The Fascist State, 1925-40

Question 1

What were Mussolini’s view towards the Catholic Church before the First World War?

Answer 1

Anti-clerical / anti-Catholic

Question 2

How would you describe Mussolini’s relationship with the Catholic Church during his time as Prime Minister of Italy?

Answer 2

A compromise

Question 3

Why did Mussolini realise he needed to compromise with the Catholic Church?

Answer 3

In order to secure support, and strengthen the Fascists’ position.

Question 4

Why was Mussolini helped by the death of Pope Benedict XV?2

Answer 4

His successor, Pope Pius XI, was more concerned with the Communist threat → he was happy to support Mussolini because he saw the Fascists as able to defend Italy from the threat of the Left.

Question 5

What early policies did Mussolini introduce to win the support of the Catholic Church?

Answer 5

Religious introduction was reintroduced into state secondary schools

Crucifixes were restored to public buildings

Priests had an increase in their pay

Question 6

What evidence is there that the Catholic Church supported Mussolini in his first few years as Prime Minister?

Answer 6

Pope Pius XI backed Mussolini during the Matteotti crisis.

Question 7

What agreement was signed in between Mussolini and the Catholic Church after three years of negotiations?

Answer 7

The Lateran Pacts

Question 8

When were the Lateran Pacts signed?

Answer 8

11 February 1929

Question 9

What conflict, on-going since 1871, did the Lateran Pacts officially end?

Answer 9

The conflict between Church and state (the ‘Roman Question’): the Catholic Church refused to recognise the Italian state, as the Pope had lost power over the Papal States (Rome, and the surrounding area).

Question 10

What did the Catholic Church get under the terms of the Lateran Pacts?

Answer 10

1. Control over Vatican City (part of Rome) – this area was independent from the Italian state.
2. Compensation of £30 million for surrendering their claim to Rome.
3. The state would pay the salaries of the clergy (priests etc.).
4. Religious education would be compulsory in state schools.
5. No divorce without the consent of the Church.
6. Catholic youth groups were allowed to continue.

Question 11

What did Mussolini get under the terms of the Lateran Pacts?

Answer 11

The Pope agreed to recognise the Italian state and its possession of Rome.

Catholic youth groups were not allowed to carry out political activities.

Question 12

Why did the Catholic Church see the Lateran Pacts as a success?

Answer 12

They had independent power over some territory (Vatican City).

They had extended their role and influence throughout Italian life e.g. religious education was compulsory; Catholic youth groups.

Question 13

Why did Mussolini see the Lateran Pacts as a success?

Answer 13

His personal prestige and popularity increased; he was admired by the Italian people for bringing an end to the Roman question.

He won the support of the Catholic Church (e.g. plebiscite of March 1929).

They brought Mussolini prestige overseas (as the Catholic Church had a global reach).

Question 14

How does the existence of Catholic Action (youth groups) show that tension still existed between the Church and state?

Answer 14

They provided a rival to Fascism’s own youth and leisure organisations → hampered Mussolini’s drive to create a regimented Fascist nation → closed down in 1931.

Question 15

How many members did Catholic Action have by 1939?

Answer 15

380,000

Question 16

What agreement did Mussolini negotiate with Catholic Action

Answer 16

Catholic Action groups could operate, but they were limited to recreation and religious education only.

Question 17

What did the Catholic Church do during the plebiscite of March 1929?

Answer 17

Mobilised Catholics to vote for the Fascists, which contributed to 98% of voters approving the Fascist list of candidates.

Question 18

What did the Pope do in 1931?

Answer 18

Issued a papal encyclical (‘We have no need’) – condemned the regime’s ‘pagan worship’ of the state and its attempt to steal children from Christ so they worshipped the state alone → declared Catholicism and Fascism as incompatible.

Question 19

How did Radio Vatican resist Fascism’s claims to control every aspect of life?

Answer 19

Broadcast alternative news and information.

