Rise to Power
What economic problems weakened liberal Italy before Mussolini’s rise?
High inflation, unemployment
What were the Fascist Laws of 1926 designed to do?
Eliminate opposition
What triggered the Matteotti Crisis?
The kidnapping and murder of socialist leader Giacomo Matteotti.
Partito Nazionale Fascista
What did Mussolini want to achieve/revive?
Reviving the Roman Empire
What was the March on Rome?
A Fascist pressure tactic that convinced the King to appoint Mussolini.
How did the OVRA help Mussolini strengthen his rule?
Spying acts, arresting political opponents
Why did the Aventine Secession fail?
The King refused to dismiss Mussolini, leaving the opposition powerless.
Who supported the fascists the most?
What was the name of the pact between Germany and Italy?
Pact of Steel
Why did Victor Emmanuel III appoint Mussolini as the PM?
Fear of civil war and fear of communism
What was the purpose of the Acerbo Law?
To give the largest party a 2/3 majority in parliament.
How did Mussolini survive the Matteotti Crisis?
By waiting out the opposition and then declaring a dictatorship in 1925.
What did the PNF want to achieve throughout the country?
Patriotism BOOSTTTT
What happened in Corfu in 1923?
Italy invaded the Greek island of Corfu in response to the murder of Italian officers
What role did the Blackshirts play in Mussolini’s rise?
They used intimidation and violence to weaken opponents and boost Fascist influence.
How did the Lateran Pacts benefit Mussolini?
They gained him Church support and boosted his legitimacy.
What forms of opposition existed inside Italy after 1926?
Exiles, underground groups, and limited passive resistance.
What was the Battle for Grain?
An economic campaign to increase grain production
What was the main goal of the Kellogg-Briand Pact?
Outlaw war as a national policy and settle international disputes through peaceful means
Why were the liberal governments unable to control Fascist violence?
They were politically fragmented and feared provoking a larger conflict.
Why was censorship essential to Mussolini’s consolidation of power?
It controlled all information and eliminated opposition.
Why was organized opposition largely ineffective under Fascism?
OVRA, censorship, fear empire
How did propaganda help maintain Fascist control?
It glorified Mussolini and shaped public attitudes through media, posters, and rallies.
How did Italy's actions during the Abyssinian Crisis reveal the limits of collective security?
Showed how powerless the league is
And how Major powers like Britain and France had put themselves before the league's principles