italy

• Threats to Mussolini's power


  The king, the vatican, the chamber of deputies, trade Unions, opposition parties, squadristi
• Gaining emergancy powers (1922)


  - Claimed Italy was in an emergency so headed emergency powers to uncle alone - granted as politicians were frustrated by weak coalition governments, liberals welcomed his rule, socialists and communists opposed
• Curbing the power of the squadristi (1923)


  Turned 300,000 squadristi into the MSVN (they had no the political power), the Cheka intimidated Facists, turned the ras to Facist Grand Council and became less important as Mussolini's power increased
• Acerbo Law (1923)


  Meant the party that gained the most votes would get 2/3 of the Seats in parliament, created with the aim to have one strong party governing Italy. Exploited - blackshirts patrolled the chambers to intimidate parliament, threatened to abolish parliament if law wasn't passed
• 1924 Election


  Candidates that stood for the facists gained 2/3 of votes. Nationalist party joined the facists, facists drew up the big list of approved candidates, 80 liberals and 17 populari on the list, election rigged by facists, psi divides
• Matteoti Incident


  Matteoti criticized Italian Fascism in 1924. He was assassinated eleven days later. Many people linked to the government were implicated. King and pope were silent. Many elites still considered Mussolini's government to be the best option. Many oppositions walked out of parliament leaving little opposition
• Setting up a dictatorship (1925 - 1929 )


  - Mussolini took responsibility over facism and announced he would set up a dictatorship.
• The Press Law


  A register of journalists allowed to work for the newspaper approved by facists set up
• Leggi fasistissme


  Civil service purged of non racists, removal of some more prominent non facists from Italy
• Controlling the ras (1926)


  Used radical ras Faranacci to Centralise the party then dismissed him to put ras into line
• Mussolini nearly assassinated (1926)


  Non-facist political parties banned, opposition MPs expelled from parliament, passports controlled by racists
• Election Law (1928)


  Could only vote against or for a list of 400 candidates chosen by the Facist grand council it would be known whether they were voting for or against based on colour of paper
• OVRA (1927)


  Secret police, could imprison opposition in concentration camps
• The Lateran Pact


  Mussolini gave the Pope 1.75 million lire. This cemented the popes support
• Amount of people tried for political crimes

  21000
• Amount of people imprisoned

  15000
• Amount killed


  400
• Aims of the Battle for Grain


  - Announced in July 1925.

  - Mussolini promised to make Italy self-sufficient in terms of grain production.
• Battle for Grain


  Mussolini gave farmers grants and instructed them to use marginal land
• success of battle for grain


  Italy was almost self sufficient in grain by 1939
• Failure of battle for grain


  Couldn't be entirely self-sufficent as they weren't self sufficient in fertaliser, more expensive for farmers so cost of grain increased
• Aims of the Battle for the Lira


  In 1926 Mussolini decided he wanted to achieve more economic independence for Italy from countries like the USA (to whom Italy owed vast debts from WW1). Lira was falling in value causing inflation
• Battle for Lira


  Banks ordered to supply fewer lira
• Success of battle for the lira

  Exporters benefited
• Failure of battle for lira

  Importers suffered, unsustainable
• Aims of battle of the marshes


  Drain marshes to increase land available for grain
• Battle of the Marshes


  -The Pontine Marshes near Rome were drained to create a network of small farms.
• Success of battle of the marshes


  - Decrease in waterbourne diseases, 78000 employed
• Failure of battle of the marshes

  Exploited for propaganda
• Great Depression - Action in Italy


  Industry loans paid of, struggling industries bought up, public work schemes put in place
• Benefits of Great Depression

  Unemployment reduced
• Negatives of Great Depression in Italy

  IRI controlled 20% of all industry
• Idea of corperate state


  Employers and worker would run the businesses, employers and worker representatives set the rules to ensure rights are respected and businesses are run efficiently
• Execution of corporate state


  Strikes are banned. Mussolini never took the system seriously except for propaganda purposes. Ignored demands and advice of corporations The three representatives from the facist government had the most power
• Rearmourment


  Twice the National income spent on invasion of Abyssinia. 10000 troops sent to fight in Spanish civil war. Italy unable to enter WWII in 1939. Attempts at autarky unsuccessful
• Successes of economic policy


  IRI bought up struggling industry and paid Off loans. Unemployment reduced. Wheat production up 100 %. 80000 hectors of land reclaimed
• failure of economic reforms


  Italy could enter WWII in 1939, lira devalued, south Italy neglected, increased price of bread
• Leisure activities at the OND -1925


  Cheap holidays, Summer Camps, partial compensation for reduction in wage, remembered with gratitude, Provides properganda opportunities
• Battle for Births 1927

  Laws against contraception, bachelors tax, loans to married couples paid off as they had children
• failure of battle for births


  birth rates fell, by 1940 population was only 45million. marriage rate fell. more women in secondary and education and universities