1. Fascism in Italy: Ch. 28, Sec. 3
1915 – Allies promised land to Italy – they didn’t get it
Italy outraged
Workers went on strike
No jobs, no trade, high taxes
Weak government – no end to crisis

2. From the turmoil in ITALY came Benito Mussolini
1919 – organized veterans & other discontents into Fascist Party
Fiery charismatic speaker
Promised to end corruption – bring order
Reviving Roman greatness
a.k.a. IL DUCE, “the leader”

3. MARCH ON ROME = tens of thousands of Fascists swarmed toward capital
Mussolini entered city on October 30, 1922 with no resistance
He is given the job of Prime Minister - leader of Italy

4. Mussolini’s Rule By 1925 – Suppressed rival parties Muzzled press
Rigged elections
Replaced officials with Fascists

5. Mussolini’s Rule In theory = Parliamentary Monarchy
In fact = Dictatorship ruled w/terror – Write this in the margin of your paper
Critics thrown in prison, exiled or murdered
Secret police & propaganda bolstered regime
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6. The Individual and the State
Under Mussolin: FASCISM = Loyalty to the State is all important; not to individual goals
Slogans of “Believe! Obey! Fight!” over loudspeakers & on posters

8. Fascist Youth Groups toughened children
chanted “Mussolini is always right!”
A woman’s duty was to provide the state with many children

9. Mussolini built the first TOTALITARIAN STATE
One-party dictatorship
Regulates every aspect of lives of citizens
Stalin & Hitler followed this example

10. What is Fascism?
Fascism = any centralized, authoritarian government that is not communist whose policies glorify the State over the individual and are destructive to basic human rights

11. The Appeal of Fascism
With all those restrictions on freedom…why did it appeal to so many Italians?
Strong, stable government
Revive national pride
End political feuding
Got things done:
Factories going
“He go the trains running on time”
“He certainly makes the trains run on time!”