1. Fascism in Italy
Chapter 13
Section 3

2. Italy

3. Italy After World War I
After WWI, Italian nationalists were outraged when Italy received just some of the territories promised by the Allies
Italian nationalists argued that the Allies betrayed Italy after World War I
Chaos ensued as peasants seized land, workers went on strike, veterans faced unemployment, trade declined, and taxes rose
The government could not end the economic crises plaguing Italy

4. Benito Mussolini
Into this turmoil stepped Benito Mussolini, the organizer of the Fascist Party
Mussolini was an intense nationalist
Mussolini’s supporters, the Black Shirts, rejected democratic methods and favored violence for solving problems
Black Shirts used terror tactics to scare the opposition

5. Benito Mussolini

6. Fascist Blackshirts

7. Mussolini Speaking to His People

8. March on Rome
In the 1922 March on Rome, tens of thousands of Fascists swarmed the capital
Protestors demanded the government make changes to the economy and society
Fearing civil war, the king, under intense pressure, asked Mussolini to form a government with Mussolini as prime minister
Mussolini had legally assumed power in Italy because King Emmanuel II appointed him!

9. Mussolini’s Fascist Leadership
Mussolini takes on the title Il Duce (the Leader)
Mussolini soon suppressed rival parties, censored the press, rigged elections, and replaced elected officials with Fascists
Critics were thrown into prison, forced into exile, or murdered
Secret police and propaganda strengthened the regime
In 1929, Mussolini also received support from Pope Pius XI in return for recognizing Vatican City as an independent state
Pope, though, disagreed, with some of Mussolini’s goals

10. Vatican
The smallest independent state in the world.
Pius XI

11. What type of government was leading Italy?
Italy was still a parliamentary monarchy – technically
But Italy was now ruled by a terrorizing, fascist dictator – Benito Mussolini
Italy evolved into an evil dictatorship

12. Italian Economy
Mussolini brought the economy under state control, but basically preserved capitalism
Representatives of business, labor, government, and Fascist party leaders controlled industry, agriculture and trade
Mussolini’s system of government favored the upper classes and industry leaders
Workers were not allowed to strike, and their wages were kept low

13. Loyalty
In Mussolini’s new system, loyalty to the state replaced conflicting individual goals
Italians owed loyalty/allegiance to the state first before personal goals
State was all-important
Individual rights were secondary to the goals of the state

14. Obedience to the State
“Believe! Obey! Fight” loudspeakers blared and posters proclaimed
Fascist youth groups marched in parades chanting slogans
Men were ruthless, selfless warriors fighting for Italian glory
Mussolini awarded women for having 14 or more children (it was a women’s duty to bear children to serve the Italian state)

15. Influencing Young Italians
Young children were taught loyalty and obedience to Italy
Fascist youth groups emerged
Tough discipline was taught to youngsters
“Mussolini is always right”, people chanted in song
Mussolini was developing the Italian people for an expansion of Mussolini’s dream of an expanded Italian empire

16. Totalitarianism Mussolini built the first modern totalitarian state
In this form of government, a one-party dictatorship attempts to control every aspect of the lives of its citizens
Today, we usually use the term fascism to describe the underlying ideology of any centralized, authoritarian government system that is not communist
Fascism is rooted in extreme nationalism
Fascists believe in action, violence, discipline, and blind loyalty to the state

17. Fascism They praise warfare
Fascists are anti-democratic, rejecting equality and liberty
Fascists oppose communists on important issues
Communists favored spreading communism internationally and the creation of a classless society
Unlike communism, fascists were most concerned with strengthening their own nation

18. Fascism
Fascists are nationalists who support a society with defined classes (upper, middle, poor)
Both base their power on blind devotion to a leader (e.g., Mussolini) or the state – individuals do not matter under Fascism
Both flourish during economic hard times
Fascism appealed to Italians because it restored national pride, provided stability, and ended the political feuding that had paralyzed democracy in Italy

19. Powerpoint Questions
1. What angered Italian nationalists after World War I?
2. Who were the party militants who rejected the democratic process in favor of violent action?
3. After the March of Rome, what did the king feel pressured to do?
4. Under Mussolini’s leadership, what groups controlled industry, agriculture, and trade?
5. Explain a totalitarian state.
6. How do you define fascism?

20. Powerpoint Questions 7. Why did fascism appeal to many Italians?
8. How does fascism differ from communism? Explain
9. What is fascism rooted in?
10. What four elements do fascists believe in? (four points)
11. What slogan did the fascists play on loudspeakers?
12. What did the Fascist Party teach young children?

21. The End