Mussolini seizes the initiative: May 1921 to October 1922

Question 1

What did the elections provide Mussolini with?

Answer 1

An air of respectability and a foothold in parliament

Question 2

What was Mussolini’s stance towards liberalism?

Answer 2

He had no wish to be absorbed into it or be a junior partner in a coalition

Question 3

What decision did Mussolini announce regarding Giolitti’s government?

Answer 3

The Fascists would not support Giolitti’s government

Question 4

What was Mussolini’s political strategy?

Answer 4

To demonstrate that liberalism was finished as a political movement

Question 5

What conditions did Mussolini believe would prove liberalism’s failure?

Answer 5

Unstable, short-lived governments unable to maintain law and order or deal with economic problems

Question 6

Who did Mussolini need to convince that fascism could restore order?

Answer 6

The Italian public, particularly industrialists, landowners, and the middle classes

Question 7

What did Mussolini realize was necessary for fascism to gain acceptance?

Answer 7

It must abandon or play down remaining ideas about radicalism

Question 8

Fill in the blank: Mussolini was an extremely _______ politician.

Answer 8

[astute]

Question 9

True or False: Mussolini had a master plan for achieving power.

Answer 9

False

Question 10

What happened to the coalition government formed after the May 1921 elections?

Answer 10

It collapsed within a month.

Question 11

What was the impact of the Popolari’s withdrawal of support?

Answer 11

Without the tacit support of the Popolari, it was virtually impossible for any government to survive.

Question 12

What was the Popolari’s stance towards liberalism?

Answer 12

The Popolari was suspicious of the anticlerical traditions of liberalism and was willing to destroy any government that offended it.

Question 13

What internal issues did the Liberal party face?

Answer 13

The Liberals were divided among themselves, plagued by factions centred on prominent politicians.

Question 14

Who were some notable leaders within the Liberal factions?

Answer 14

Giolitti, Salandra, Facta, and Orlando.

Question 15

What was the state of the Italian governments between May 1921 and October 1922?

Answer 15

They were fragile and unable to introduce decisive measures to cope with industrial disruption and the collapse of law and order.

Question 16

What contributed to the collapse of law and order in Italy?

Answer 16

The progressive collapse owed a great deal to Fascist actions.

Question 17

What actions did the Fascists take in 1921?

Answer 17

Squadrismo continued, with Socialists being attacked and killed.

Question 18

How did Fascist violence extend to the political arena?

Answer 18

Fascist violence even extended to parliament, most notoriously when a Socialist deputy was beaten up on the floor of the chamber.

Question 19

What was Mussolini’s principal concern?

Answer 19

Winning power and becoming dictator of Italy.

Question 20

How did Mussolini view parliament?

Answer 20

He despised parliament.

Question 21

What type of Italy did Mussolini want?

Answer 21

A strong, expansionist Italy.

Question 22

What ideologies did Mussolini hate?

Answer 22

Socialism and democracy.

Question 23

What did fascism lack?

Answer 23

Specific, detailed policies.

Question 24

What did Mussolini’s speeches attempt to persuade?

Answer 24

Conservative classes that they had nothing to fear and much to gain from the victory of fascism.

Question 25

What broad terms did fascism stress?

Answer 25

Patriotism and commitment to strong government.

Question 26

What did Mussolini's speeches focus on after 1921?

Answer 26

What fascism was against, namely socialism and liberalism.

Question 27

What did Mussolini do in 1920 regarding radical ideas?

Answer 27

He began to distance himself from such radical ideas.

Question 28

What was Mussolini's stance on the government's policy towards workers?

Answer 28

He deplored the government's conciliatory policy.

Question 29

What did Mussolini declare fascism to be opposed to?

Answer 29

Divorce.

Question 30

What was Mussolini's attempt in November 1921?

Answer 30

To win over Catholics.

Question 31

Who did Mussolini reassure to gain support?

Answer 31

The Catholic Church and Conservative Italians.

Question 32

What was Mussolini's concern regarding Fascist violence?

Answer 32

Mussolini was concerned that violence directed at Socialists might provoke conservative authorities to crush the Fascists and restore law and order.

Question 33

What danger did Mussolini recognize about Fascist violence?

Answer 33

Mussolini recognized that the increasing Fascist violence was a real danger that could lead to the police and army destroying the Fascists.

Question 34

How did Mussolini manage to calm conservatives while maintaining his movement?

Answer 34

Mussolini used his political skills to calm conservatives while avoiding splits within his party.

Question 35

What dual policy did Mussolini follow regarding Fascist violence?

Answer 35

Mussolini encouraged Fascist squads to continue their violence while disassociating himself from the worst excesses when speaking to conservatives.

Question 36

What did Mussolini imply to conservatives regarding Fascist violence?

Answer 36

He implied that only he could curb the excesses of Fascist violence and suggested that conservatives should accommodate Fascism to avoid conflict.

Question 37

What events occurred in spring 1922 involving Fascist squads?

Answer 37

In spring 1922, Fascist squads rampaged through north-central Italy, attacking Socialist town councils and trade union property.

Question 38

What happened to the town council of Bologna in May 1922?

Answer 38

In May 1922, the town council of Bologna was driven out of office by Fascist squads.

Question 39

What was the police's response to the street fighting during this period?

Answer 39

The police were reluctant to intervene in the street fighting and, in some areas, had even loaned weapons to local Fascists.

Question 40

What did Mussolini suggest to various Liberal factions?

Answer 40

Mussolini stressed Fascist power while suggesting he was not a rabid revolutionary and that he was interested in bringing the Fascists into government.

Question 41

What was the impact of Fascist actions on the conservative middle classes?

Answer 41

Fascist actions impressed the conservative middle classes, helping to portray the Fascists as the sole defenders of law and order.

Question 42

What was the state of the Socialists during the rise of the Fascists?

Answer 42

The Socialists were in disarray as their organization had collapsed.

Question 43

What was the outcome of the general strike called by Socialist trade unions?

Answer 43

The general strike proved a fiasco for the left, being poorly organized and only attracting partial support from workers.

Question 44

What did the Fascists do during the general strike?

Answer 44

Fascists took over the running of public transport and ensured that the postal system continued to function.

Question 45

How did the Fascists respond to the general strike?

Answer 45

The Fascists publicly declared that if the government did not stop the industrial action, they would deal with it themselves.

Question 46

What opportunity did Mussolini see in the general strike?

Answer 46

Mussolini saw the opportunity to demonstrate that the left was still a threat and that Fascism could act against them.