The creation of the fascist dictatorship 1924-8

Question 1

Why was M not a dictator in 1924 despite having control of parliament?

Answer 1

Parliament was still needed to approve laws, opposition parties still existed and the King could still sack his PM

Question 2

What was unclear in 1924?

Answer 2

Whether M would establish a dictatorship and if so how he would do it

Question 3

What would simultaneously threaten M but also pave the way for a fascist dictatorship?

Answer 3

The murder of Matteoti

Question 4

What did opposition MPs do after parliament reopened?

Answer 4

Tried to publicise illegal fascist actions at the polls

Question 5

Who was the most prominent spokesman for this?

Answer 5

Socialist Giancomo Matteoti

Question 6

What did he produce in parliament?

Answer 6

Evidence detailing fascist violence and terror during the election campaign

Question 7

What happened on the 10th Oct 1924, just days after this evidence was given?

Answer 7

Fascist thugs abducted him in broad daylight and stabbed him to death

Question 8

What was the reaction to this in parliament?

Answer 8

It shocked not only M’s political enemies but also many pro M liberals who thought that the fascists had finally gone too far

Question 9

How did M react?

Answer 9

He denied all knowledge of the crime

Question 10

Why was this futile?

Answer 10

Because the chief suspect was the personal assistant to his press secretary and evidence linking him to the murder began appearing in the press

Question 11

What happened as the evidence mounted against M?

Answer 11

Public opinion began to turn against him and crowds protested in the streets

Question 12

What did opposition MPs do in response?

Answer 12

They walked out of parliament and created their own breakaway parliament in a protest against fascist violence. They hoped that this was encourage the King to dismiss Mussolini

Question 13

Why was this called the Aventine secession?

Answer 13

It was named after a similar event in ancient Rome

Question 14

How did M respond to this?

Answer 14

He put more blackshirts on the streets to deter opposition, but also distanced himself from the crime, ordering the arrest of fascist subjects. By appointing a conservative as minister of the interior, he tried to create the impression that he wanted an open and fair investigation into the murder

Question 15

Why does it seem likely that these actions reassured the King?

Answer 15

Because he refused to contemplate M’s dismissal - avoiding reading a report that directly implicated M in the murder

Question 16

Why did he refuse to contemplate dismissing M?

Answer 16

He feared the sacking him would strengthen the revolutionary left and might lead to a civil war. He was encouraged in this belief by leading liberals and conservatives

Question 17

Why did the liberals and conservatives encourage the King to not sack M?

Answer 17

Because they saw the affair not as an opportunity to dispense with M, but rather as a chance to use his weakness to increase their influence over him

Question 18

Which two leading liberals still supported M’s premiership?

Answer 18

Giolitti and Salandra

Question 19

Why did they support?

Answer 19

Because at that moment they thought there was no viable acceptable alternative

Question 20

What did M move to suppress?

Answer 20

Any further opposition

Question 21

What did he introduce in July 1924?

Answer 21

Press censorship

Question 22

What did this mean?

Answer 22

Newspapers were no longer allowed to criticise the government

Question 23

What did he do in August 1924?

Answer 23

Banned meetings by opposition political parties

Question 24

What did not go away despite the government’s efforts?

Answer 24

The controversy raised by the Matteoti crisis

Question 25

How did M receive a blow in Nov 1924?

Answer 25

Those liberal leaders who had supported his government joined the opposition in protest against press censorship

Question 26

What did the leading fascists do in Dec 1924?

Answer 26

Exasperated by the uncertainty created by the crisis and frustrated by the lack of radicalism, they presented M with an ultimatum

Question 27

What was this ultimatum?

Answer 27

If he did not end the Matteoti affair immediately and move decisively towards the establishment of a dictatorship, they would withdraw their support

Question 28

How did M respond?

Answer 28

He bowed to their demands

Question 29

What did he then do on the 3rd January 1925?

Answer 29

Made a speech to parliament in which he accepted responsibilty for all fascist actions up to that point and signalled that he would now take the necessary measures to give himself much greater power

Question 30

How did the chamber react to his speech?

Answer 30

It was cheered

Question 31

Why did M feel comfortable in creating the dictatorship at this time

Answer 31

• He had a clear parliamentary majority
• It was clear the King would not move against him
• What opposition there was in the chamber provided no threat

Question 32

Why was opposition in the chamber of no threat?

Answer 32

It was divided, lacking in leadership and compromised by its earlier support for fascism

Question 33

What did he establish in Jan 1925?

Answer 33

A committee to reform the constitution

Question 34

What was passed in Dec 1925?

Answer 34

the Leggi Fascistissime

Question 35

What were the Leggi Fascistissime?

Answer 35

Fascist laws banning all opposition parties and organisation, this included free TUs

Question 36

What were free TUs?

Answer 36

Those that represent the interests of workers and are independent of government control

Question 37

How did he further suppress any potential opposition?

Answer 37

Press censorship was tightened, a new secret police force was set up and a special court was set up to try political crimes

Question 38

How was fascist control of local government increased?

Answer 38

Elected mayors were replaced with nominated officials

Question 39

What were these nominated officials known as?

Answer 39

Podestas

Question 40

How did M increase his power in Jan 1926?

Answer 40

He was granted the right to issue decrees carrying the full force of law

Question 41

What did this mean?

Answer 41

He could now make laws without consulting parliament, meaning his personal rule was enshrined in law

Question 42

What had happened to parliament by the end of 1926?

Answer 42

It had lost the right to even debate proposed laws or criticise the government

Question 43

When were the final touches to the dictatorship added?

Answer 43

1928

Question 44

Describe these final touches

Answer 44

The King lost the right to select the PM. In future, a list of possible candidates would be drawn up by the Grand Council of Fascism, a body appointed and controlled by M, and the King would have to make his selection from this list