Fascism Unit

Fascism

Government that glorifies the state and nation - the state controls every aspect of national life.

Fasces symbol description

Symbolizes unity and power

8 Characteristics of Fascism

1. Myth of rebirth-greatness

2. Ideology

3. Subordination to the state

4. Cult of state worship

5. Rampant sexism

6. Identification of enemies or scapegoats as a unifying cause

7. Restriction of rights and freedom

8. Controlled mass media

Myth of rebirth-greatness

Emphasis on a national or racial rebirth after a period of decline or destruction. (Ex. Germany and Italy after WWI)

Ideology

• Extreme right-wing ideology

• Nation is a pure race

• Powerful nationalism

Subordination to the state

• Fascism uses force/violence to make sure everyone bows down to the state

• Anti-democratic

Cult of state worship

• The individual has no significance except as a member of the state

• Constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, flags, etc.

Rampant Sexism

• Almost exclusively male dominated

• Divorce, abortion, and homosexuality are suppressed

Identification of enemies or scapegoats as a unifying cause

• “Our problems are caused by ___”

• This hatred is used to bring the country together

Restriction of rights and freedom

• Fear of enemies led to restraining of human rights

• People look the other way because…

The Black Shirts

The Black Shirts were Mussolini’s Fascist militia, formed in 1919, that used violence to fight political enemies and helped him seize power in Italy.

March on Rome

The March on Rome was a 1922 protest where Mussolini’s Black Shirts threatened to seize power, leading the king to make Mussolini Italy’s prime minister.

Mussolini forms a government

• King Victor Emmanuel III invited Mussolini to join a coalition government

• 1925 - Mussolini eventually sized dictorial power during a political crisis

The Lateran Accords - 1929

• Settled a long-running dispute over the Catholic Church’s role in Italian politics

• Terms: The Papacy was granted sovereignty over Vatican city

• Roman Catholicism was the sole state religion throughout Italy

Educational Techniques

• The first sentence pronounced by children at school was a hail to Mussolini

• Students participated in intense Phys Ed classes 2x a day to prepare them to enlist in the war effort

Anti-Semitism

• Jews were an integral part of Mussolini’s government

• Pressure started to build in the 1930s with Fascist ideology and Germany