Mussolini: Domestic Policies Flashcards
Battle for the Grain
Goals/Problem
An economic campaign started in 1925. Italy’s agricultural industry was **backwards and traditional, **along with it relying on many imports. Mussolini aimed for the Southern and rural areas to grow mainly grain (wheat) to feed its own people (Self sufficiency: Autarky), especially after the high unemployment rates of war.
*
*“Freeing Italy from the slavery of foreign land.”
Battle for Grain
Solutions
Imposing more import control: increase tarrifs of foreign imports. Modernization of farming process: farmers were funded (grants) new industrial equipment that were more effecient than the traditional ways. (Fertilizers + Tractors for wheat).
Rewarded and featured most productive farmers through publicity and newspaper, letting them represent the backbone of Italy’s grain.
Battle for Grain
Stats and Impacts
- Reduced imports by 75% (1923-38)
- Grain Production increase, nearly doubling : 4.5 mil tonnes –> 8.2 million tonnes (1923-38)
HOWEVER: Farmland/soil in the Southern areas were unsuitable for growing grain (olive oil, fruits, wine). Damaged the farming output and the decline in chief exports - Multiple food shortages, where diverse products were expensive for the consumer. An average household would have to pay 400 extra lira per year in food cost
- Number of Cattle reduced by 20%
- Lead to discontent with majority of citizens, in which Mussolini addressed by lifiting its tarrifs and spending more in imports.
Battle for Births
Goal/aim + Date
Launched in 1927, Mussolini aimed for an increase Italy’s population
View: To help create a large future empire that would help expand Italy’s empire
Aimed 40 million (1927) –> 60 million by 1950
Battle of Births
Solution
Prompted women not to work, along with encouragement to withold as many children as possible
* Benefits given to couples with children: Married fathers given more employment jobs than single men
* Maternity Benefits for women who birthed six.
* Heavy Taxations on those with no kids, while couples with 6 or more kids paid none
