Points Test Flashcards
How many fascists were in Mussolini’s government following the ‘March on Rome’ and how many roles did M take on himself?
4 fascist in government & M took on 3 roles
Give two reasons why Conservatives & Liberals were prepared to support M’s government & grant M emergency powers
1) He seemed like the only Socialism (left wing)
2) Believed M could be influenced/controlled
How long was M granted emergency powers?
1 year
Which roles did M take on?
Foreign minister, PM, Interior minister
Leading fascists were invited to join which body- hope that it would make them feel important & M could control them
Grand Council of Fascism
What was the legal name of the blackshirts (Mussolini’s private army)
MVSN
When were the blackshirts given their legal name as MVSN?
January 1923
Who were the blackshirts controlled by before control given to ex-army officers?
The Ras
Who had control of the blackshirts after the Ras?
Ex-army officers
Who led the Cheka?
Ameriqo Dumini
Which organisation was led by Ameriqo Dumini and what did it do?
The Cheka
secret personal bodyguard of fascist thugs
purpose- terrorise opponents of M
Which secret society did M attack in an attempt to win over the RCC?
Freemasons
Who were the Freemasons?
The secret society that M attacked in an attempt to win over the RCC
Apart from the attack on the Freemasons, how else did M try to get the support of the Church/Pope?
1) ⬆️ clerical salaries (state grant)
2) ✖️ contraception
3) Introduced religious education in state schools/universities
4) ✖️ certain anti-clerical (against⛪️) publications
Which groups did try to increase the support of?
Church/Pope
What happened to nationalist party in February 1923?
1) Nationalists closed down their organisation (Feb 1923) to join PNF
2) Their paramilitary organisation (‘blueshirts’) merged with the MVSN
When did the Nationalist party collapse?
February 1923
What was the Acerbo Law?
M proposed whichever party won the most votes in an election (provided got- at least 25% of all votes casted) automatically receive 2/3 of seats in Chamber of Deputies- remaining 1/3 allocated to other parties in proportion to number of votes gained.
Why did M introduce the Acerbo Law (benefits)?
M claimed it would produce 💪 government- deal decisively with 🇮🇹 problems- prospect of end to weak, coalition government- popular
Which law allowed that whichever party won the most votes in an election (provided got- at least 25% of all votes casted) automatically receive 2/3 of seats in Chamber of Deputies?
Acerbo Law
How did the fascists do in the 1924 election after the Acerbo Law?
Won 66 % of the vote
Who was the chief suspect of Matteotti’s murder?
M’s press secretary’s PA
Why was Matteotti murdered?
Matteotti (Socialist)- their most prominent spokesman when opposition deputies tried to prove- Fascists acted illegally in April elections (fixed)- produced evidence- use of fascist violence/terror during election campaign & within days of him making these allegations- got abducted- broad daylight by Fascist thugs & stabbed to 💀
When was Matteotti murdered?
June 1924
What was it called when Socialists, Communits & Catholic’s walked out of parliament to set up thier own?
Aventine secession
What was the ‘Aventine secession’ ?
When opposition deputies walked out of parliament to set up their own- thought it would prompt the king to dismiss M
What did M introduce in July 1924 which alienated Italy’s liberals even further?
Censorship
What effect did censorship have on the liberals?
It alienated them even further
Why did M address Parliament on the 3rd January 1925?
M addressed Parliament & took full responsibility for all Fascist actions (including violence) up to this point
M promised- he would provide the Italian people with strong government without the violence/anarchy of the post-war period
When did M address parliament about the murder of Matteotti?
3rd January 1925
When was the ‘Leggi Fascistissime’ passed?
December 1925
Give examples of the laws passed the ‘Leggi Fascistissime’
1) Banned all opposition political parties and organisations 2)Tightened press censorship
3) Set up a new secret police force (OVRA)
4) Set up a special court to try political ‘crimes’ i.e. cases involving anti-fascist activity
What was confino?
When M used his police & courts to round up known opponents, many of whom were then banished to remote parts of the country
What was it called when M used his police & courts to round up known opponents, many of whom were then banished to remote parts of the country?
Confino
Who were the ‘podestas’?
government-appointed officials
Who did the podestas replace?
Elected mayors and councils
What did the podestas allow?
fascist control to be extended to the localities and another voice was silenced
How did M weaken the king’s authority in 1928?
He could no longer choose the PM
When did M weaken the kings personal authority by not allowing him to choose the PM?
1928
Why was Giovanni Gentile replaced as the Minister of education?
He was all about improving education and M was all about school being used for indoctrination
Who was Giovanni Gentile?
Minister of Education
What does ‘Mussolini ha sempre ragione’- mean & where might’ve it been heard?
M is always right
May have been heard in the street
What was the GUF?
Gruppi Universitari Fascisti- University Fascist Groups
What was the name of the Italian youth organisation?
ONB
Who was the Italian youth organisation names after?
Balilla- name associated with revolution and independence
What was the OND?
National afterwork organisation- provided workers with sporting and social opportunities
When was the ONB set up?
3rd April 1926
When was the OND set up?
1925
What sporting victories did the OND take credit for?
World Cup- 1934 & 1938
Boxing victories
What was the role of ‘General Directorate for Cinema’?
Regulated films
Who regulates films?
General Directorate for Cinema
Give an example of a fascist propaganda film and give a brief description of its plot?
Pilot- about Italian pilots
Name 2 places where you might here a fascist radio broadcast
1) In a restaurant
2) In the streets
What was the Minculpop?
Ministry of popular culture
What was the ministry of popular culture also known as?
Minculpop
Name 2 things about M which didn’t appear in newspaper stories etc…
1) Stabbed kid in school
2) Anti-Catholic upbringing
Explain 2 ways in which M linked himself and the regime to Ancient Rome
1) His comparisons of himself to Augustus Caesar in school education
2) Connections of Fascism to the Roman Empire- both great and successful
What organisation were all artists expected to belong to?
Professional Syndicate of Artists
What was the professional syndicate of artists?
The organisation all artists were expected to belong to
Who was encouraged to develop ‘cultural autarky’ & what was it?
Musicians- avoid foreign influences- unique Italian music
How many people were killed by Fascist regime?
2000
What was the name of the Italian secret police?
OVRA
What was OVRA?
The Italian secret police
What high profile event took place in France in 1937?
Assassination of two Italian antifascists, the Rosseli Brothers
When & where were the Roselli brothers murdered?
France- 1937
