Unit: Between the Unit: Between the WarsWars

Topic: Fascist ItalyTopic: Fascist Italy

1. What is 1. What is Fascism?Fascism?

A.A. FascismFascism is the rule of a people by dictatorial is the rule of a people by dictatorial government that is nationalistic and government that is nationalistic and imperialistic, but also anti-Communist.imperialistic, but also anti-Communist.

Why is fascism anti-Why is fascism anti-Communist?Communist?

►Fascists found allies Fascists found allies among business leaders among business leaders and the wealthy, as well and the wealthy, as well as the lower middle class.as the lower middle class.

►Communists won support Communists won support among the urban working among the urban working class.class.

B.B. Italy got the Italy got the raw end of raw end of WWI: treaties WWI: treaties had given away had given away promised land, promised land, war veterans war veterans could not find could not find jobs, and taxes jobs, and taxes were high - were high - workers workers frequently frequently went on strike.went on strike.

2. Hello, 2. Hello, Benito Benito

Mussolini!Mussolini!

A.A. MussoliniMussolini took took advantage of advantage of the unrest, the unrest, gathering a gathering a following of following of war veterans war veterans and unhappy and unhappy Italians.Italians.

B.B. He called his group the He called his group the Fascist partyFascist party and pledged to solve the nation’s and pledged to solve the nation’s problems by strengthening Italy!problems by strengthening Italy!

C.C. He also He also vowed to vowed to end all end all threats of threats of communiscommunism in Italy.m in Italy.

3. The 3. The Black Black ShirtsShirts

A.A. Mussolini organized his supporters into Mussolini organized his supporters into black-shirted “combat squads.”black-shirted “combat squads.”

B.B. Black ShirtsBlack Shirts broke up socialist rallies, broke up socialist rallies, smashed presses, and attacked any smashed presses, and attacked any non-Mussolini Italian.non-Mussolini Italian.

C.C. Many Italians Many Italians accepted the accepted the Black Shirts Black Shirts and and Mussolini Mussolini because they because they had lost faith had lost faith in their in their government.government.

4. 4. Mussolini Mussolini

Takes Takes Over!Over!

A.A. In 1922, the Fascists announced a In 1922, the Fascists announced a “march on Rome;” tens of thousands of “march on Rome;” tens of thousands of Fascists swarmed the capital.Fascists swarmed the capital.

B.B. Fearing civil Fearing civil war, King war, King Victor Victor Emmanuel II Emmanuel II asked asked Mussolini to Mussolini to become become prime prime minister.minister.

C.C. Mussolini Mussolini promptly promptly brought the brought the economy economy under state under state control, but control, but preserved preserved capitalism - he capitalism - he called this a called this a ““corporate corporate statestate.”.”