To what extent did Mussolini consolidation of power in Italy between 1922 and 1928 depend on violence and terror?

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To what extent did Mussolini consolidation of power in Italy between 1922 and 1928 depend on violence and terror?

Mussolini’s took years to achieve what could be defined as dictatorship. It is certain that the violence and terror exerted by the fascists helped Mussolini gain dictatorship, but there also many other factors that can explain his consolidation of power.

All Italians were expected to obey  and his Fascist Party. Authority was enforced by the use of the Blackshirts – the nickname for the Fasci di Combattimenti. The men in this unit were usually ex-soldiers and it was their job to bring into line those who opposed Mussolini. The motto of the Blackshirts was "Me ne frego" (I do not give a damn"). The Blackshirts did maintain an iron rule in Italy. One favoured way of making people conform was to tie a ‘troublemaker’ to a tree, force a pint or two of castor oil down the victim’s throat and force him to eat a live toad or frog. This punishment was enough to ensure people kept their thoughts to themselves.  

He achieved some semblance of power after the  in 1922 when he was appointed Prime Minister of Italy. The March on Rome was not the conquest of power that Mussolini later called it but rather a transfer of power within the framework of the constitution, a transfer made possible by the surrender of public authorities in the face of fascist intimidation. The kings motives for not allowing the army to attack the fascist may have been for the simple reason he disliked the socalists and communists and would rather Mussolini in power. But he may have felt he could maunipulate Mussolini and further the Kings cousins were fascscists, which may have been another contributory factor.

In December after the March On Rome Squadristi were converted into Volunteer Militia for National Security. This meant Blackshirts now had official consent to harass, intimidate and beat up all opposition.

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When Mussolini was Prime minister he was faced with a number of problems. His government contained a mixture of men with different political beliefs, there were only 4 Fascists in the cabinet and he also had only 7% of voters and this had been achieved largely to the use of violence. Mussolini was given emergency powers, for one year to deal with Italy’s problems, which was the Socialist threat. He made some concessions to the church and issued decrees relating to industry and agriculture.

At the time Mussolini became Prime Minister Italy was starting her economic recovery, for which Mussolini ...

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