Question 20

What did Mussolini and Pope Pius XI do in February 1932?

Answer 20

Confirmed their mutual views on society and gender values, and their agreement on foreign policy towards the Soviet Union and communism.

Question 21

Why did tension arise between ther Catholic Church and Fascism in 1938?

Answer 21

The Catholic Church became concerned with Mussolini’s growing attacks on Italy’s Jewish population and his adoption of anti-Semitic legislation.

Question 22

How did Mussolini’s relationship with the Catholic Church contribute to his control of the population?

Answer 22

1. The Lateran Pacts → Catholic Church recognised (and supported) the Fascist state → Mussolini won the support of much of the Catholic population.
2. Catholic Church encouraged Catholics to vote for the Fascists in the plebiscite of March 1929 → contributed to Mussolini’s overwhelming approval in the plebiscite.
3. Catholic Action agreed not to carry out political activities → Mussolini faced no rival in his political education of Italy’s youth.

Question 23

What was the name of Mussolini’s economic policy intended to solve class conflict in the workplace?

Answer 23

The Corporate State

Question 24

What did the Rocco Law of April 1926 state?

Answer 24

Strikes were banned
BUT syndicates (groups combining representatives of employers and employees) were given some rights to operate and represent views and concerns of employers and employees

Question 25

When was the Ministry of Corporations set up?

Answer 25

July 1926

Question 26

What was the aim of the Ministry of Corporations?

Answer 26

To create mixed unions of workers and employers, who would discuss and implements national economic planning that pleased both workers and employers.

Question 27

What could corporations do in theory?

Answer 27

Fix the price of goods
Settle disputes (e.g. over working hours, wages, working conditions)
Advise the government
Regulate apprenticeships

Question 28

What was introduced in 1927?

Answer 28

The ‘Charter of Labour’ – this, in theory, guaranteed workers’ rights in employment and welfare.

Question 29

Why does the ‘Charter of Labour’ suggest that Mussolini wasn’t really interested in protecting the rights and interests of workers?

Answer 29

It was never followed through.

Question 30

Who actually represented each side in the corporations?

Answer 30

Employers chose their own representatives
Workers were not represented by workers, but by Fascist officials approved by Mussolini (who was Minister of Corporations)

Question 31

Why did workers have little say in labour disputes?

Answer 31

The Fascist officials who represented the workers usually supported the business and factory workers (rather than the workers), because the business and factory owners gave support to the Italian government.

Question 32

What example is there that workers did benefit from the Corporations?

Answer 32

Workers won the right to sick pay.

Paid national holidays were introduced in 1938.

Question 33

How did the Corporate State help give Mussolini control over the economy?

Answer 33

Any plans put forward by the corporations had to be approved by the Central Corporative Committee headed by Mussolini, who alone could decide what became law.

Question 34

Why did the Corporate State provide good propaganda for Mussolini?

Answer 34

Mussolini claimed he had overcome the problems of class conflict and had constructed a ‘third way’ between capitalism and communism.

The Corporate State was studied by political and economic scientists from across the world, who praised this new and original economic system.

Question 35

Why was The Corporate State a success for Mussolini?

Answer 35

1. The Fascist officials who represented the workers usually supported the business and factory workers (rather than the workers) in any disputes → contributed to industrialists supporting Mussolini and the Fascist regime.
2. Provided Mussolini with excellent propaganda, both in Italy and abroad.
3. Strikes were generally avoided → contributed to the belief that Mussolini had saved Italy from socialist revolution.

Question 36

Why was The Corporate State not a success?

Answer 36

1. Workers’ rights were not protected or represented → contributed to a decline in living standards during the Fascist period.
2. Conflict between employer and employee was not solved, only suppressed.
3. The system was inefficient, with a vast, complex and expensive bureaucracy that never achieved its stated aims.
4. There was corruption, such as the building of mock factories to secure subsidies.