobs, boosting farming.
- New towns Latina and Sabandi created as showpieces to impress foreigners.
- Original propaganda claim to reclaim 1/6th of Italy, 1/120 was accomplished
- Only 80 000 hectares by 1938.
What did Mussolini say about women?
‘women should be exemplary wives and mothers, guardians of the hearth’
What evidence suggests that there was continuity in the lives of women?
- Women kept their traditional importance in agriculture.
- Women could still not vote (allowed temporarily in local elections ‘25)
- Laws passed protected women at work to combine jobs with child-rearing function.
What evidence suggests that there was change in the lives of women? [5]
- Excluded from prestigious teaching posts secondary schools (humanities and languages)
- Female Fascist groups, eg. Fasci Femminili used to spread the policies of male politicians ‘Women into the home’
- Only one female member on the Council of Corporations.
- Restrictions to employment, 10% limit on state jobs.
What does a historian have to say about Mussolini’s policies towards women?
A J Gregor: ‘Fascist anti-feminism was, at best, a subsidiary concern of Fascist social policy’.
