1. Italian and German Expansion, 1933-1940
Case Study #2

2. Italian Expansion

3. Italian Unification

4. Italian Unification Occured in 1861 (efforts of Cavour and Garibaldi)
Still divided across geographic, religious, and social lines
This (along with involvement in WWI) weakened the Italian government and caused civil unrest
Camillo de Cavour
Guiseppi Garibaldi

5. Liberal Italy People choose type of government Open, free elections
Protection of individual rights
Period between and 1923
Weakness during this period facilitated the development of Fascism

6. Lack of National Identity
Laws and politics of Piedmont were imposed on other states
Regionalism was still powerful
Most support for gov’t found in industrialized areas
North
Industrialized
Nationalist
South
Rural
Regionalist

7. The Catholic Church
Breakdown in relations between the State and the Church after unification
Worsened by anti-clerical policies
Catholics urged by the Vatican not to vote until 1914

8. Working-class Protest
Politics dominated by middle- and upper-class
Liberal governments infamous for corruption and misrepresentation
Working-class protests and strikes grew in the 19th century
1892- Italian Socialist Party (PSI) founded

9. Working-class Protest
Giovanni Giolitti- Prime minister from
Moderate; wanted support of the masses
Electoral and welfare reform
Allowed religious education in schools
Seizure of Libya in the Italian-Turkish War ( ) resulted in criticism from the left
Two largest parties were PSI and Catholic Party after WWI
Giovanni Giolitti

10. Nationalist Opposition
Italian Nationalist Association founded in 1910 by Filippo Marinetti
Glorified war; criticized gov’t for failure in becoming a “Great Power”
Claimed unification unfinished without Trentino and Trieste (belongs to Austria)
Also wanted an empire
Only minor gains in Africa
Humiliated by Abyssinia in 1896 after attempt at conquest

11. The Treaty of London, signed by Britain, France, Italy, and Russia on April 16, 1915
Article 4
By the future treaty of peace, Italy is to receive the district of Trentino; the entire Southern Tyrol up to its natural geographical frontier, which is the Bremner Pass; the city and district of Trieste; the Country of Groizia and Gradisca; the entire Istria
Article 9
France, Great Britain and Russia admit in principle that fact of Italy’s interest in the maintenance of the political balance of power in the Mediterranean, and her rights, in case of a partition of Turkey, to a share, equal to theirs, in the basin of the Mediterranean
Article 11
Italy is to get a share in the war indemnity corresponding to the magnitude of her sacrifices and efforts

12. What is Fascism?

13. Origin and Definition
No clear founding doctrine or manifestation in history
Commonly attributed to Giovanni Gentile
Fascism tends to include a belief in…
the supremacy of one national or ethnic group
a contempt for democracy
an insistence on obedience to a powerful leader
and a strong demagogic approach

14. What is Fascism Against?
Communism
Class struggle
Internationalism
Multi-party system
Liberal democracy
Pacifism

15. Key Features of Fascism
Nationalism
Social Unity
Militarism
Authoritarian
Social Darwinism