The World Between the Wars (1910–1939) Lesson 6 Fascism Emerges in Italy

The World Between the Wars (1910–1939) Lesson 6 Fascism Emerges in Italy Learning Objectives Describe the rise of Mussolini. Summarize Mussolini’s policies as leader of Italy. Identify the characteristics of totalitarianism and fascism.

The World Between the Wars (1910–1939) Lesson 6 Fascism Emerges in Italy Key Terms Benito Mussolini. Black Shirts, March on Rome, totalitarian state. fascism

The Rise of Mussolini “I hated politics and politicians,” said Italo Balbo. Like many Italian veterans of World War I, he had come home to a land of economic chaos and political corruption. Italy’s constitutional government, he felt, “had betrayed the hopes of soldiers, reducing Italy to a shameful peace.” Disgusted and angry, Balbo rallied behind a fiercely nationalist leader, Benito Mussolini. Mussolini’s rise to power in the 1920s served as a model for ambitious strongmen elsewhere in Europe. Britain and France promised Italy Austro-Hungarian land after WWI, but Italy only received some of the territories. Inspired in part by the Russian Revolution, peasants seized land, and workers went on strike or seized factories, which frightened landowners and industrialists. Due to turmoil within the government, Mussolini organized veterans and other discontented Italians into the Fascist party. (fasces: unity and authority)

The Rise of Mussolini He promised to end corruption and revive Roman greatness. Quote from text  Black Shirts rejected the democratic process in favor of violent action, by breaking up socialist rallies, smashing leftist presses, and attacking farmer cooperatives.  March on Rome:, tens of thousands of Fascists swarmed toward the capital, so fearing civil war, King Victor Emmanuel III asked Mussolini to form a government as prime minister.

The Rise of Mussolini Postwar Discontent Mussolini and the Fascist Party Control by Terror

The Rise of Mussolini After World War I, Italy faced dissatisfaction with the peace settlements of the war and economic hardship. Increasingly militant Italian workers staged strikes like this one in Milan.

Mussolini’s Totalitarian Rule At first, Fascists held only a few cabinet posts in the new government. By 1925, though, Mussolini had assumed more power and taken the title Il Duce (eel DOO chay), “The Leader.” He suppressed rival parties, muzzled the press, rigged elections, and replaced elected officials with Fascist supporters. In 1929, Mussolini received recognition from Pope Pius XI in return for recognizing Vatican City as an independent state, although the pope continued to disagree with some of Mussolini’s goals. To spur economic growth and end conflicts between owners and workers, Mussolini brought the economy under state control, but he preserved capitalism. Representatives of business, labor, government, and the Fascist party controlled industry, agriculture, and trade. Believe! Obey! Fight!” loudspeakers blared and posters proclaimed and men were urged to be ruthless, selfless warriors fighting for the glory of Italy.

Mussolini’s Totalitarian Rule Fascist youth groups toughened children and taught them to obey strict military discipline totalitarian state.:a one-party dictatorship regulates every aspect of the lives of its citizens. Common characteristics: single-party dictatorship, state controlled economy, police spies and terrorism was used to control the people, demanded unquestioned obedience, controlled the media, and enforced strict censorship. It used every means possible to indoctrinate, or mold, its citizens’ ideas and thoughts

Mussolini’s Totalitarian Rule The State Controls the Economy Loyalty to the State Building a Totalitarian State

Mussolini’s Totalitarian Rule Mussolini viewed propaganda as a key means to winning support from the Italian people. The poster here has the Italian words for 'to us' written at the bottom, promoting a unified and strong Italy.

Pursue aggressive foreign expansion, glorify warfare, antidemocratic. Characteristics of Fascism Historians still debate the real nature of Mussolini’s fascist ideology. Mussolini coined the term, but fascists had no unifying theory as Marxists did. Today, we generally use the term fascism to describe any centralized, authoritarian government that is not communist whose policies glorify the state over the individual and are destructive to basic human rights. In the 1920s and 1930s, though, fascism meant different things in different countries. Features of Facism: rooted in extreme nationalism, glorified action, violence, discipline, and blind loyalty to the states. Pursue aggressive foreign expansion, glorify warfare, antidemocratic. Rejected equality and liberty and emphasized the need to serve the state. Fascism’s appeal: promised a strong, stable government and an end to the political feuding, Mussolini projected a sense of power and confidence at a time of disorder and despair, and revived national pride.

Characteristics of Fascism Democracy , Fascism, and Communism were in competition in post war Europe. The Great Depression caused many to look towards Fascism and Communism as a solution.  Fascists were the sworn enemies of socialists and communists, so while communists called for a worldwide revolution of the working class, fascists pursued nationalist goals. Similarities : flourished during economic hard times by promoting extreme programs of social change., dictators imposed totalitarian governments in order to bring about their revolutions, encouraged blind devotion to the

Characteristics of Fascism state or a charismatic leader, used terror to guard their power, and a party elite claimed to rule in the name of the national interest.

Characteristics of Fascism Features of Fascism The Appeal of Fascism Fascism and Communism Compared

Characteristics of Fascism Italians gather at the Palazzio Venezia to hear Mussolini speak at a celebration of the seventh anniversary of Fascist Italy.

Quiz: The Rise of Mussolini Following World War I, Italian nationalists were outraged that A. France and Britain signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact. B. Italy did not receive all the territory it had been promised. C. Mussolini had tried to take over the government. D. the Italian navy was drastically reduced in size.

Quiz: Mussolini’s Totalitarian Rule Which of the following people would be most favored by Mussolini's fascist system? A. owners of steel and iron companies B. farm workers and factory workers C. communists and socialists D. labor unions and interest groups

Quiz: Characteristics of Fascism In what ways did fascists differ from communists? A. Communists wanted to spread communism internationally, while fascists wanted to strengthen their own nations. B. Fascists supported a classless society and international equality, while communist society had a strict class system. C. Fascists set up one-party states, while communists set up multiparty states. D. Communists used terror to achieve their goals, while fascists used democratic methods.