fascism in italy chapter 13 section 3. italy italy after world war i after wwi, italian nationalists...
TRANSCRIPT
Fascism in Italy
Chapter 13Section 3
Italy
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
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
Benito Mussolini
Fascist Blackshirts
Mussolini Speaking to His People
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!
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
VaticanThe smallest independent state in the world.
Pius XI
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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
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
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?
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?
The End