The impact of policy on Mussolini's popularity Flashcards
How did employment policy increase Mussolini’s popularity?
- There were over half a million small shops in the 1930s
- Growing state bureaucracy and the expansion of teaching profession led to more jobs for the middle classes
- There was a new national grid
- Increased industrial jobs in the north created greater prosperity
What were the shortcomings of Mussolini’s employment policy?
- They didn’t solve the north south divide
- Electricity was three times more expensive for those in the south
How did welfare organisations increase Mussolini’s popularity?
- Nearly half of the population was involved in one by 1940
- Promoted total loyalty to the duce and met social needs
- Provided opportunities to be involved in voluntary work and paid employment
- Effective distraction to stop people becoming politically engaged
What was the major shortcoming of Mussolini’s welfare organisations?
They were imposed from the top down and gave no opportunity for the people to voice their concerns to the party
How did early education policy increase Mussolini’s popularity?
- There was an increased emphasis on teaching Italian history and culture - which was done with a fascist slant
- Suited the middle classes as education prepared their children for stable jobs within the state bureaucracy
- Mussolini allowed church schools to still exist to appease the church
What were the shortcomings of Mussolini’s early education policy?
- The conservative approach disappointed some of the fascists who wanted revolutionary change
- Primary education was neglected
- The need to maintain the existence of church schools prevented the creation of a completely fascist education system
How did youth organisations increase Mussolini’s popularity?
- The Italian youth movement and the fascist student union had over 8 million members by the late 1930s
- All the different bodies put together gave the fascists control over children between the ages of 6 and 26
- The youth movement was directed by the ministry of national education, who emphasised sport, gymnastics and military drilling
- Warlike and patriotic images were emphasised
- Their motto was ‘believe, obey, fight’
How did the treatment of women in fascist Italy increase Mussolini’s popularity?
- They were there to be a symbol of moral virtue and stay in the home under the authority of their husband
- They sacked most women from important roles
- Discouraged from taking up secondary and university education
What was the major shortcoming of Mussolini’s policy on women?
Despite Mussolini’s efforts, the number of women in university and secondary education actually increased
How did women’s organisations increase Mussolini’s popularity?
- Gave over half a million members a chance to engage with the state
- Directed women into neighbourhood welfare work and domestic duties
- Useful in distributing propaganda even if they weren’t allowed to engage in politics
- Young women enjoyed greater social freedom as they were able to take part in things like sports
What were the shortcomings of women’s organisations?
The fascist never managed to achieve their goals for women, female employment hardly fell. This showed that the fascist regime had limited ability to counter the internal convictions of the Italian people
What were relations between church and state governed by?
The 1929 Lateran Pact, which ended the conflict that had existed between church and state since Italian unification
How did the 1929 Lateran Pact improve the relationship between state and church?
- Set up the Vatican City as an independent state within Rome, with the pope as head of state
- The church was compensated with 750 million lire and 1 billion lire in state bonds in compensation for the land it had lost during unification
- Catholicism was accepted as the state religion and the church was recognised as a body in its own right separate to the Italian state
Why was the Lateran Pact such a success for Mussolini?
- It ended sixty years of animosity between church and state
- Italians were happy as they could now be loyal to both the church and state
- Meant that Italians could be unquestioningly loyal to the church and state without any qualms
- The church agreed to limit themselves to religious activities; giving the fascists a monopoly over youth groups
How did Mussolini try to foster a greater link between the state and the people?
Through the provision of leisure activities via the dopolavaro
