Mussolini and the Rise of Fascism
- Founder of Fascism (known as the "Grandfather of Fascism)
- Fascism didn't exist before 1922
- Blackshirts (paramilitary force) were made to intimidate people (through violent threats) in order to help Mussolini get what he wanted (to win the election) without using political means
- Mussolini comes to power after the March on Rome in 1923
- King Emmanuel III refused to sign an emergency legislation to prevent it (he refused to allow Mussolini to come to power)
- Fascist Traits
- 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”
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 (Killing off the opposition)
- Dictators getting rid of their enemies
- By 1926 all anti-fascist parties had been eliminated
- Freedom of press, assembly and speech were eliminated
- Essentially get rid of all human rights to secure identity
March on Rome
- Mussolini comes to power in 1923 after the march
- "Our program is simple: we want to rule Italy." -Bentito Mussolini
- King Emmanuel III refused to sign a legislation to prevent - he refused allowing Mussolini to come to power
Lateran Accords (1929)
- The Catholic Church was the most powerful remaining body in Italy (created by Mussolini)
- Fearing Mussolini, Pope Pius XI signed a deal
- Gave the church:
- Control of religious education in schools
- Recognition as the state religion
- The right for the Pope to rule his own state (Vatican)
- Mussolini was recognized by the Church as the legitimate leader
Summary
Benito Mussolini was the founder of fascism and lead a March on Rome (bringing him to power) and created the Catholic Church (Lateran Accords)