Unit 3 Italy Lesson 1 Mussolini's Rise to Power NOTES

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1 Unit 3 Italy Lesson 1 Mussolini's Rise to Power NOTES 1. Mussolini's political Career and the Rise of Fascism Fascism, a feature of the inter-war years, began in Italy and was developed by Mussolini. It was: Based on Evolutionary theory Anti-Communist Nationalistic wanted to make Italy a great nation anti-democratic in the early years the Fascists strongly supported private enterprise later Fascists were more interested in government control BUT the results were similar to those of communism: no personal freedom mass murder of opposition slavery of workers hatred of Jews (less a feature or Italian Fascism than Nazism) Fascism included: admiration of force since the best will win war serves the evolutionary survival of the fittest theories of racial superiority based on evolution hero worship Fascists were influenced by the German philosopher Nietzsche (a younger contemporary of Darwin and an enthusiastic evolutionist) who thought that warfare and eugenics would lead to a superman or super race. whereas Darwin postulated slow and gradual natural change, Nietzsche contended that the merciless extinction of inferior people and races would lead to the superman. Social Darwinism exalted competition, power and violence over convention, ethics and religion. It became a portmanteau of nationalism, imperialism, militarism, dictatorship, of the cult of the hero, the superman and the master race. 1 Mussolini saw himself in this mode. Power and military success were glorified and justified on the basis of science and nature. The aims of fascism were often woolly in other areas: claimed to support neither capitalism nor communism claimed to oppose class war Fascists believed in: Active government radical measures to deal with problems such as unemployment Fascist policies were sometimes socialist in character as for instance were the Nazis - National Socialists. Fascists were fond of slogans of obedience: "Mussolini is always right" "Believe, obey, fight" 1 Paraphrased from Himmelfarb cited in Henry Morris The Long War Against God (1989) p.68.

2 (Learn these 2 ) Rise of Mussolini Italy had combined a monarchy with a system of Parliamentary government since Governments were unstable coalitions The biennio rosso (the two red years, ): After WW1 the economy was in serious difficulties exports (luxury goods) could not find markets unemployment increased deep poverty especially in the south bandits, already a problem, increased by deserters from the war No one could establish effective government the country was discontented and frustrated communism began to increase in these circumstances strikes were common factory owners replied with lockouts General Election 1921 Communists (committed to violent Russian style revolution) only 13 seats (out of 535) A new party, the Fascists led by Mussolini, (son of a socialist blacksmith) who held violent socialist opinions and edited a newspaper which tried to combine socialist and nationalist ideas won 35 seats (in 1919 they had not won a single seat). In the government weak coalitions succeeded one another while the country became increasingly violent. Mussolini: attitude completely dominated by evolution. In his speeches he used the Darwinian catchwords mocking the ideas of perpetual peace which would hinder the evolutionary process. spread violent nationalist ideas through his paper contempt for democracy and pacifism wanted to save Italy from communism and bring her strong government. Industrialists and landowners provided Mussolini's action groups of demonstrators (Fasci di Combattimento) with money to destroy the communists and protect their property The movement grew Mussolini's supporters wore black shirts, adopted a Roman salute, carried daggers adopted as their symbol the fasces of Ancient Rome, a bundle of rods bound round an axe. They developed into very successful thugs They broke up communist meetings and beat up their opponents they broke up socialist organisations 2 Slogans are given from time to time in the course and are usually quite easy to learn. They can be quoted in exam answers to good effect.

