Early days

Question 1

What was Mussolini’s confident declaration upon becoming PM?

Answer 1

‘I am here to stay’

Question 2

How many fascists were in the cabinet when Mussolini became PM?

Answer 2

4

Question 3

How many fascists were there in the chamber of deputies when Mussolini became PM?

Answer 3

35 out of 535 members

Question 4

What proportion of voters actually supported the fascists?

Answer 4

7%, meaning they has to achieve power through threats and violence

Question 5

Why did Mussolini’s government seemed destined to quickly capitualte?

Answer 5

Previous Italian governments has lasted an average of less than two years and Mussolini’s coalition government faced the same problems that previous governments has failed to solve

Question 6

Why can Mussolini be seen as unfit for the role of PM?

Answer 6

He had no detailed programme of policies and little experience of running anything except a newspaper

Question 7

What were Mussolini’s supporters divided between?

Answer 7

Moderates and radicals

Question 8

What were the demands of Mussolini’s radical RAS supporters?

Answer 8

• A fascist revolution
• To smash socialism
• To make fascist syndicates powerful
• A new corporative state
• Assertive foreign policy

Question 9

What were the radicals worried Mussolini would do?

Answer 9

Sell out to the elite

Question 10

List the aims of Mussolini’s elite and moderate supporters

Answer 10

• Normalisation
• Restoration of law and order
• To smash socialism
• To preserve the socio-economic status quo, with powerful employers and weak workers
• Assertive foreign policy

Question 11

What were the moderates and elites worried Mussolini would do?

Answer 11

Give in to the fascist radicals

Question 12

State the radical and moderate options Mussolini had at his disposal where it came to a victory march

Answer 12

• Allow fascist squads a victory march through Rome
• Immediately order the squads to return home

Question 13

State the radical and moderate options Mussolini had at his disposal where it came to parliament

Answer 13

• Abolish parliament
• Alter the electoral system

Question 14

State the radical and moderate options Mussolini had at his disposal where it came to Mussolini’s own power

Answer 14

• Declare himself as all-powerful
• Get parliament to grant him emergency powers

Question 15

State the radical and moderate options Mussolini had at his disposal where it came to political parties

Answer 15

• Ban other parties and create a one party state
• Allow other parties, but use state power against the hostile ones

Question 16

State the radical and moderate options Mussolini had at his disposal where it came to the church

Answer 16

• Seize control of the church
• Appease the catholic church

Question 17

State the radical and moderate options Mussolini had at his disposal where it came to local government

Answer 17

• Strengthen the power of prefects
• Restore and respect local democracy

Question 18

State the radical and moderate options Mussolini had at his disposal where it came to a the King

Answer 18

• Replace him
• Appease him

Question 19

State the radical and moderate options Mussolini had at his disposal where it came to the civil service

Answer 19

• Replace all the top officials with fascists
• Use existing officials

Question 20

State the radical and moderate options Mussolini had at his disposal where it came to the cabinet

Answer 20

• Establish all fascist cabinet
• Keep the existing coalition cabinet

Question 21

State the radical and moderate options Mussolini had at his disposal where it came to the fascist party

Answer 21

• Give fascists top jobs in the state
• Try to tighten control of the fascists

Question 22

State the radical and moderate options Mussolini had at his disposal where it came to the fascist squads

Answer 22

• Allow squads free reign
• Incorporate the many squads into a new state militia

Question 23

State the radical and moderate options Mussolini had at his disposal where it came to trade unions

Answer 23

• Ban free trade unions
• Encourage the development of fascist trade unions

Question 24

State the radical and moderate options Mussolini had at his disposal where it came to industry

Answer 24

• Establish state control
• Reduce government economic regulations

Question 25

State the radical and moderate options Mussolini had at his disposal where it came to opponents

Answer 25

• Threaten to use force against them
• Promise to respect individual liberties

Question 26

State the radical and moderate options Mussolini had at his disposal where it came to a political programme

Answer 26

• Start a radical programme
• Stress reconciliation and a new national awakening

Question 27

How did Mussolini’s first speech to parliament underline the ambiguity in the nature of the new government?

Answer 27

He makes references to legality and intimidation in the same speech