Mussolini’s Rise - Acerbo Law and Elections, Matteotti and Dictatorship

Question 1

What did the Acerbo Law propose?

Answer 1

Two-thirds of the parliamentary seats would go to the party that won more than 25% of the vote. Mussolini claimed this would bring stability by guaranteeing a more coherent parliament

Question 2

Who opposed the Acerbo Law?

Answer 2

PCI and PSI

Question 3

Who supported the Acerbo Law?

Answer 3

Elites like Giolitti, the king and the vatican supported it and this put pressure on the PPI to not vote.

Question 4

How did the fascists apply pressure for the bill if the Acerbo Law was not passed?

Answer 4

Staging massive demonstrations in Tuscany and Umbria and threatening violence
Mussolini encouraged this by wearing a black shirt in Parliament

Question 5

With the Acerbo Law passed, when did Mussolini call an election for?

Answer 5

6th April 1924. Fascist black shirts destroyed hundreds of opposition clubs and offices and murdered PSI candidate Antonio Piccinini despite Mussolini’s attempts to suppress violence as he believed he required a legitimate victory to cement power

Question 6

How was the PNF’s electoral victory helped?

Answer 6

Prominent liberals like Orlando and Salandra who were included on the electoral list along fascists.

Question 7

What did the PCI, PSI, PPI and liberals fail to do in regards to the April 1924 election to oppose fascists?

Answer 7

Failed to come to an agreement that could have led to a united opposition against PNF and allies.

Question 8

What was the turnout of the April 1924 elections?

Answer 8

Electoral turnout of 64%. Fascists got 66.3% of the vote making the Acerbo Law irrelevant. Greatest electoral victory since unification and fascist deputies increased from 35 to 275.

Question 9

What was the PNF victory mainly due to?

Answer 9

Weakness of opposition, electoral support of liberal politicians and a belief that Mussolini would be a strong leader

Question 10

How many seats did the PSI, PCI, and PPI hold between them?

Answer 10

80

Question 11

What was the pivotal event that led to the end of parliamentary democracy?

Answer 11

Murder of the PCI leader, Giacomo Matteotti

Question 12

What did Matteotti discuss in his 30 May 1924 speech when parliament reopened?

Answer 12

He denounced the violence and corruption that had taken place during the electoral campaign and he said that fascists only won the elections due to violence and they were going to establish a dictatorship anyways.

Question 13

How did Fascists feel about Matteotti’s Speech?

Answer 13

Embarrassed

Question 14

How did Mussolini feel about Matteotti’s speech?

Answer 14

He was more concerned about the rumours that he has a large file on fascist party corruption and he was going to make it public

Question 15

When was Matteotti kidnapped?

Answer 15

Afternoon of 10th June whilst walking towards parliament.

Question 16

When was Matteotti’s body found?

Answer 16

16th August in a shallow grave outside Rome, two months after being kidnapped.

Question 17

Who did the car that Matteotti was dragged into belong to?

Answer 17

Mussolini’s press secretary, Cesare Rossi

Question 18

Who was the leader of the kidnapping of Matteotti?

Answer 18

Amerigo Dumini who was arrested 12 June. He was the head of a fascist terror squad

Question 19

What pressure on Mussolini did Matteotti’s murder cause?

Answer 19

Old established elite concerned about backing a prime minister associated with murder. PSI, PCI and other anti fascist parties were calling for the dismissal of Mussolini and the overthrow of the fascist government. Pressure from the ras who saw Matteotti’s murder as the first step in a fascist revolution

Question 20

Aventine Secession

Answer 20

13th June 100 anti fascist deputies left parliament claiming it was unconstitutional and established their own parliament and this helped Mussolini decide what to do.

Question 21

What did the Aventine Secession help Mussolini do?

Answer 21

Absence of 100 anti fascist deputies made it easier for him to pass legislation as the AS was hampered by ideological differences and they offered no threat to Mussolini

Question 22

Who did Mussolini hand the positions of interior and justice minister to?

Answer 22

Nationalists, Luigi Federzoni and Alfredo Rocco

Question 23

What was Mussolini met with on 31st December 1924?

Answer 23

Delegation of squad leaders who demanded he act to defend the fascist revolution or he would be removed as leader after he ceased PNF violence in November

Question 24

When did Mussolini announce the establishment of a fascist dictatorship by personal rule?

Answer 24

3rd January 1925

Question 25

What was Mussolini’s new cabinet like as of 12th January?

Answer 25

Without liberals where Mussolini was prime minister and minister to foreign affairs, war, navy and aviation.

Question 26

When and why did Mussolini appoint Farinacci as PNF secretary?

Answer 26

February 1925 to purge the party of radicals who didn’t accept Mussolini’s political direction. He increased fascist membership from 600,000 to 938,000

Question 27

When and why was Tito Zaniboni arrested?

Answer 27

On 4th August 1925, for plotting to assassinate Mussolini and Mussolini banned Zaniboni’s party, Partito socialista unitario (PSU). He introduced a new press law

Question 28

What new law was introduced after the arrest of Zaniboni?

Answer 28

A law that meant all journalism had to be supervised and approved by the state and also one giving the government the power to sack any public employee whose actions were hostile to the PNF

Question 29

What was the title of Prime minister changed to in December 1925?

Answer 29

Head of government and Duce of Facism. The ability of parliament to remove the prime minister through a vote of no confidence was removed

Question 30

When was Mussolini given the ability to rule by decree?

Answer 30

January 1926 allowing him to make decisions without discussion in parliament.

Question 31

What cause the final confirmation of the fascist dictatorship?

Answer 31

an assassination attempt against mussolini on 31st October 1926 and all parties other than PNF banned.

Question 32

How many anti fascists left Italy after a dictatorship was established?

Answer 32

10,000

Question 33

What was Mussolini’s final move in establishing a dictatorship?

Answer 33

Abolish elected local government and replace mayors with podesta which would be appointed by prefects which would be appointed by Mussolini

Question 34

Who replaced Farinacci as PNF secretary in march?

Answer 34

Augusto Turati