Fascism in Italy 3 rd YR Benito Mussolini

Fascism in Italy 3 rd YR: Benito Mussolini

What was 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

Why so popular? �After WW 1 Italy very disappointed with Treaty of Versailles �Growth in Nationalism – people wanted Italy to be a great power �Rise in unemployment after WW 1 – democracy had failed to solve this problem �Fear of communism – people wanted a strong government to solve these problems. Fascism seemed to promise that.

Mussolini � Born 1883 Central Italy � A socialist at start – editor of socialist newspaper � But wanted Italy to enter WW 1 � Joined as a soldier � Now he hated socialism

Setting up Fascist Party � After WW 1 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

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

Blackshirts � Mussolini’s personal closest supporters � Named after their uniform � Fanatical about their leader � Would do anything for him � Including breaking the law

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

Fascist election promises � To end unemployment � To create an Italian empire � To destroy communism � Very popular – elected 1921

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

March on Rome (1922)

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

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

Domestic policy - 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

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

Domestic policy - jobs � In order to cut unemployment, many public schemes set up � New motorways built � Marches were drained and towns built there � Increased Mussolini’s popularity

Domestic policy – 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 o Vatican made an independent state o Catholicism became official religion of Italy o Mussolini became even more popular

Lateran Pact

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

Foreign policy – befriending Germany � Both Italy and Germany were fascist countries � 1936 Signed an alliance called Rome -Berlin Alliance � 1939 Pact of Steel signed

Italy during WW 2 �In WW 2 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 �Mussolini (now very unpopular in Italy) imprisoned �Had to be rescued by Germany

Italy during WW 2 (2) � But in 1945 he was captured and killed by anti-fascist Italians � Body displayed in public � End of Fascism in Italy

Revision Qs 1. 2. 3. 4. What is Fascism – 5 points Mussolini’s promises in election? How did Mussolini become dictator? What is Lateran Treary?

1. What is fascism? � Q 1 � � Answer: Hated Communism Extreme Nationalists Abolished democracy Dictatorship – 1 leader Unquestioning loyalty to the leader

Q 2 � � Answer: To make Italy great – an Empire Create jobs Destroy Communism

How mussolini became dictator � Q 3 Answer: Banned all parties � Trade Unions abolished � Secret Police – OVRA � Propaganda – history books rewritten � Indoctrination

What was lateran treaty? � Q 4 Answer: Deal with C. Church � Pope’s Vatican independent � The C. Church given compensation � Catholicism official language � Boosted Mussolini’s popularity