1. Fascism and Mussolini
3rd Yr

2. Fascism Type of government Abolished democracy
Was a dictatorship – the country under the control of one man
Extreme Nationalists – believed that all citizens must love their country
That their country should be great
Citizens must be absolutely loyal to the dictator
Hated Communism

3. Why so popular?
After WW1 Italy very disappointed with Treaty of Versailles
Growth in Nationalism – people wanted Italy to be a great power
Rise in unemployment after WW1 – democracy had failed to solve this problem
Fear of communism – people wanted a strong government to solve these problems. Fascism seemed to promise that.

4. Mussolini – early life Born 1883 Central Italy Was a journalist
A socialist at start – editor of socialist newspaper
But wanted Italy to enter WW1
Joined as a soldier
Now he hated socialism

5. Setting up Fascist Party
After WW1 Italy had many problems
Unemployment – many strikes
Communist people – people hoping for communist revolution
Anger at the Treaty – felt cheated
Mussolini used these problems to set up the Fascist Party in 1919

6. Support grows At first it was unpopular
But as Italy’s problems increased, Mussolini seemed to offer the best solution
He set up a group of followers
Called Blackshirts
They beat up communists and anyone who opposed Mussolini

7. Who supported Mussolini?
Businessmen who were afraid of a worker’s communist revolution – financed his party
Ex-soldiers and others disappointed with the Treaty
They wanted Italy to go to invade other countries and set up an empire
Religious people – afraid of how communists were strict atheists and would forbid all religion
Unemployed people

8. Fascism Election promises
To end unemployment
To create an Italian empire
To destroy communism
Very popular – party elected 1921
But they didn’t control everything…
…yet

9. March on Rome Wanted to be PM Wanted total power
He threatened to march…
...on Rome to seize power with the Blackshirts
Unless he was made PM
The King Victor Emmanuel 111 gave in
Mussolini was made PM – the youngest ever in Italy

10. Becoming a dictator Italy was still a democracy
He wanted a dictatorship
One man in charge of everything
No one able to disobey him
So he gradually took control

11. Becoming a dictator (2) 1923 Acerbo Law
Party with most votes got total control of parliament
1924 – a socialist leader (Matteotti) was murdered
Mussolini’s enemies were scared of him
1926 All other political parties (except Fascists) banned
A secret police – called OVRA – set up to arrest any opponents
Trade Unions banned
Mussolini was now known as Il Duce

12. Propaganda
Propaganda – spreading information that makes you look great
Good news is highlighted (or even made up)
Bad news is hidden
Mussolini used propaganda to make himself popular
Advertisements and pictures showed him as a great leader
Strong, sporty

13. Propaganda (2) School history books rewritten
Children were taught ‘Mussolini is always right’
Youth movements called The Balilla set up
Very important to brainwash people as young as possible
This is called indoctrination

14. Domestic Policy
Domestic Policy means the things you do in your own country
In order to cut unemployment, many public schemes set up
New motorways built
Marches were drained and towns built there
Increased Mussolini’s popularity

15. Lateran Pact Italy was very Catholic, religious country
But there was a dispute with the Pope over the Vatican’s independence
Mussolini reached an agreement
Called the Lateran Pact
Vatican made an independent state
Catholicism became official religion of Italy
Mussolini became even more popular

16. The Lateran Pact, or Concordat

17. Foreign Policy Make Italy an Empire Strengthen the army
1925 Invaded Abyssinia (Now Ethiopia)
The League of Nations condemned Mussolini
Imposed a trade ban on Italy
This annoyed Mussolini
He now turned to Hitler in Germany as an ally

18. Foreign Policy (2) Both Italy and Germany were fascist countries
1936 Signed an alliance called Rome-Berlin Alliance
1939 Pact of Steel signed

19. Italy during WW2 In WW2 Italy joined on Germany’s side in 1940
Italian army very weak
Fatal mistake for Mussolini
Italy involved in North Africa and Greece
It was beaten in both places

20. Italy during WW2 (2)
Mussolini (now very unpopular in Italy) imprisoned
Had to be rescued by Germany
But in 1945 he was captured and killed by anti-fascist Italians
Body displayed in public
End of Fascism in Italy

21. Revision questions What is Fascism – 5 points
Mussolini’s promises in election?
How did Mussolini become dictator?
What is Lateran Treaty?
Explain these terms – a). Indoctrination
B) dictator
C) Propaganda
D) Domestic policy
E) Blackshirts

22. Q1 answer Hated Communism Extreme Nationalists Abolished democracy
Dictatorship – 1 leader
Unquestioning loyalty to the leader

23. Q2 answer To make Italy great – an Empire Create jobs
Destroy Communism

24. Q3 answer Banned all political parties Trade Unions abolished
Secret Police – OVRA
Propaganda – history books rewritten
Indoctrination

25. Q4 answer Deal with C. Church Pope’s Vatican independent
The C. Church given compensation
Catholicism official language
Boosted Mussolini’s popularity

26. Q5 answers A – brainwashing people into believing your ideas
B – dictator – one person controls a whole country – no one can disagree with him
C – making up things to make yourself look good
D – the things you do in your own country
E – the name given to the group of Mussolini’s followers