mussolini's rise to power

1919

Founded fascio do comattimento out of the Arditi / free corps movements.

Benefitted from the Biennio Rosso, his action squads fought communism.

1921 :

founded the PNF - national fascist party. Won 7% of the seats in the elections and gained 35 parliamentary seats.

1922 : rise

Organised a fascist uprising with 40,000 fascists.

When the king refused to instate martial law, the PM resigned in protest. The king asked Mussolini to be PM on October 29th - he could use emergency powers but the King could still dismiss him.

1922 : consolidation

Mussolini became PM . The King gave Mussolini the right ot rule by decree for 13 months.

Communist leaders were arrested and Mussolini changed economic policies to please industrialists. He worked on gaining more support from the Catholic Church by banning contraceptives and making religious education compulsory.

1923 :

The Acerbo law : ended proportional representation. 2/3 of the parliamentary seats to the party with 25% of the votes. To pass this law, Mussolini threatened to abolish parliament.

1924 :

established Ceka - the first secret police in the fascist party. Fascists won 66% of votes in the election.

Socialist leader Matteotti opposed fascist violence, and was abducted and murdered. This was known as the Matteotti crisis as Mussolini feared he would be dismissed. To avoid this, Mussolini closed the parliament, he socialists wanted the King to dismiss him - he didn’t.

He ordered a press censorship and a ban on meetings.

1925 :

The Legge Fascistissime law made Mussolini head of state and the king lost his power to dismiss ministers.

Mussolini replaced mayors with Podestas - fascist officials

1926 :

All political parties and trade unions banned. Issued decrees without parliament.

Formed OVRA - secret police

1928 :

Only men over 21 and belonging to a fascist syndicate could vote. Mussolini held 8 minister’s posts.

1929 😀

Lateral agreement with the papacy