Mussolini and Rise of Fascism
- the founder of fascism
- used blackshirts as a paramilitary force
- comes to power in 1923 after the March on Rome (was a peaceful event- that was a threat)
- King Emmanuel III refused to sign an emergency legislation to prevent it- he refused allowing Mussolini to come to power
- Private ownership encouraged and aided by the gov't
- Censorship of the media
- imperialistic
- Nationalistic
- Militaristic
- Non-democratic
- often totalitarian dictatorship
- "anti-liberal, anti-mass democracy, anti-socialist"
- Acerbo Law: Forced through parliament guarenteed that the party with the most votes would get 2/3 of the seats in the Chamber of Deputies
- socialist leader, Giacomo Matteotti murdered for speaking out against the Fascists
- by 1926 all anti- fascist parties had been eliminated
- freedom of press, assembly and speech eliminated
The Lateran Accords
- The Catholic Church was the most powerful remaining body in Italy
- Fearing Mussolini's wrath Pope Pius XI signed a deal
- Gave the church:
- Control over religious education in schools
- recognition as the state religion
- the right for the Pope to rule his own state known as the Vatican
- Mussolini got recognition by the Church as the legitimate leader
March on Rome
Subjunctive question: How would Facism be different in our time, if Mussolini had not existed?
Quotes: "War is to man what maternity is to a woman. From a philosophical and doctrinal viewpoint, I do not believe in perpetual peace."- Mussolini
Quotes: "War is to man what maternity is to a woman. From a philosophical and doctrinal viewpoint, I do not believe in perpetual peace."- Mussolini
Summary: Mussolini had many steps to gain his power. However his main action was by intimidating people through the use of the "blackshirts". For instance, that is how he got Pope Pius to sign the deal saying that he was recognized as the leader of Italy.