Topic #1: The Rise of Italian Fascism

fascism

• a centralized, authoritarian government that is not communist
• this government's policies glorify the state over the individual
• this government's policies are destructive to basic human rights
• basic features of this: extreme nationalism; glorification of action, violence, and discipline; demanding blind loyalty to the state
• glorified war and aggressive foreign expansion because it was a noble struggle for survival and the best military way to show you're better than everyone else
• rejected democracy and the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason, equality, and liberty
• thought democracy led to corruption and weakness
• thought democracy hurt the community by destroying their feelings and placing national goals below individual or class interests
• restricted personal liberties
• despite restricting personal liberties, this appealed to many Italians because: it promised a strong and stable government; an end to the political feuding which had paralyzed the democracy in Italy; a sense of power and confidence at a time of disorder and despair; intense nationalism that revived national pride; Mussolini's facial and hand gestures in speeches inspired confidence; talks of making Italy important and the Roman Empire great again

fasces

• historical origin: symbol of the Roman Empire, first used by the Republic of Rome
• Italian fascists chose this as the symbol of their political party
• symbolized unity and authority in Ancient Rome
• Mussolini used this to remind Italians that they were once the greatest empire and they would be once again!
• ax: militarism, glorify war
• bundle of rods (sticks): nationalism, individuals are not special (not strong, but trash) but together they are unbreakable
• 1 string holding the bundle together: absolutism/authoritarianism/totalitarianism, there would be one leader with 100% power who would hold it all together
• the whole thing together (ax, bundle of rods/sticks, one string): imperialism, they will set up an empire, everyone would fall under them

Benito Mussolini

• 1919: right after WWI's conclusion, created the Fascist Party (a political party)
• many of the earliest members of this man's political party were WWI veterans, but unhappy peasants, city workers, and nationalists joined too
• this man and other Italian fascists chose the fasces as the symbol of the Fascist Party
• in his fiery speeches, this man promised to make Italy stronger by: ending corruption; replacing turmoil with order; and reviving Roman greatness pledging to turn Mediterranean into a "Roman lake" once again
• organized his supporters into "combat squads"
• this man's Black Shirts violently broke up socialist rallies, destroyed leftist printing presses, attacked farmers' cooperatives, threw elected officials out of northern Italy by using intimidation and terror
• after the March on Rome, this man got 100% power of Italy
• by 1925, this man ruled Italy with the title of choice: "𝘐𝘭 𝘋𝘶𝘤𝘦" (the Leader)
• guaranteed that no one opposed or challenged his leadership and policies through: suppressing rival parties; muzzling the press; rigging elections; replacing elected officials with Fascist supporters; throwing critics in jail, forcing critics into exile or murdering critics; secret police and propaganda bolstered the regime
• brought the economy under state control
• under him, representatives of business, labor, government, and Fascist party controlled the industry, agriculture, and trade
• this man's economic strategies preserved capitalism, successfully helped business, and boosted rates of production across Italy
• human toll of his policies: workers forbidden to strike and their wages kept low
• expected Italian men to serve in military
• expected Italian women to have children (more than 14, given a medal by this man)
• expected Italian boys to be soldiers
• expected Italian girls to be mothers

The Black Shirts

• the Fascist party's militants
• rejected democracy, preferred to use violent action to make political changes
• violently broke up socialist rallies
• destroyed leftist printing presses
• attacked farmers' cooperatives
• threw elected officials out of northern Italy by using intimidation and terror
• many Italians accepted the violent actions of this group because they lost faith in the constitutional government

The March on Rome

• a turning point in October of 1922 in Rome
• main purpose: demand the government to make changes
• tens of thousands fascists participated in this march
• at this time, King Victor Emmanuel III was the King of Italy
• when this happened, the King asked Mussolini to form a government as prime minister
• after this, Mussolini had 100% power of Italy

King Victor Emmanuel III

• the King of Italy at the time of the March on Rome
• he feared a civil war as the Fascist approached the capital, so he asked Mussolini to form a government as prime minister

𝘐𝘭 𝘋𝘶𝘤𝘦

• by 1925, Mussolini ruled Italy with this title
• means "The Leader"

As a member of the winners, Allied Powers, Italy had expected to gain what?

land from Austria-Hungry

What did the Treaty of Versailles do with the land Italy expected to gain from WWI?

