The Rise of FascismThe Rise of Fascism

Italy after WWIItaly after WWI After WWI, most people in Italy were very disillusioned.After WWI, most people in Italy were very disillusioned.

Reasons Why:Reasons Why:

1. They felt short-changed by the Treaty of Versailles 1. They felt short-changed by the Treaty of Versailles because they received no territory even though they were on because they received no territory even though they were on the winning side.the winning side.

2. There was lots of unemployment.2. There was lots of unemployment.

3. There were constant strikes by workers. Uprisings of 3. There were constant strikes by workers. Uprisings of peasants.peasants.

4. There were many Communists in Italy which scared many 4. There were many Communists in Italy which scared many of the middle and upper-class people.of the middle and upper-class people.

The democratic government didn’t seem to be able to do The democratic government didn’t seem to be able to do anything about any of these problems. anything about any of these problems.

People Look for New People Look for New AlternativesAlternatives

Because there seemed to be so many Because there seemed to be so many problems, people began to be problems, people began to be critical critical of of their their democraticdemocratic governments.governments.

People began looking for People began looking for new leadersnew leaders and and political ideas to help solve the political ideas to help solve the ProblemsProblems..

Some people looked to Communism as a Some people looked to Communism as a possible solution.possible solution.

Others looked to Others looked to Fascism.Fascism.

What is Fascism?What is Fascism? A right-wing form of government in which the A right-wing form of government in which the

nation (or state) is supreme.nation (or state) is supreme.

A A TotalitarianTotalitarian dictatorship (a strong leader). dictatorship (a strong leader).

Individual rights are less important than what is Individual rights are less important than what is good for the country.good for the country.

Anti-communist.Anti-communist.

Extremely Extremely nationalisticnationalistic..

Seeks greatness and glory for the nation.Seeks greatness and glory for the nation.

Who would support Who would support Fascism?Fascism?

People who don’t feel democracy is People who don’t feel democracy is working.working.

People (middle-class and upper-class) who People (middle-class and upper-class) who fear fear that that CommunistsCommunists will take over. will take over.

People who have People who have great pridegreat pride in their in their country and think a great leader can make country and think a great leader can make the country great.the country great.

Benito MussoliniBenito Mussolini

A former A former school teacherschool teacher and Socialist journalist.and Socialist journalist.

Served in the Italian Served in the Italian army during WWI and army during WWI and became very became very nationalistic nationalistic (abandoned socialism).(abandoned socialism).

Formed the National Formed the National FascistFascist Party in 1919. Party in 1919.

What does Fascist mean?What does Fascist mean?

Fascio Fascio in Italian in Italian means—”Bundle of means—”Bundle of Sticks.”Sticks.”

It was a reference to It was a reference to the Latin the Latin FascesFasces (the (the bundle of rods that bundle of rods that were were the ancient the ancient Roman symbol of Roman symbol of state power).state power).

What the Fascists PromiseWhat the Fascists Promise

They will make the country a great They will make the country a great world power.world power.

They will restore order and prevent They will restore order and prevent communism and create jobs.communism and create jobs.

Appeal emphasizes a promising future Appeal emphasizes a promising future by emphasizing the glory of the past.by emphasizing the glory of the past.

The Black ShirtsThe Black Shirts The The Black shirtsBlack shirts were bands of were bands of

young fascists who bullied (and young fascists who bullied (and even killed) political opponents.even killed) political opponents.

Usually aimed their attacks Usually aimed their attacks against against CommunistsCommunists and and union workers.union workers.

Were secretly provided with Were secretly provided with money and weapons by money and weapons by landowners and the urban landowners and the urban wealthy.wealthy.

The March on RomeThe March on Rome

1922, The Fascists March towards Rome—1922, The Fascists March towards Rome—the Italian capital—saying they need to the Italian capital—saying they need to take over the government to save the take over the government to save the country.country.

The Italian King—Victor Emanuel III—The Italian King—Victor Emanuel III—agrees to let the Fascists rule.agrees to let the Fascists rule.

The Fascists in ChargeThe Fascists in Charge

Mussolini became a dictator.Mussolini became a dictator.

He outlawed all political parties but the He outlawed all political parties but the Fascists.Fascists.

He killed or imprisoned his political He killed or imprisoned his political opponents.opponents.

He outlawed labor unions and put He outlawed labor unions and put censorship on the press.censorship on the press.

Mussolini in ChargeMussolini in Charge Under Mussolini, Italy attempted to be a totalitarian state.Under Mussolini, Italy attempted to be a totalitarian state.

The govt. tried to control everything.The govt. tried to control everything.

Corporative Economy: working conditions, wages, and Corporative Economy: working conditions, wages, and prices determined by govt., owners, and workers.prices determined by govt., owners, and workers.

Structure of society remained the same.Structure of society remained the same.

Feeling Italy undergoing a heroic national revival.Feeling Italy undergoing a heroic national revival.

Women are 2Women are 2ndnd class citizens who are encouraged to have class citizens who are encouraged to have as many children as possible (14 got a medal from as many children as possible (14 got a medal from Mussolini himself).Mussolini himself).

Fascist YouthFascist Youth

Propaganda is used to glorify Propaganda is used to glorify Fascism.Fascism.

Mussolini goes by the title Mussolini goes by the title IL Duce IL Duce ((The Leader).The Leader).

In 1935, Italy invades the African In 1935, Italy invades the African country of country of EthiopiaEthiopia..

““He made the trains run on time.”He made the trains run on time.”

ReviewReview

The “Lost Generation”The “Lost Generation”

The “Lost Generation” were The “Lost Generation” were writers that wrote about writers that wrote about disillusionment after WWI.disillusionment after WWI.

Gertrude Stein came up with Gertrude Stein came up with the name.the name.

Writers include: Ernest Writers include: Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Hemingway and F. Scott FitzgeraldFitzgerald

Europe After WWIEurope After WWI

After the Great War, most of the European After the Great War, most of the European countries were in a countries were in a bad statebad state..

Many citizens felt Many citizens felt disillusioneddisillusioned..

Most economies were down—countries Most economies were down—countries owed a lot for supplies from war and when owed a lot for supplies from war and when all of the soldiers came back, there was all of the soldiers came back, there was not usually enough not usually enough jobsjobs for everyonefor everyone..