Rise of Fascism and Mussolini 1-12

Pre-War Italy

Italy unified 1861 but still very divided, beginning WWI lower class feels left out →growth in communists/socialists →1892 creation of Italian Socialist Party (PSI), after WWI series of bad Gov’t - incapable of solving problems

Definition of Fascism

Right wing, usually totalitarian leadership, Elements of Fascism: 1. fear of communism, 2. att. liberal/ democratic ideas, 3. intense nationalism, 4. militarism used for goals, 5. generally wants country to be empire, 6. nation is superior to others, 7. action over reason, 8. violence of legality, 9. heroism over compassion, 10. oppose class based division, 11. Social Darwinism

Why Fascism?

developed after WWI where people questioned Gov’t, greater lower class → greater chance of communism, greater middle and upper class →greater chance of fascism, during the inner-years of WWI and WWII most countries that were involved in WWI chose either communism or fascism, problems and frustration led to extreme ideas, WWI veterans were unhappy how war ended and struggled to fit back into society

Post-War Italy

had constitutional monarchy - very weak →people were tired of it, coalition gov’t repetitively fail causing constant new elections, bad economy, middle class begins losing money, middle and upper class afraid of communism, Two Red Years (1919-1920) - a lot of violence in the streets - Black Shirts vs. Left parties

Benito Mussolini 1883 1945

grew up in socialist family - father leader of PSI, becomes editor of socialist newspaper in Switzerland, works his way up in party and becomes editor of Avanti newspaper, intelligent, confident, fantastic speaker & natural leader, WWI PSI did not want to enter war but Musi did - expelled from party, fights in war and has philosophical change - thinks Italy just needs great leader, wants to bring back Roman Empire, dictator 1922 - 1943

Forming the Fascist Party

Mussolini and others form party in 1919 in Milan, same year party got no seats in election, same time paramilitary group Black Shirts is created - went after anyone in the way of fascism

Elements Come Together

due to strikes, inflation, bad gov’t, & WWI caused unhappiness, 1919 PSI got most votes in election, 1919-1922 Fascist advertise themselves as savior for middle class, Catholic Church begins supporting Fascists, Fascists start working w/ Liberal Party, 1921 election Fascist Party gets 35 seats

D’Annunzio & the Fiume Affair

Fiume was a promised town that It. did not get after WWI, Sep. 1919 he gets paramilitary group (2k people) and marches into Fiume & takes it over, Gov’t is supposed to take over but PM Nitti refuses and tells D’Annunzio to surrender, he stays in town for 15 months, PM Giolitti comes in and gets him out of Fiume, people mad because Gov’t did not take city, Musi & Fascist like this event - use it for inspiration for direct action and name of Black Shirts, also took D’Annunzio’s way of speech - dramatic rythmic

March on Rome

Sep. 1922 Musi gives speech supporting the monarchy, Musi & Fascist party meet with politicians telling them to make Musi PM, Oct. 1922 Musi gives speech saying “we want to be the state”, PM Facta is told to resign by Fascists or they will do March on Rome, 3 groups of Black Shirts placed around Rome & some took over local Gov’t buildings and small cities, Facta asks King Victor Emmanuel III to use army to stop F but he says no, King makes Musi PM to prevent civil war

Results

success of F was due to fear of communism, economic struggles, and a lot of humiliated people, when Musi gets PM he had support from army, police, and business men

Consolidation of Power

most believed Musi would fail quickly, 1st year Musi replaces local officials, police, Gov’t people w/ Fascists - same happens to army eventually, Black Shirts legalized, July 1923 Musi gets Acerbo Law passed - party that gets most votes gets 2/3 of seats in parliament, April 1924 Musi holds elections - won 65% due to removal of opposition

Dictatorship: Il Duce

Musi only makes move for dictatorial power after assassination of Matteotti - May 1924 Matteoti gives speech against F - dead after couple of days - people question Musi - but Musi finds murderers and executes them - gains back trust from people, Jan 3. 1925 Musi proclaims dictatorship & takes country down to 1 party state - majority of people from gov’t that were not right leave and protest - thought King would force Musi out but he did not, Musi left King in position to not cause unrest by the people, Musi In power 1925-1943