The Rise of Italian Fascism & Benito Mussolini 7th Grade Social Studies Mr. Gouge http://www.softschools.com/timelines/mussolini_timeline/207/

Fascism Uses a dictator to control the government and all social groups Against capitalism, the upper middle and upper classes Uses emotion to rule over ration Passionately against Communism and Democracy Promises to let people keep their personal property while removing the class system Extremely Nationalistic to a point where anyone that is against any portion of government control is labelled as “an enemy of the state” Used Social Darwinism and events from the Berlin Conference, Scramble for Africa and WWI as proof that some cultures should be valued above others Created by Italy’s Benito Mussolini and expanded by Germany’s Adolf Hitler to include Anti-Semitism The threat of Communism spreading after Vladimir Lenin and the Bolshevik’s took control of Russia, gives rise to the German Socialist Worker’s Party (NAZI)

The Rise of Benito Mussolini 1901 – Benito Mussolini works as an elementary principal and demands that the school teach social Darwinism to the kids 1903 – to avoid serving in the military he runs away to Switzerland, where he learns of socialism and arrested for spreading propaganda 1905 – to avoid serving time in jail, Mussolini joins the Italian army and begins extensive writings on how socialism can save Italy 1914 – Mussolini fights in WWI 1922 – Mussolini and his friends “March on Rome” and force the king/queen and Prime Minister of Italy to give him total power 1923 – he creates a lot of laws that most Italians support, this results in the population giving him totally support 1925 – Mussolini tells the Italian people what their prior government has done wrong and admits many of his own illegal doings, the people love him for his honesty and offer their full support

The Rise of Benito Mussolini 1926 – Mussolini orders the total control of all schools in Italy to protect the youth from harmful teachings 1927 – Mussolini declares martial law to protect the citizens of Italy and places the entire country under his police and military protection, he declares himself emperor of Italy 1934 – Hitler and Mussolini meet for the first time 1935 – Mussolini orders all private business under the control of the Newly formed Italian Fascist Government, he is now communicating with Adolf Hitler constantly and mentoring him on how to rule as the Fuhrer (Germany’s ruler) 1938 – Italy claims that social Darwinism is correct and that the Jewish faith is proof that the Italians are the most superior European race and orders all Jews in Italy out of his county

The Fall of Benito Mussolini 1940 – Italy officially joins WWII on the side of Germany and Japan, he has secretly been in an alliance with Germany for years 1942 – tired of living under a dictatorship, Italian citizens rebel against Mussolini and he has to go into hiding to save his life 1943 – Mussolini is captured by the Allies and put in prison, while waiting to go to trial, he escapes and hides in Italy 1945 – Mussolini is found, he tries to run away but is assassinated by his own citizens to show the Allies that they are not on Germany and Japan’s side anymore, his wife and assistant are also killed then hung upside down at a local gas station and their bodies are spit on and beaten