Mussolini's increasing power 1922-24

Question 1

Why was Mussolini’s position of minister of the interior important?

Answer 1

It gave him control over the police

Question 2

What was Mussolini determined not to lose?

Answer 2

The momentum built up by the march on Rome

Question 3

What did Mussolini use the threat of fascist violence to do?

Answer 3

Intimidate parliament

Question 4

What did Mussolini try to persuade MPs about granting him dictatorial powers?

Answer 4

• He claimed that they would be acting in their own interest and the interests of Italy itself
• Tried to convince them that the breakdown of law and order was so serious and the threat of socialist revolution so great that extraordinary measures were needed to deal with the situation

Question 5

What did Mussolini say he would do once the country had been stabilised?

Answer 5

He said he would give up his special powers and return to normal parliamentary rule

Question 6

Why can Mussolini’s claims be seen as an exaggeration?

Answer 6

• The socialist threat was incidental
• The collapse of law and order was largely the result of fascist violence

Question 7

Why did the conservatives and liberals support Mussolini’s request for special powers?

Answer 7

• They were mesmerised by the supposed threat from the left
• They genuinely believed the assurances that Mussolini would relinquish power once normality had been restored

Question 8

What did MPs remain convinced that Mussolini could be transformed into?

Answer 8

A traditional, respectable PM whose movement could be found a place within the regime

Question 9

How did Mussolini take immediate action to increase his power upon becoming PM?

Answer 9

He demanded parliament give him the right to rule by decree for 12 months. This would allow him to impose new laws without consulting parliament

Question 10

How did Mussolini justify his demand that he be allowed to rule by decree?

Answer 10

He stated that only a strong government could carry out the stern measures that were required to restore law and order and put the country back on its feet

Question 11

How did Mussolini fare in his attempt to be given the right to rule by decree?

Answer 11

MPs gave him a massive vote of confidence. Only the socialists and communists opposed the motion, with Giolitti, Salandra and Facta all offering their support

Question 12

What was the grand council of fascism?

Answer 12

The supreme body within the fascist movement, which discussed policy proposals and made all key appointments within the party

Question 13

Why did Mussolini create the grand council of fascism?

Answer 13

In order to try and increase his authority within his own party

Question 14

How did Mussolini use the grand council to increase his power within the fascist party?

Answer 14

He gave himself the right to make all appointments to the grand council

Question 15

How did Mussolini reduce the influence of provincial fascists leaders?

Answer 15

By converting the fascist squads into a national militia paid for by the state

Question 16

Why did the new national militia prove beneficial to Mussolini?

Answer 16

Because he now possessed an army of over 30,000 men, which he continued to use to intimidate political opponents

Question 17

Describe the fascist national militia

Answer 17

It gave the fascist squads legal status. This blackshirted militia was under fascist party control

Question 18

Why did Mussolini encourage fascist violence?

Answer 18

To deter political opponents

Question 19

Who did Mussolini actively court?

Answer 19

Influential groups

Question 20

Who were confindustria?

Answer 20

A powerful, conservative organisation representing big business

Question 21

Who had Mussolini persuaded to support his premiership by early 1923?

Answer 21

Confindustria

Question 22

How did Mussolini manage to convince conservative businessmen that he wasn’t radical?

Answer 22

By deciding not attack the wirdespread tax evasion

Question 23

What did Mussolini try to do to gain support from the church?

Answer 23

He intended to ban contraception and make religious education compulsory in state schools

Question 24

How did Church support prove beneficial for Mussolini?

Answer 24

The Pope began to withdraw support from the Popolari, to the point of instructing its leader, the priest Don Sturzo, to leave Italy. This meant that the Popolari had dropped from the governing coalition by 1923, as it had lost the backing of catholic conservatives. This meant that its political significance was now effectively at an end

Question 25

List the four key groups that Mussolini gained the support of in his first year as PM, as a result of his reassurances and concessions

Answer 25

• Liberals
• Conservatives
• The church
• Business

Question 26

Why had the 4 key groups decided to give Mussolini their support?

Answer 26

• Most had convinced themselves that he was a man who could destroy socialism and inject energy and dynamism into Italian politics
• They believed Mussolini could be influenced or perhaps even controlled
• They saw him as a PM who wanted to share power rather than monopolise it for himself