Leaving Certificate History

Mussolini and Italy

TEACHER AND THEN A JOURNALIST

ITALY JOINED WWI 1915 - SIDE OF ALLIES

MUSSOLINI A SOLDIER IN W.W.I - injured - strong feelings on impact of W.W.I

CREATED HIS OWN POLITICAL PARTY IN MILAN

FASCIST PARTY BEGAN1919

· Anti-Communist

· Need for powerful leader - law and order - stability

· State to come before the individual

· Extreme nationalism - make Italy powerful

· Goal of self-sufficiency

FIUME INCIDENT 1919 - D’Annunzio IMPRESSED MUSSOLINI

GENERAL ELECTION 1919 - NO Seats for Fascist Party

GENERAL ELECTION 1921 - 35 Seats for Fascist Party

SUMMER 1922 - MUSSOLINI THREATENED A "MARCH ON ROME"

OCTOBER 1922 - MUSSOLINI MADE PRIME MINISTER OF Italy 

MUSSOLINI AS P.M.

BECAME PM IN NORMAL, DEMOCRATIC COALITION GOVERNMENT

WANTED TOTAL CONTROL

BUT  

HAD TO MOVE CAREFULLY

GOT ACERBO LAW PASSED IN 1923

FASCIST WON MAJORITY IN 1924 ELECTION

SOCIALIST LEADER – MATTEOTTI – CRITICISED FASCISTS – MURDERED

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL OUTCRY

OTHER PARTIES WALKED OUT OF PARLIAMENT

KING REFUSED TO DISMISS MUSSOLINI

ONE-PARTY RULE BEGAN.

HOW DID HE ESTABLISH TOTAL CONTROL?

GRAND COUNCIL OF FASCISM FORMED

• BLACKSHIRTS BECAME NATIONAL MILITIA
• NEW SECRET POLICE FORMED
• SPECIAL COURTS
• CONCENTRATION CAMPS OPENED
• RULED BY DECREE
•  
• IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

• VERY STRICT CENSORSHIP
• ABORTION A CRIME
• RE ALLOWED IN SCHOOLS
• LATERAN TREATY SIGNED 1929
• VATICAN STATE TO POPE
• CATHOLICISM THE STATE RELIGION
• HUGE POPULARITY FOR P.M.
• BUT RELATIONS DETERIORATED IN 1930’S

CONTROL OF EDUCATION AND MEDIA

THE USE OF PROPAGANDA

• PROPAGANDA WIDELY USED
• P.M. CALLED IL DUCE
• CULT OF LEADERSHIP CREATED
• WANTED TO BE THE “NEW CAESAR”
• HUGE RALLIES HELD
• SCHOOL BOOKS RE-WRITTEN
• EDUCATION FOR INDOCTRINATION
• BOYS JOINED THE BALILLA
• STRICT PRESS CENSORSHIP
•  
• ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

• WANTED AUTARKY
• WANTED A LARGER POPULATION
• WANTED AN EMPIRE
• BATTLE FOR GRAIN BEGAN 1925
• BATTLE FOR LAND
• BATTLE FOR THE LIRA
• BATTLE FOR BIRTHS
• MAJOR PUBLIC WORKS SCHEMES
• NEW MOTORWAY + RAILWAYS
•  
• THE CORPORATE STATE IDEA

• GOAL WAS TO ELIMINATE STRUGGLE BETWEEN EMPOYER AND WORKER
• ALL TO WORK FOR COMMON GOAL
• NO TRADE UNIONS
• EVERY PROFESSION AND INDUSTRY HAD OWN CORPORATION
• STRIKES FORBIDDEN
• PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED IN NEGOTIATION
• REALITY WAS FASCISTS WERE IN CONTROL
• WAGES FELL
• LIVING STANDARDS REMAINED LOW