They included the land from Austria-Hungary into the creation of a new nation known as Yugoslavia.

Back in Italy, what did Italian peasants do after being inspired by the Russian Revolution?

They took over land.

After WWI, what did some city workers go on to do?

They went on strike and took over factories.

Who were anxious and scared after the Italian peasants and city workers revolted?

The wealthy landowners and factory owners.

When WWI veterans returned home to Italy, why were they unhappy and frustrated?

They could not find jobs as unemployment levels were high in general, but especially high for veterans.

After WWI in Italy, trade went ____ and _____ increased.

down; taxes

What was Italy's government like after WWI and how did the people feel about it?

Their government was weak and split up and the people did not have confidence in its ability to fix the nation's problems.

In 1919, right after WWI ended, Benito Mussolini created what political party?

the Fascist Party

Who were some of the earliest members of the Fascist Party?

World War I veterans, but unhappy peasants, city workers, and nationalists also joined.

What did Italian fascists chose as the symbol of their political party? Why?

They chose the fasces because it symbolized unity and authority in Ancient Rome.

In his fiery speeches, how did Mussolini promise to make Italy stronger?

• promised to end corruption
• promised to replace turmoil with order
• promised to revive Roman greatness, pledging to turn the Mediterranean into a "Roman lake" once more

How did Mussolini organize his supporters?

He organized his supporters into "combat squads."

What were the Black Shirts?

They were the Fascist party's militants.

What type of government did the Black Shirts reject?

Democracy, they instead opted to use violent action to make political changes.

What did Mussolini's Black Shirts do?

• violently broke up socialist rallies
• destroyed leftist printing presses
• attacked farmers' cooperatives
• threw elected officials out of northern Italy by using intimidation and terror

Did many Italians accept OR reject the violent actions of the Black Shirts?

They accepted them because they had lost their faith in the constitutional government.

What was the main purpose of the March on Rome?

to demand the government to make changes

How many fascists participated in the March on Rome?

tens of thousands

Who was the King of Italy at the time of the March on Rome?

King Victor Emmanuel III

How did the King of Italy react to the March on Rome?

He asked Mussolini to form a government as prime minister.

How did the March on Rome directly change Mussolini's power?

Mussolini got 100% power of Italy.

By 1925, Mussolini ruled Italy with what title of his choice?

𝘐𝘭 𝘋𝘶𝘤𝘦

What did "𝘐𝘭 𝘋𝘶𝘤𝘦" mean?

"The Leader"

How did Mussolini guarantee that no one opposed or challenged his leadership and policies? (List the strategies he used to secure totalitarian power)

1. suppressed rival parties
2. muzzled the press
3. rigged elections
4. replaced elected officials with Fascist supporters
5. critics were thrown into prison, forced into exile or murdered
6. secret police and propaganda bolstered the regime

How did Mussolini guarantee that the Italian economy improved?

• brought the economy under state control
• representatives of business, labor, government and the Fascist party controlled the industry, agriculture, and trade

TRUE OR FALSE: Mussolini's economic strategies preserved capitalism, successfully helped business, and boosted rates of production across Italy.

True

What was the "human toll" of Mussolini's economic policies?

Workers were forbidden to strike and their wages were kept low.

How did Mussolini expect Italian men to help the state?

He expected them to be ruthless, selfless warriors fighting for Italy's glory AKA serve in the military.

How did Mussolini expect Italian woman to help the state?

He expected them to have LOTS of children. Those who had more than 14 children were given a medal by Mussolini himself.

How did Mussolini expect Italian children to help the state?

Mussolini made sure the children were taught about the glories of Ancient Rome in school and taught to obey strict military discipline. Boys were molded into strong soldiers, while girls were molded into strong, nurturing mothers. The children marched in torchlight parades singing patriotic hymns and chanting "Mussolini is always right."

Features shared by Totalitarian States like Mussolini's Italy, Hitler's Germany, and Stalin's Soviet Union

• single-party dictatorships where the state controlled economy
• party led by a dictator who used police spies and terrorism to control people and demand unquestioning obedience
• government controlled the media
• government enforced strict censorship
• used any means to indoctrinate or mold its citizen's ideas and thoughts

Today, people generally use the term fascism to describe…

A centralized, authoritarian government that is not communist. This government's policies glorify the state over the individual. And this government's policies are destructive to basic human rights.

