Mussolini becomes absolute dictator (Il Duce) | The 20th century | World history | Khan Academy

TL;DR

Benito Mussolini comes to power through the March on Rome, gaining dictatorial powers and establishing the Blackshirts as the national militia. The Acerbo Law is passed, giving the largest party in Parliament a majority. After a fraudulent election and the murder of Giacomo Matteotti, Mussolini solidifies his absolute dictatorship.

Transcript

Male: In the last video we left off in 1922 in October where you have several hundreds of thousands of fascists march on Rome, which causes the King to put Benito Mussolini in power and this picture right over here is from Mussolini coming to power from the march on Rome and not only does he get appointed as Prime Minister, but he has dictatorial p... Read More

Key Insights

• ✊ Mussolini's rise to power was aided by the March on Rome, dictatorial powers, and the support of the Blackshirts.
• 🥳 The Acerbo Law granted a majority to the largest party, favoring the fascists and allowing them to govern without coalitions.
• ✊ The murder of Giacomo Matteotti and the Aventine Secession highlighted opposition to the fascists, but ultimately failed to remove Mussolini from power.
• 💋 Mussolini's response to Matteotti's murder and the Aventine Secession further consolidated his control and marked the formal start of his absolute dictatorship.
• 🥳 The fascist regime in Italy banned other parties, enforced membership in the fascist party, controlled the press, and established a strong state police system.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Mussolini secure his power after becoming Prime Minister?

Mussolini consolidated his power by utilizing the paramilitary group Blackshirts and his dictatorial powers to secure more control over time. By 1923, the Blackshirts became a formal national militia, and Mussolini's actions gradually strengthened his authority.

Q: What was the significance of the Acerbo Law?

The Acerbo Law ensured that the largest party in Parliament, as long as they received more than 25% of the vote, would have a 2/3 majority. This benefited the fascists, as it allowed them to govern without forming coalitions, strengthening their control in the legislature.

Q: Why did the legislature pass the Acerbo Law if the fascists were not the dominant party?

The reasons for the passage of the Acerbo Law are complex. It could be attributed to people's admiration for Mussolni's strong leadership, a desire to end coalition governments, or even intimidation tactics employed by the Blackshirts during the voting process. The exact reasons may vary.

Q: How did Mussolini solidify his power after Giacomo Matteotti's murder?

Following the murder of Giacomo Matteotti, Mussolini faced internal and external pressure. To appease the Blackshirts and maintain control, he banned the Italian Socialist party, embraced the Blackshirts, and used the Aventine Secession as a pretext to strengthen his position. By the end of 1925, the Christmas Eve Law removed any checks on Mussolini's power.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Mussolini becomes Prime Minister and gains dictatorial powers with the support of the Blackshirts.

• The Acerbo Law allows the largest party in Parliament to have a 2/3 majority, favoring the fascists.

• Giacomo Matteotti's murder leads to the Aventine Secession, but fails to remove Mussolini from power. His January speech strengthens his dictatorship.