1. Benito Mussolini and the Rise of Fascism in Italy
Il Duce--The Leader

2. Mussolini, a brief history
Born July 29, 1883 in Northeastern Italy to a working class family
Becomes a teacher and is fired
Early 1900’s--socialist, leaves for Switzerland.
He is a journalist and political agitator and is arrested many times

3. Mussolini cont…
Opposed to WWI, then supports it as a way to overthrow capitalism.
Is a soldier in WWI
Comes back from war an antisocialist, believes only an authoritarian government can “fix” Italy’s problems.

4. The roots of Fascism
Fasci Italiani di Combattimento: Mussolini gathers veterans
Fascio: Italian for union or league
Fasces:Ancient Roman symbol of discipline and authority (rods or sticks bound together)

7. Fascism Defined Mussolini Defines Fascism:
Please O,P,V,L this document
What reactions do you have from this document and what did you learn from Mussolini?

8. The “Definition” Fascism A party, not a political doctrine
Celebration of a nation or race above the individual
Celebrates masculinity and youth
Often promotes racial superiority
Forcibly suppresses opposition

9. What Mussolini said
“The Fascist conception of the State is all embracing; outside of it no human or spiritual values can exist, much less have value. Thus understood, Fascism is totalitarian and the Fascist State ... interprets, develops, and potentates the whole life of a people”.

10. Back to Mussolini 1921: Mussolini elected to Parliament
Fascism becomes a formal party
Oct. 24, 1922: 40,000 Fascists meet in Naples and demand control of government
Oct. 31, 1922: King Victor Emmanuel III asks Mussolini to form a new government and he becomes Prime Minister

11. Italy under Mussolini
1935: Italy invades Ethiopia to expand the empire
1936: Joins with Hitler and Japan to fight communism
1936: Supports Franco in Spain
June 10, 1940: Italy enters WWII

14. The end of it all…. 1943: Allies invade, Mussolini’s power declines.
Mussolini is arrested and imprisoned, the Nazi’s rescue him and he sets up a “government” (Italian Social Republic) in Nazi controlled Northern Italy.
1945: Armistice, Mussolini attempts to flee to Switzerland and is assassinated
1946: The New Republic with an anti-fascist constitution