All forms of fascism share basic features, what are these?

• extreme nationalism
• glorification of action, violence, and discipline
• demanding bling loyalty to the state

Fascism glorified war and aggressive foreign expansion because…

It was a noble struggle for survival and the best military way to show your better than everybody else.

Fascism rejected democracy and what?

The Enlightenment's emphasis on reason, equality and liberty.

What did fascists think democracy led to?

corruption and weakness

How did fascists think democracy would hurt the community?

Democracy would hurt the community by destroying the community's feelings and placing national goals below individual or class interests.

Fascism restricted personal liberties. Despite this fact, why did fascism appeal to many Italians?

• a strong stable government
• an end to the political feuding which had paralyzed democracy in Italy
• sense of power and confidence at a time of disorder and despair
• intense nationalism revived national pride
• Mussolini's facial expressions and gestures and speeches inspired confidence
• the talk about making Italy important and the Roman Empire great again

Why were millions of Italian people dissatisfied in 1919 with their government?

• their government (a democracy, a King with voting and Parliament) was weak and split up
• government didn't push against the Treaty of Versailles to gain as much land as the Italians thought they deserved

Why were millions of Italian people dissatisfied in 1919 with their economy?

• low trade
• high taxes
• high levels of unemployment
• prices went up because strikes were common
• wages were low

Why were millions of Italian people dissatisfied in 1919 with daily life frustrations?

• angry veterans: had no jobs and no respect!
• strikes
• threats of communism (for landowners)

What was Mussolini trying to achieve during the March on Rome?

• wanted changes (angry)
• wanted to overthrow and take control!

The March on Rome was a success. How did Mussolini guarantee that he accomplished his goal?

• he marched with around 30,000 Black Shirts
• King Victor Emmanuel III was scared and stepped aside

After the March on Rome, what was Mussolini's title until his death in 1945?

"𝘐𝘭 𝘋𝘶𝘤𝘦" OR "The Leader"

What is the historical significance of Mussolini's title?

• showed his authoritarian government
• people loved his strength

What did Mussolini do to make more Italian people feel proud of their government?

• emphasized past glory
• promised greatness
• gets rid of weak government
• hope for the future, make Italy #1 again

What did Mussolini do to make more Italian people feel secure and satisfied economically?

• kept capitalism (individuals own businesses and personal profits)
• states directed factories and farming
• weapons were built in factories
• unions and strikes illegal

What did Mussolini do to reduce daily life frustration?

• centralized government
• stable government
• stabilized Italy
• boosted national pride
• men supposed to be warriors
• women supposed to have children (had 14 = an award by 𝘐𝘭 𝘋𝘶𝘤𝘦)
• children taught only the greatness of Ancient Rome (propaganda), engaged in LOTS of physical activities (sports), repeated "Mussolini is always right."

What does the ax on a fasces represent?

militarism and the glorification of war

What does the bundle of rods (sticks) on a fasces represent?

nationalism and that individuals are not strong (not special, but trash), but together are unbreakable

What does the one string on a fasces represent?

absolutism/totalitarianism/authoritarianism and the fact that one leader with 100% power was needed to lead the people.

What did all the elements of a fasces put together represent (ax, bundle of rods/sticks, and single string)?

imperialism and that Italy would set up an empire and everyone would fall under them.

How did the fasces' historical origins connect with Mussolini's vision for the future in the 1920s?

The fasces symbolized unity and authority in Ancient Rome (first used by the Republic of Rome). The fasces reminded Italians that they were once the greatest empire and they would be once again!

Why did fascists criticize democracy?

• led to corruption and weakness
• put individuals interests above the national goal

How did the Fascist party's symbol reflect their critique of democracy?

Democracy was individualized, they said. It would allow the "idiots" to rule (AKA the people who voted).

Why did the fascists criticize communism?

They didn't like the idea of no classes. They believed in the fact that people are NOT equal. The strong deserved to prey on the weak.

Image of Mussolini's face with "Si" repeated in the background Where was this photo taken?

At the Fascist headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Image of Mussolini's face with "Si" repeated in the background What message did this visual display clearly convey to those passing by the location?

Mussolini is always right and always watching…