Political Legitimacy

Question 1

restoring legitimacy

Answer 1

Fascism achieved greater political legitimacy; respectable liberals who feared socialist threat believed squads restored order.

Question 2

police

Answer 2

Police allowed fascists to attack, sometimes joined.

Question 3

1921 election

Answer 3

May 1921 election: fascists used squads to attack socialist campaign meetings and intimidate voters. Police and army lent vehicles and
weapons to fascists and were treated leniently in court. PSI achieved highest vote, fascists won 7%.
- Election gave Mussolini new respectability and authority in parliament and Mussolini became a deputy and benefitted from immunity to
prosecution.