Fascism in Italy

Mussolini's Rise to Power

Mussolini's Rise to Power 1915: France and Britain had promised Italy

Austro-Hungarian territories. Italy recieves some, the others territories

become Yugoslavia. Inspired by the revolutions in Russia peasants

siezed lands and went on strike Taxes rose, and the government became

powerless.

A Leader Emerges

Benito Mussolini Was fiery and charismatic 1919- Mussolini organizes veterans in the

Fascist Party Named after “fasces”, bundled sticks wrapped

around an axe; in ancient Rome it was a sign of unity and authority.

Promised to end corruption

Mussolini Gains Control

Organized “combat squads” known as Black Shirts, party militants.

Used intimidation and terror to oust elected officials in northern Italy

1922- March on Rome; thousands swarm Rome.

Mussolini is given power from King Victor Emmanuel III on October 30, 1922

Mussollini's Rule

1925, takes the name Il Duce, The Leader. 1929- gains support from the Pope by

accepting Vatican City as a separate state. Italy is a dictatorship ran by terror

Censorship Rigged Elections Secret Police Critics thrown in prison, forced into exile or

murdered.

State Control of the Economy

Brings economy under state control, yet preserves captialism.

Representatives of labor, government and the Fascist party controlled industry, agriculture, and trade.

Favors upper class and industrial leaders. Production increases at the cost of the workers

The Individual and the State

The state was all important, and the individual was unimportant except as a member of the state.

Men- pushed to be ruthless warriors for Italy.

Children – were shaped for the future Torchlight parades, chanting “Mussolini is

always right” Women- “win the battle of motherhood”

Women who had more then 14 children were given a medal by Mussolini himself.

The Nature of Fascism

Totalitarian State One party dictatorship attempt to regulate

every aspect of the lives of its citizens. First of it's kind Hitler and Stalin follow in nature

What is Fascism?

Fascism Any centeralized, authoritarian government

that is not communist whose policies glorify the state over the individual and are destructive to basic human rights.

Has no unifying theory Extreme Nationalism and blind loyalty to the

state Aggressive foreign expanism and violence Antidemocratic

The Appeal of Fascism

Promises a strong, stable government. Revives national pride Newspapers in Britain, France, and North

America compliment the discipline and order of the government.

Fascism Compared to Communism

Fascist Nationalist Goals Defined Classes Allies in

business leaders, wealthy land owners.

Communism International

Goals Classless

Society Support from

urband and agricultural workers

Fascism Compared to Communism

Both had much in common though Require blind devotion to the state A charismatic leader Used terror to guard their power Flourish during econmic hard times Promote extreme programs of social change Claims to rule in the name of national interest

Looking Ahead

Three Systems of government competed for influence

Democracy Britain France

Communism Russia

Fascism Italy Germany