IB History Mussolini

Fascist

The extreme right of the political spectrum. Extremely nationalistic. Belief that the individuals should serve the government. Racism and inequality. Total government control. Extremely anti-communist. Italy was fascist under Mussolini from 1922-1943.

Benito Mussolini

Joined Fascist Party in 1919 and became prime minister in October 1922. Tried to bring together all separate right-wing groups in March 1919 with the Fascio di Combattimiento. Asserted control over the squadristi at the end of 1920 and stressed the need for violence to prevent a Bolshevik-style revolution. Strengthened the Fasci di Combattimiento and reformed it into the National Fascist Party. Organized the March on Rome in October 1922, where the king asked him to form a new government.

Fascio di Combattimiento

An organization formed by Mussolini in March 1919 to bring together right-wing groups. Was originally weak, but gained power in the biennio rosso because he offered to send action squads to help factory and land owners. In exchange, the owners gave the organization money. The squads carried out violent attacks against the left. The organization was reformed into the National Fascist Party in 1921.

Italian Socialist Party

The Italian Socialist Party called for an overthrow of the liberal state to establish a socialist republic in 1917 after being inspired by the Russian Bolshevik revolution. They were stronger in rhetoric than action.

Fascist Programme

Published in June 1919, combining demands of both the left and right wing, which were held together by a strong hatred of a liberal state. Declared the political stance of the Fascio di Combattimiento. Mussolini dropped the more radical aspects of the Programme 2-3 years later, angering the Roman Catholic Church and the upper and middle classes.

March on Rome

An insurrection in October 1922. Facists gained control of many towns. After they had local control, the ras urged Mussolini to take national control. 40,000 militia marched on Rome. The government declared an emergency but the king refused to authorize martial law. The prime minister resigned and the king asked Mussolini to step into power.

Ras

Local fascist leaders who led Mussolini's action squads. They urged Mussolini to take national power in the March on Rome in October 1922 after they already had local power.

Squadristi

Mussolini's armed action squads who attacked the enemies of Fascists (including Roman Catholics, socialists, communists, and trade unionists). They were composed mainly of middle-class students and non-commissioned officers. They were effective in suppressing left-wing action.

Alberto de Stefani

The finance minister that Mussolini appointed. He was liberal. He was appointed to increase support among the conservative elites. His policies (reducing government control on trade, less taxes) gained him support from industrialists.

Catholic PPI

(PPI stands for Italian People's Party, who opposed the Italisn Socialist Party) A member of the Italian coalition government. Mussolini tried to weaken their role by gaining support of the catholic hierarchy- to do so he made religious education mandatory and banned contraception. The Pope gave Mussolini his support and told his followers to do so also. Mussolini fired all the PPI ministers from the government in April 1923 and forced their leader to resign in June 1923. They had lost their importance.

Acerbo Law

Acerbo, the secretary of state, outlined a new law which gave 2/3 the seats of parliament to the party which won 25% of the votes cast. Mussolini pressured parliament to pass this law in July 1923 through intimidation. Mussolini now needed to be sure that his party won the most votes in the next election- he was helped with this in the Corfu Incident.

Corfu Incident

An Italian general was killed in August 1923 in Greece. Mussolini demanded that Greece formally apologize and pay reparations. Greece refused, so Mussolini invaded Corfu, Greece. This increased Mussolini's power as he was now seen as a national hero. This helped him get more votes for the next election. The reparations were paid, but a formal apology was not.

Ceka

A secret gang of thugs set up by Mussolini in January 1924. They terrorized anti-fascists and killed over 100 of them. Characteristic of a totalitarian regime- opression of opposition.

Giacomo Matteotti/ Matteotti Crisis

A socialist leader who strongly condemned the fascist violence which occured during the election and said the results were a fraud. He was killed in Rome in June 1924. Many newspapers blamed Mussolini and many opposition deputies boycotted parliament in protest. They wanted the king to dismiss Mussolini, but the king said the boycotters were being unconstitutional. (one condition that led to his rise)

Roberto Farinacci

The appointed party secretary in February 1925. He advocated violence against socialists and communists and purged the PNF of people who he felt weren't loyal enough to Mussolini. Supressed the opposition.