Mussolini: Aims and Results of Policies Flashcards
(39 cards)
How did Mussolini combat the poor currency? [3]
The battle for lira’ ‘26 tried to restore value to the lira and stop rising prices.
- Aimed to bring the lira down from 150 to 90 lire to the pound.
- Done by artificially revaluing at just above 92 to the pound.
How did Mussolini combat the falling population? [3]
- ‘The battle for births’ ‘27 to increase the population (at 40 mil), enabling Italy to have a large army and industry. - He gave maternity benefits, and encouraged women not to take paid employment.
- Bachelors had to pay extra taxes, and couples with more than 6 children paid none.
How did Mussolini combat food shortages?
- ‘The battle for grain’ ‘25 aimed to get farmers to grow more cereals, to reduce reliance on imports; free from ‘the slavery of foreign bread’
- tariffs were put on imported grains
- More land was made available, and in the north, farms were mechanised.
How did Mussolini combat poverty and lack of land? [2]
- ‘The Battle over the southern problem’ ‘24
- ‘The battle for land’ ‘26 increased farm land by draining marshes eg. Pontine Marshes near Rome.
- Impress foreigners, provide jobs, show gov’ action.
What was the purpose of the Corporations?
The ministry of corporations ‘22, represented workers and employers from the different economic sectors, which made decisions about economic policies in the General Assembly of Corporations.
What was the impact of the Corporations? [2]
Mussolini and the gov’ made most decisions independently.
- The employers were given unfair influence in the corps, as they were usually sided with by Fasc gov’ reps, and workers reps were often selected by the Fasc party.
What was the purpose of the Syndicates?
The confederation of Fascist Syndicates set up in ‘22 and headed by Rossoni replaced trade unions, and were intended to represent workers.
What was the impact of the Syndicates?
However, they had little power, as industrialists refused to make concessions.
- They prevented organised opposition among workers, as strikes were made illegal in Alfred Rocco’s Law ‘26.
What was the result of the Battle for the Lira? [3]
- Harmed the economy - Italian exports made more expensive abroad.
- Caused deflation - gov’ had to cut wages by 20%
- Industries dependant upon imports were boosted, eg. steel.
What was the aim and result of the Battle for Grain? [4]
- Wheat production doubled, and imports fell by 75% 1925-35.
- Italy was almost self sufficient in cereals by 1940.
- Other agricultural sectors, eg. animals and viticulture suffered.
- Increased imports of meat and eggs.
What was the aim and result of the Battle for the Marshes?
- The South was neglected - only 1/4 of land reclaimed was in the South.
- Had a large impact providing jobs, boosting farming.
- New towns Latina and Sabandi created as showpieces to impress foreigners.
- Original propaganda claim to reclaim 1/6th of Italy, 1/120 was accomplished
- Only 80 000 hectares by 1938.
What did Mussolini say about women?
‘women should be exemplary wives and mothers, guardians of the hearth’
What evidence suggests that there was continuity in the lives of women?
- Women kept their traditional importance in agriculture.
- Women could still not vote (allowed temporarily in local elections ‘25)
- Laws passed protected women at work to combine jobs with child-rearing function.
What evidence suggests that there was change in the lives of women? [5]
- Excluded from prestigious teaching posts secondary schools (humanities and languages)
- Female Fascist groups, eg. Fasci Femminili used to spread the policies of male politicians ‘Women into the home’
- Only one female member on the Council of Corporations.
- Restrictions to employment, 10% limit on state jobs.
What does a historian have to say about Mussolini’s policies towards women?
A J Gregor: ‘Fascist anti-feminism was, at best, a subsidiary concern of Fascist social policy’.
What were the Lateran agreements?
(1929) Mussolini accepted papal sovereignty over Vatican City, the Pope formally recognized the Italian state with the inclusion of former papal states.
Overall, the settlement of territorial disputes ended the conflict between the state and the church, existing since 1870.
Did Mussolini have control over the Church? Give evidence.
He never had complete control over the Church.
The Church supported many Fascist policies - Abyssinian invasion and Spanish Civ war, but opposed other policies. Eg. Pope publically criticized Fasc interference in education and family.
What are some examples of racist Fascist policies?
The Charter of Race 1938 was signed after pressure from Hitler. Anti-Semitic laws banned Jewish teachers & students from state schools, prevented marriage between Jews and non-Jews.
What was the Fascist position with regards to racist policies?
Before the Rome-berlin axis ‘36, M dismissed anti-Semitism as unscientific.
Fully implemented in ‘43, laws drew strong criticism from the Pope and some senior Fascists.
How did economic factors/ambitions influence Foreign Policy? [3]
- Autarky - Italy had limited raw resources and could get them through expansion.
- Failure of battles to strengthen economy limited M in being able to have an assertive foreign policy.
- Foreign policy designed to increase public support/ provide distraction from domestic issues.
What were Mussolini’s foreign policy aims? [4]
- To increase national pride
- To dominate the Balkans and the Mediterranean
- To revise the TOV
- To build an Empire for living space.
How did Mussolini carry out his ambitions in the Balkans? [2]
- Increased national pride by successfully invading the Greek island of Corfu ‘23 - Corfuans had to pay 50 million lire as compensation when later forced to withdraw by Britain.
- Took control of Fiume in the Pact of Rome ‘24 - again, national pride.
What were Mussolini’s relations with Western European Powers? (+Africa) [3]
- He supported independence movements against French control in Morocco and Tunisia.
- He played a key role at Locarno treaties revising the TOV, although the Italian-Austrian border was not included.
What were Mussolini’s relations with the USSR?
Increasing trade agreements from 1921 & fostering better relations consolidated domestic support and appeased more liberal Fascists / socialists.
