Establishment Of The Fascist Regime

Question 1

Acerbo Law + election victories

Answer 1

Passed in 1923, proposed by Giacomo Acerbo
Largest party with 25%+ vote got 2/3 of parliamentary seats
Secure fascist majority + marginalise opposition
1924 election- fascists won (with violence + intimidation)
Mussolini gained full control of parliament
Legal bias for establishing dictatorship

Question 2

Suppression of opposition parties + press censorship

Answer 2

Began after 1924, especially post- Matteotti crisis
All opposition parties outlawed by 1926
Strict control over newspapers, radio, and publishing
Secret Police, arrests, exile, imprisonment
Goal was to eliminate dissent + control public opinion
The result was one party fascist state under Mussolini

Question 3

Creation of Secret Police (OVRA)

Answer 3

Established in 1927 under Mussolini’s regime
Organizzazione per la Vigilanza la Repressione dell’antifascismo
Purpose was to monitor, intimidate, and eliminate anti-fascist activity
Used methods like surveillance, infiltration, arrests, torture, and exile
Widespread fear + suppression of dissent were the effects
Key tool in maintaining Mussolini’s dictatorship

Question 4

Propaganda + cult of Mussolini (II Duce)

Answer 4

Mussolini promoted as II Duce (the leader)
Regime controlled newspapers, radio, film
Portrayed Mussolini as strong, infallible, father of the nation
Posters, slogans, statutes, and public rituals glorified him
Schools taught fascist ideology + loyalty to Mussolini
Create unity, obedience, and devotion to the regime

Question 5

Changes to the constitution + authoritarian control

Answer 5

Abolished parliamentary democracy + multi-party system
Enabled Mussolini to rule by decree
King reduced to ceremonial, Mussolini held real power
Elections became controlled plebiscites with no genuine competition
Parliament + Judiciary subordinated to fascist control
Establishment of a totalitarian dictatorship under Mussolini