Mussolini and the Rise of Fascism
- Formed the first Fascist Government in Italy in 1923
- Supports Hitler throughout the 1930's
- Supports the Fascist government in Spain during Spanish Civil War
- Joins in alliance with Hitler in 1939
Mussolini and Italian Fascism
- The founder of Fascism
- Used blackshirts as a paramilitary force
- Comes to power in 1923 after the March on Rome
- King Emmanuel III refused to sign an emergency legislation to prevent it - He refused allowing Mussolini to come to power
Il Duce (The Leader)
- Acerbo Law - forced through parliament guaranteed 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 have been eliminated
Fascism
- Fascist Traits:
- Private ownership encouraged and aided by the Government
- Censorship of the media
- Imperialistic
- Nationalistic
- Militaristic
- Non-democratic
- Often totalitarian dictatorship
- "Anti-liberal, anti-mass democracy, anti-socialist"
The Lateran Accords, 1929
- 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
Summary
Mussolini made his debut as leader of Italy by supporting Hitler. He then made his title as the founder of Fascism and used Blackshirts as his paramilitary force. He comes to power after the March on Rome. The last step was persuading the catholic church to put him into power. This was easy for Mussolini because all he had to do was threaten the pope to sign a deal, and because Pope Pius was scared of Mussolini's reputation, he agreed instantaneously.