3 and smashed trade unions this pleased employers Mussolini made himself more respectable by declaring that he had no hostile intentions towards either the monarchy or the church (this reversed his previous declarations) 1922 Socialists organised a general strike Mussolini: pointed to the weakness of the government Fascists: kept public services running launched new attacks on left-wing organisations burned the presses of the left-wing magazine "Avanti" (which Mussolini had once edited himself!) were unpunished for this lawlessness The March on Rome 1922 Mussolini acted quickly to make the most out of the discontent and chaos of the strike wanted Fascists to have at least a share in the government even though they only had 6 per cent of the seats in parliament. Planned a march on Rome with Fascists armed and drilled like soldiers who would occupy the capital the propertied classes liked Mussolini but how would the army react? March was not needed. the Italian Prime Minister asked the King for emergency powers to deal with the situation The king refused because he lacked confidence in the government and he was not sure how the army would react either. The Prime minister resigned and the king invited Mussolini to be Prime minister instead. Mussolini's first government was a coalition with only four Fascists in the cabinet Parliament quickly granted him full powers until To solve the problem of weak coalition it was proposed that the party with the most votes would have two-thirds of the seats in parliament. In any case Mussolini's fascists won two thirds of the seats in the 1924 General Election. Italy now on the road to dictatorship: Mussolini (Il Duce - the leader) resorted to: censorship repression filling local appointments with fascists murder of parliamentary opponents by Fascists The Fasci was a private army to keep Mussolini in power Mussolini began to make sure that the Fascists had complete control of the country Italian parliament offered little resistance 1924 Murder of Giacomo Matteotti, leader of the Italian Socialist Party.

4 Matteotti had been elected to the Italian parliament in the 1924 election (also in 1919 and 1921). He made a speech to the parliament The Fascists Exposed in which he strongly challenged the Fascist party. Not long afterwards he was murdered by assassins hired by the fascists and when his body was discovered Mussolini s regime was considerably shaken. Mussolini ordered a judicial inquiry which lasted 18 months three of the assassins sentenced to about 5 yrs penal servitude for unintentional homicide (remitted 2 months later on appeal). Three acquitted. This showed the direction in which Italy was going: 1926 All opposition outlawed Mussolini secured to right to: rule legislate direct the course of justice Fascists were now in all positions of authority 1928 Parliament was filled with Mussolini's stooges: Fascist Grand Council drew up list of candidates Voters could only accept or reject the whole list The Corporate (or Corporative) State Italy s Corporations of the 1930s These were intended to provide a blueprint for co-operation between employers and workers they extended Fascist authority strikes and lockouts were forbidden this idea looked attractive but Fascists used the corporations to muzzle the opposition inefficiency remained common Italian Parliament abolished in 1939 replaced with a chamber of Fascists and Corporations this represented the Fascist Party and the party dominated Corporations WRITTEN WORK 1.Describe the political career of Mussolini to October Give THREE reasons why Mussolini was made Prime Minister of Italy in Describe the rise to power of the Italian Fascist Party from 1919 to Why was Mussolini able to achieve power in Italy during this period? 3.Show how Mussolini established a Fascist state in Italy after he became Prime Minister in October Why was he able to become Prime Minister in 1922? 4.Show how Mussolini took control of Italy in the period 1921 to [How important was the Lateran Treaty of 1929?] See Lesson 2.

5 Additional questions in more recent style: 5. An unstable and disappointed land. Outline the history of Italy in the years in the light of this description. 6.With reference to the years , show to what extent Mussolini was able to increase his control of Italy. 7.Outline the ways in which Mussolini increased his power in Italy during the years To what extent might his government be described as a dictatorship by the end of those years? Notice the words to what extent in both these questions. Look out for these words when answering exam questions. They signal to you that you MUST answer in the following way: On the one hand... [give information, examples etc.] On the other hand... [give information on the other side, counter examples etc.] I strongly advise you when answering questions which contain these words to always use the words on the one hand... on the other hand in your answer. This will ensure you do what the examiners want and so gain the marks. There may be other ways of answering but this way will safely bag the marks for you. Similarly if the question asks, Why MAKE SURE THAT YOU USE THE WORD BECAUSE in answering. (Questions 1, 2 and 3 contain Why second parts) Answer question 2 and the second part of 7 as a practice in the technique described above. Remember: Join the dots with or without looking at the notes when actually writing the essay is fine. If you attempt it without looking make sure that you check what you have written against the highlighted notes and add anything you have left out afterwards. PPE (Point, Proof, Explanation) where you can.