Case study: Mussolini and Fascist Italy
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Flip to reveal answersMussolini: country, region and years in power?
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Question
Mussolini: country, region and years in power?
Answer
Italy (region: Europe), in power 1922–1943.
Question
What was the 'mutilated victory'?
Answer
Nationalist grievance that Italy gained little territory despite winning WWI; Mussolini exploited the resentment.
Question
March on Rome (Oct 1922) — what happened?
Answer
Mass Fascist show of force; King Victor Emmanuel III appointed Mussolini Prime Minister rather than resist.
Question
What did the Acerbo Law (1923) do?
Answer
Rigged the electoral system so the largest party won two-thirds of seats, giving Fascists a majority.
Question
Matteotti crisis (1924) — significance?
Answer
Fascists murdered socialist deputy Giacomo Matteotti; Mussolini survived the outcry and declared dictatorship in 1925.
Question
What was the OVRA?
Answer
Mussolini's secret police, used to monitor, arrest and silence opponents of the regime.
Question
What was the corporate state?
Answer
Economic system grouping workers and employers into state-controlled corporations; strikes and free unions banned.
Question
Battle for Grain vs Battle for the Lira?
Answer
Drives to raise wheat output and strengthen the currency; gained prestige but hurt exports and other crops.
Question
Lateran Pacts (1929) — what and why?
Answer
Agreement reconciling the regime with the Catholic Church; gave Mussolini major legitimacy among Italians.
Question
Mussolini's policy toward women?
Answer
Pronatalism (Battle for Births): pushed women into motherhood and out of paid work to grow the population.
Question
How did Mussolini consolidate power overall?
Answer
Combined legal moves (Acerbo Law, 1925 dictatorship), coercion (Blackshirts, OVRA) and persuasion (propaganda, Lateran Pacts).
Question
Which leaders pair well with Mussolini in Paper 2?
Answer
Leaders from different regions, e.g. Mao (Asia) or Castro/Perón (Americas), since Mussolini represents Europe.
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Case studies (authoritarian leaders)
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