The Rise of Fascism

1. The Rise of Fascism

2. Mussolini Born in 1883 Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini

3. However, at the outbreak of war in August 1914, Italy does not follow her allies into the war. Instead, she waits to see how things play out. Italy, before the war, had initially sided with Germany and Austria-Hungary in the Triple Alliance.

4. On April 26, 1915 Italy joins the war on the side of the Triple Entente

5. Mussolini originally speaks out against the war: “Down with the war. Down with arms and up with humanity” (1914)

6. He changes his mind by October of 1914: “Do you want to be the spectators in this great drama? Or do you want to be its fighters?”

7. In speaking out against the war, he breaks with the Socialist party When he leaves the party, many young, energetic members follow him

8. He creates the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento (or Italian Combat Squad) in March of 1919

9. “fasci” is plural for “fascio” which means a “league” and refers to a political party “Fasces” is Latin for a bundle of rods (usually white birch rods) that were bound together. Romans used these is ceremonies, and they came to symbolize power or strength in unity

10. Fasces

11. Mussolini and the Fascists relied on powerful social and economic forces that were present at the time They appealed to sections of Italian society that were afraid of social revolution or civil war

12. After the war inflation, high unemployment, numerous strikes, and wanted increases in wages cause the working classes to become upset The Socialist party tries to gain support from the working classes and some in the Party begin to talk as though a Red Revolution is inevitable.

13. As strikes occur and the government takes caution in responding to the strikes, more fears are created as the middle class start feeling less important and fear the loss of their property and money The fascists exploit this fear and rally people against Socialism and the fear of Communism

14. In Bologna in November 1920, violence erupts between the Fascists and the Socialists. The Fascists insist that they are not hostile to the working classes and they did not begin the violence.

15. Mussolini’s “Blackshirts” begin a campaign against what they call “social unrest” (mainly against the socialists and other left-wing groups). Through 1921 & 1922, the violence and brutality continues

17. Even the government supported them by stating that it might be useful to use them to oppose “anti-national and subversive elements”

18. In 1922, Mussolini and the Fascists Party organize the March on Rome, with roughly 30,000 supporters “Our program is simple: we want to rule Italy”

19. Mussolini demands the resignation of the Prime Minister and on October 28 is handed over power by the king…the king did this partly because he feared a civil war. Mussolini now becomes the Prime Minister

20. Now in power, Mussolini focuses on restoring the authority of the state. He passes legislation that favours wealthy industrialists and the agrarian classes

21. Over a number of years, he takes control of almost every aspect of the government. He, basically, controls all workings of the state. Builds a police state. Outlaws all other political parties in 1928.