Creating the Fascist Dictatorship 1922-26

Question 1

Why’d the Conservative + Liberal elites accept Mussolini into the government? (2 reasons)

Answer 1

• INFLUENCE + CONTROL him
• Use as WEAPON against SOCIALIST THREAT, then ABSORB once threat NEUTRALISED

Question 2

How many seats does the PNF have in 1922 + what’s Mussolini’s game plan for getting more?

Answer 2

• 35 seats
• Use (NEUTRALISED) Socialist threat + ALLUSION of FASCIST VIOLENCE to gain allies

Question 3

How did Mussolini’s 1922 cabinet reflect his projected image of a deradicalised, respectable + tolerant PM after March on Rome?

Answer 3

• Cabinet contained vast array of different POLITICAL DEMOGRAPHICS
• 3 Fascs,
• 4 LIBS
• 2 PPI (Catholic)
• Navy ADMIRAL, MARSHAL + Philosopher

Question 4

What was the content of Mussolini’s 1922 Emergency Powers speech + how was it threatening?

Answer 4

• Demands RULE BY DECREE for 12 MONTHS to restore order.
• Alludes to weapon of blackshirt violence he wields.
  “ 300,000 YOUNG MEN, fully ARMED… religiously prompt to obey any command of mine.”
  “ I could’ve carried our victory much FURTHER.”

Question 5

What did the Chamber fear in light of Mussolini’s 1922 Emergency Powers speech?

Answer 5

• CIVIL WAR

Question 6

How’d the Fascists use intimidation to influence the Acerbo vote?

Answer 6

• Large DEMONSTRATIONS threatening VIOLENCE
• Mussolini wears BLACK SHIRT in Chamber debate
  (delivering on 22 Emergency Powers speech)

Question 7

What was the Chamber’s response to Mussolini’s 1922 speech?

Answer 7

• APPROVED; massive vote of CONFIDENCE.
• Only opposition = SOCIALISTS + COMMUNISTS

Question 8

What’s Mussolini’s game plan overall during his 1st few years as PM?

Answer 8

• Assert power over:
  NEWCOMERS
  SQUADRISMO
  RAS
• Whilst INCREASING POWER WITHIN STATE as PM

Question 9

What happens to PNF party membership 1922-23? Why?

Answer 9

• Grows 300k - 780k
• Influx of OPPORTUNISTS/CAREERISTS, ANI MERGES 1923

Question 10

What were the benefits of the ANI merging with the PNF in 1923? (3)

Answer 10

• Remove OPPOSITION/rival
• PNF now ONLY Nationalist party in gov
• Expands Fascist INFLUENCE in SOUTH (landowners Fasc)

Question 11

Who was Mussolini’s most severe threat within the PNF from 1922-26?

Answer 11

• LONGEST-SERVING Fascists (OG Ras + Blackshirts)
• CURBS influence + makes CONCESSIONS to control.

Question 12

What was the VOLUNTEER MILITIA FOR NATIONAL SECURITY?

Answer 12

• M’s way of DILUTING + DISPERSING the SQUADS after 1922 March on Rome
• Army of Fascists DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE to M (OATH) populated with MIDDLE-CLASS CAREERISTS

Question 13

What were Mussolini’s goals with the Volunteer Militia? (2)

Answer 13

• Eliminate POWER of regional RAS by making self COMMANDANT GENERAL
• Curb EXTREMIST member excesses

Question 14

Who was the MVSN (Volunteer Militia) funded by + where do they parade?

Answer 14

• PUBLIC money
• Public CEREMONIES, guard BUILDINGS

Question 15

What was the Fascist Grand Council + what were their duties?

Answer 15

• 1922-26 : UNELECTED main body of LOYAL FASCISTS, above CHAMBER . Undermine democracy.
• Gov POLICY
• FOREIGN policy
• When + who of KING’s SUCCESSION (later)
• 1928= official gov body

Question 16

How was the Catholic-Fascist coalition faring in 1923?

Answer 16

• M has 7% vote
• PPI considers LEAVING coalition
• M DISMISSES Catholic ministers, incl PPI LEADER STURZO
• Catholics leaving JEOPARDISES FASC position

Question 17

Why did Mussolini create the Acerbo Law in 1923?

Answer 17

• Needs plan for a PERMANENT FASC PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY
• Remove possibility of an ALTERNATIVE GOV forming

Question 18

What were the contents of the 1923 Acerbo Law?

Answer 18

• Governing party = party with 2/3 SEATS
• Must be over 25% vote

Question 19

How did Mussolini justify the 1923 Acerbo Law to the Chamber of Deputies?

Answer 19

• STABLE gov MAJORITIES vs endless WEAK + UNSTABLE COALITIONS

Question 20

What was the Chamber’s response to the Acerbo Law?

Answer 20

• Little resistance; DISSATISFIED with old minority + trasformismo coalitions
• ORDER RESTORATION: assured it’s TEMPORARY

Question 21

Who was for the 1923 Acerbo Law?

Answer 21

• King
• Vatican
• Liberals (Authoritarian Salandra)
• Fascists + Nationalists

Question 22

In the 1924 elections, what was the National List?

Answer 22

• List of 350 candidates in Fasc gov BLOC, voted in by electorate using PR
• Fascist creation, INVITES other party members to JOIN.

Question 23

Who was invited to join the Fascists’ 1924 election National List? 🇮🇹🌹🤝

Answer 23

• CATHOLICS (PPI) 🪽✝️
• PROMINENT LIBERALS (Salandra, Orlando)💙

Question 24

How did the unsuccessful opposition forces’ strategies differ from the successful 1924 National List?

Answer 24

• Forces DIVIDED, VOTE SPLIT
• PSI
• PCI
• PPI
• Antifa Libs

Question 25

Due to the National List approach, what % of the votes did the PNF gain?

Answer 25

* Inclusion of PROMINENT LIBS (Salandra + Orlando) = 66.3% VOTE

Question 26

How did Liberals facilitate the rise of Fascism with their actions during the 1924 elections? 🤝😘

Answer 26

* Instead of fighting AGAINST Fascists, get on list to MAINTAIN THEIR POWER - Lack of IDEOLOGY: UNPRINCIPLED

Question 27

How’d Mussolini’s Fascisti di Combattimento cow their political opponents in the 1924 elections? 😡🥊🔥🫡

Answer 27

* VIOLENTLY; destroy OFFICES, MURDER PSI’s Piccinini - M tries to alleviate: needs LEGITIMATE ELECTORAL BACKING