Italy under Mussolini (1918–39) Notes

Overview

1. After World War I, Italy was supposed to be on the winning side, but many Italians felt cheated by the peace treaties.
2. The economy was in ruins, people were unemployed, and politicians couldn’t agree on anything.
3. Benito Mussolini, a loud, charismatic speaker promised to
   1. restore order,
   2. make Italy strong again,
   3. and crush communists.
4. By 1922, he had taken power and turned Italy into a fascist dictatorship.
5. For the next 17 years, he controlled everything from the media to schools, and even told people how many children to have.
6. Mussolini promised greatness, but not everyone agreed with his methods, or his results.

The Rise of Mussolini

1. After WWI, Italy faced massive unrest:
   1. unemployment,
   2. strikes,
   3. food shortages,
   4. and fear of communism.
2. The government seemed weak and chaotic, changing leaders frequently without solving problems.
3. Mussolini founded the Fascist Party in 1919, promoting ideas like nationalism, anti-communism, and law and order.
4. He gained support from landowners, businesspeople, and war veterans who feared a socialist revolution.
5. In October 1922, Mussolini led the March on Rome, a mostly symbolic act that pressured the king to appoint him Prime Minister.
6. King Victor Emmanuel III didn’t want a civil war and handed power over legally.

Consolidation of Power

1. Mussolini started out as Prime Minister in a coalition government, but he quickly worked to eliminate his rivals.
2. He created a secret police (OVRA), censored the press, and banned opposition parties.
3. After the 1924 murder of Socialist leader Giacomo Matteotti, Mussolini faced backlash but doubled down and took "full responsibility", tightening his grip.
4. By 1925–1926, Italy had become a one-party fascist dictatorship.He introduced the Acerbo Law (1923), which gave the party with the most votes two-thirds of parliament seats, essentially rigging the system in his favor.