Fascism in Italy: Module 21.3 Part 1 of 2 1915 Allies promise Italy parts of Austria-Hungary War over, part of promised land went to Yugoslavia Italy outraged Nationalist disorders Peasants seized land Workers went on strike Vets had no jobs Trade declined Taxes went up Weak government no end to crisis
From the turmoil came Benito Mussolini Socialist in youth rejected it later 1919 organized veterans & other discontents into Fascist Party Fiery charismatic speaker Promised to end corruption bring order a.k.a. IL DUCE, the leader Reviving Roman greatness
Mussolini Gains Control Organized supporters = combat squads Squads wore black shirts = Called the BLACK SHIRTS Party militants rejected democratic process Favored violent action Fascists gangs terrorized socialist gatherings & elected officials Many Italians accepted this behavior because they had lost faith in constitutional government
1922 went to Rome to demand government change MARCH ON ROME = tens of thousands of Fascists swarmed toward capital Fearful King Victor Emmanuel II asked Mussolini to form government as Prime Minister Mussolini entered city on October 30, 1922 as legal leader of Italy
Mussolini s Rule By 1925 Suppressed rival parties Muzzled press Rigged elections Replaced officials with Fascists
Mussolini s Rule 1929 Received support from Pope Pius XI in exchange for recognizing Vatican City as independent state Although Pope did disagree with some of Mussolini s goals
Mussolini s Rule In theory = Parliamentary Monarchy In fact = Dictatorship ruled w/terror Critics thrown in prison, exiled or murdered Secret police & propaganda bolstered regime Xxx
State Control of the Economy Economy under state control, but preserved capitalism Controlled industry, agriculture & trade Favored upper classes Workers could not strike; wages kept low
The Individual and the State Under Mussolini Loyalty to the State (all important) not to individual goals Slogans of Believe! Obey! Fight! over loudspeakers & on posters Men to be ruthless Women to win battle of motherhood those who bore more than 14 children given a medal by Il Duce himself
Fascist Youth Groups toughened children Taught to obey strict military discipline Taught about glories of ancient Rome Marched in torchlight parades Sang patriotic hymns, chanted Mussolini is always right!
Mussolini built first TOTALITARIAN STATE One-party dictatorship Regulates every aspect of lives of citizens Stalin & Hitler followed this example
What is Fascism? Fascism = any centralized, authoritarian government that is not communist whose policies glorify the State over the individual and are destructive to basic human rights 1920s & 1930s meant different things to different countries
All forms of Fascism share similar features: See chart >>>>>>>>> Blind loyalty to state as well Also aggressive foreign expansion Echo idea of survival of the fittest NO to concepts of equality & liberty Glorified warfare Anti-democratic Rejected faith in reason
The Appeal of Fascism With all those restrictions on freedom why did it appeal to so many Italians? Strong, stable government End political feuding Mussolini s sense of power & confidence Mussolini s intense nationalism revived national pride At first ----- Europe & U.S. applauded him, He got the train running on time. Later w/foreign conquests they protested
Fascism Compared to Communism National Goals FASCISTS Supported society with defined classes Support = Business leaders, wealthy landowners, middle class COMMUNISTS International Change Touted a classless society Support = Urban & agricultural workers BUT --- also had much in common Drew power by inspiring blind devotion to the state or charismatic leader Used terror to guard their power Flourished in economic hard times by promoting extreme programs of social change A party elite claimed to rule in the name of the national interest
Looking Ahead Three systems of government competed for influence in postwar Europe DEMOCRACY = in Britain & France, struggling, hard times COMMUNISM = Russia, winning support elsewhere FASCISM = Italy Germany now looks to fascist leaders