Mussolini’s Rise - Compromise, PNF control and Acerbo Law

Question 1

How had Mussolini achieved power?

Answer 1

Through dual strategies

Question 2

What were squads demanding after Mussolini’s appointment?

Answer 2

Further revolution and greater reward for helping him achieve power

Question 3

Why didn’t Mussolini listen to the squads demands right after his appointment?

Answer 3

He was wary and felt working with conservative elite and the king would be a better means of consolidating his power

Question 4

Despite Mussolini being Prime minister, how many seats of each party were there in Parliament in 1922 after his appointment?

Answer 4

35 fascist deputies, 123 PSI seats.
In his cabinet, 4 liberals, 2 PPI, 1 ANI, 2 military members

Question 5

What did Mussolini appoint himself after becoming prime minister?

Answer 5

Foreign minister and minister for the interior

Question 6

Who did Mussolini appoint as minister of finance?

Answer 6

Alberto De’stefani to gain the support of the conservative industrialists to reassure there wouldn’t be radical economic changes

Question 7

What was Mussolini’s main goal at the early stage of being prime minister

Answer 7

Placate the old ruling classes

Question 8

How did Mussolini initially gain the trust of the Catholic church?

Answer 8

increasing clerical pay and reinstating crucifixes in schools.

Question 9

When were the ANI officially absorbed into the fascist party?

Answer 9

February 1923

Question 10

Who was appointed as the minister of work and welfare?

Answer 10

PPI member, Stefano Cavazzoni and this encouraged the party to collaborate with Mussolini

Question 11

When and Why did Luigi Sturzo resign as leader of PPI?

Answer 11

July 1923 because he was concerned that the party was being too absorbed into the PNF

Question 12

What encouraged the Vatican to support the PNF at the expense of the PPI?

Answer 12

Mussolini’s pro-Catholic policies.

Question 13

What started to happen to the PPI after Mussolini’s appointment?

Answer 13

Declined

Question 14

What was Mussolini’s maiden speech as prime minister on 16th November 1922 like?

Answer 14

Mix of offers to work with parliament and threats of violence to any who challenged him. Strength of squads and violence up to 1922 was crucial here.

Question 15

What did parliament approve after Mussolini’s warnings of violence in 1922?

Answer 15

Year long emergency powers by 306 votes and 116 against

Question 16

What did emergency powers mean for Mussolini?

Answer 16

He could not be removed by parliament and had full power to govern and raise taxes without seeking parliamentary approval for a year

Question 17

Fascist Grand Council

Answer 17

December 1922, rival organisation to the cabinet and he appointed Italo Balbo, Michele Bianchi, and Emilio De Bono. This elevated fascist leadership to the same position as the cabinet

Question 18

Why was the creation of the FGC important for Mussolini?

Answer 18

Helped him overcome his weak position in the cabinet and undermined the liberal government institutions by bypassing them.
As leader of FGC with the sole ability to appoint members, Mussolini centralised power over the party. Helped him consolidate control over PNF and Parliament.

Question 19

What does MVSN stand for?

Answer 19

Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale

Question 20

MVSN

Answer 20

Created by the Fascist grand council (FGC) in January 1923. Absorbed all the squadristi and formalised their role as a party based revolution. 300,000 members pledged allegiance to Italy and Mussolini so his control over Blackshirts was strengthened

Question 21

Now that fascism was in power what had disappeared?

Answer 21

The chance of a socialist revolution

Question 22

Since the march of Rome, how much had the party expanded?

Answer 22

doubled to 783,000 with a lot from the middle class