the rise of Mussolini and the creation of a Fascist dictatorship

Question 1

what factors contributed to Mussolini’s rise to power in post- WWI Italy

Answer 1

• economic turmoil, social unrest, and political instability
• fear of socialism and communism among the middle and upper classes, combined with nationalist sentiments and dissatisfaction with the liberal government, created an environment conducive to Mussolini’s rise

Question 2

what was the significance of the March on Rome in 1922

Answer 2

• March on Rome was a planned mass demonstration by the Fascists to demand political power
• pressured King Victor Emmanuel III to invite Mussolini to form a government, marking the beginning of a Fascist rule in Italy

Question 3

how did Mussolini consolidate power between 1922 and 1925

Answer 3

• gradually dismantled democratic institutions by passing laws that suppressed opposition, controlled the press, and centralised authority
• Acerbo Law of 1923 ensured a Fascist majority in parliament
• Matteotti Crisis of 1924 further weakened opposition, allowing Mussolini to establish a dictatorship by 1925

Question 4

what was the Acerbo Law, and how did it benefit the Fascists

Answer 4

• Acerbo Law, passed in 1923, stated that any party receiving the largest share of votes (provided it was at least 25%) would automatically receive two-thirds of the seats in parliament
• the law enabled the Fascists to secure a dominant position in the 1924 elections, despite not having an absolute majority of votes

Question 5

who was Matteotti and what was the impact of his assassination

Answer 5

• a socialist politician who openly criticised the Fascisrs and exposed electoral fraud
• his kidnapping and murder in 1924, widely attributed to the Fascist agents, led to a political crisis
• the oppositions withdrawal from parliament (Aventine Secession) inadvertently allowed Mussolini to tighten his grip on power

Question 6

what measures did Mussolini take to establish a dictatorship by 1925

Answer 6

• enacted laws that abolished all political parties except the Fascist party
• suppressed the free press
• created a secret police force (OVRA)
• assumed the title of “Il Duce” and ruled by decree, establishing a totalitarian style regime

Question 7

how did Mussolini’s relationship with the monarchy and the Catholic Church aid his consolidation of power

Answer 7

• maintained the monarchy to appease conservatives
• signed the Lateran Accords with the Catholic Church in 1929, resolving longstanding disputes and gaining the Church’s support

Question 8

what role did propaganda play in Mussolini’s regime

Answer 8

• propaganda central to Mussolini’s control, promoting the image of a strong, infallible leader and the ideals of Fascism
• regime controlled media outlets, education, and cultural institutions to disseminate its messaged and suppress dissenting views

Question 9

how did the Fascist regime impact civil liberties in Italy

Answer 9

• severely curtailed civil liberties, including freedom of speech, assembly and the press
• political opponents were arrested, exiled, or executed and a climate of fear was established to discourage resistance

Question 10

what was the significance of OVRA in Mussolini’s Italy

Answer 10

• OVRA was a secret police force established to monitor, intimidate, and eliminate opposition to the Fascist regime, played a crucial role in maintaining Mussolini’s authoritarian control over Italy