Mussolini and the Rise of Fascism
- Formed the first Fascist government in Italy in 1923
- Supports Hitler throughout the 1930s
- Supports the Fascist government in Spain during Spanish Civil War
- Joins in alliance with HItler in 1939
- Used blackshirts as a paramilitary force
- Comes to power in 1923 after the March on Rome
- King Emmanuel III refused to sign a emergency legislation to prevent it - he refused allowing Mussolini to come to power
Il Duce (The Leader)
- Acerbo Law - party with most votes would get 2/3 of the seats in Chamber of Deputies
- Giacomo Matteotti murdered for speaking out against the
FAscism
- Private ownership encouraged and aided by the government
- Censorship of the media
- Imperialistic - expand empire abroad (military)
- Nationalistic - pride in ones country
- Militaristic - rebuild army
- Non-Democratic - single party government
- Often Totalitarian dictatorship
- "Anti-liberal, anti-mass, democracy, anti-socialist" - aka anti - communism
- Hitler was NOT a communist
The Lantern Accords 1929
- Catholic Church was the most powerful remaining body in Italy
- Fearing Mussolini's wrath Pope Puis XI signed a deal
- 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 a legitimate leader
Summary
As Mussolini rose into power, he used the help of his blackshirts as well as creating the Lateran Accords to secure his position.