• Italy suffers as a result of WWI-high casualties

  • People blame the government for troubles of WWI.

• Massive unemployment

• Hunger

• Political conflict among parties

  • Feared Socialists and Communists

• Strikes by Socialists and Communists

• Had been promised territory after WWI-never got it.

Fascism

• Democracy is a failed system

• Intense nationalism/patriotism--country is MOST important!

• No individual rights or liberties. The good of the state is more important.

• Single political party. Opposing viewpoints are NOT allowed.

• Run by a powerful dictator.

• Government controls ALL aspects of daily life.

• Strong military

• War is celebrated as a way to elevate the power of the state.

Specific events Mussolini's rise to power

• Italy suffered after WWI.

  • High casualties

  • Blamed democratic government for losses in war and aftermath

• Economic Hard Times

  • High inflation rates

  • High unemployment

• Mussolini organized the Fascist Party to demand changes in the government.

  • Violent protest convinced King Victor Emmanuel to put Mussolini in power.

• Mussolini promised he would solve the problems of Italy and bring Italy back to greatness

• Tactics Used to Maintain Power

  • Promises to make things better.

  • Eliminate all opposition

  • Blackshirts - squads of armed Fascists

    • Used fear and violence to eliminate opposition.

  • Secret police to eliminate opposition

  • Propaganda

  • Mass rallies/speeches

  • Scapegoating - blame other groups for problems

  • Censorship (limit information/control the message)

• Not totally successful in ending unemployment

• Temporarily successful in adding to Italian empire

  • Ethiopia in Africa

• Entered into alliance with Hitler and Nazi Germany (WWII)

• Anti-Semitism - deported nearly 20% of Italian Jewish population to German death camps.

• Only succeeded is short-term gains. In the long run, Italy was devastated by WWII.

• Mussolini ultimately captured and executed by his own people.