Benito Mussolini is a rare case in which history would have taken a different course were it not for him. Before Mussolini's rise to power Italy was politically unstable and economically underdeveloped. Italy was unified late in the 1800s around the time of Mussolini's birth in 1883 and the time of Garibaldi's death in 1882. Although Italy successfully united the country on a map, there was a severe lack of unity within the country's boarders. Preexisting conflicts between north and south Italy were not abandoned with the unification. Italy's government did not represent its people but its government and business officials. Italians did not have a sense of national pride to Italy and that would not change until Mussolini would come into power years later with ideals of fascism. Ideas that were twisted and shaped throughout his entire life.
Benito Mussolini was born July 29th, 1883 in Predappio, Italy. His foundation in politics began in his childhood and adolescents. Mussolini grew up in a lower class family. His father was heavily involved with politics having written political articles for a local news paper in the past and being noticed by the Office of Public Security (Roy MacGregor, p.17/18). His Mother was an elementary school teacher (MacGregor p18). As a child, Mussolini was disobedient and violent. He had a passion for politics from his father and was expelled from many schools (Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini). At the age of nine, his mother was able to have him attend boarding school in Faenza. It was at Faenza when Mussolini learned of differences between the classes. He was treated poorly by rich students (MacGregor p20). He was expelled from Faenza after his first year for his violence.
During Mussolini's child...
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Next, we will discuss the Risorgimento, a 19th-century movement for unification of Italy that would ultimately establish the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. Before this time, the Italian peninsula
Benito Mussolini (“II Duce”) was the leader of a fascist Italy, coming into power during 1923 and up till his defeat in the Italian parliament during 1943. In May of 1940, Italy sided with Germany, as Mussolini’s interest were similar to those Hitler had. Later, he was deposed after losing the vote from the Grand Council of Fascism and was to be arrested by the king and partisans in July of 1943 and imprisoned. Soon after he was rescued by an SS raid (“Gran Sasso Raid”) and restored by Hitler. However, in 1945 he was again captured by partisans, when Mussolini realized that defeat was looming and was attempting to flee north. Captured again Mussolini was quickly executed near Lake Como by the Italian partisans. From 1940 to 1945 Mussolini’s actions both globally and locally, had significant and damaging impact on the war efforts of both Nazi Germany and Italy, contributing to the Allied victory in May 1945. [2] [3]
Fascism is defined as, “an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization.” Peter Hyland reports that throughout the 1920s and the 1930s, an economic depression was growing and becoming widespread throughout the world. People were losing faith in their democracies and in capitalism. Leaders who gained power supported powerful militarism, nationalism, and initiated the return of an authoritarian rule. J.R. Oppenheimer says that the rise of fascism and totalitarianism in Europe and Russia instigated a “critical step on the path to war.” In 1922, Benito Mussolini held leadership in Italy, promising a proficient and militaristic nationalistic state. During his control as prime minister, he gained a large group of followers, banned the disparagement of government, and used extreme violence against his enemies within the parliament.
Mussolini. Mussolini put together his supporters into “combat squads” called the Black Shirts. These Black Shirts rejected the democratic processes in favor of violent actions. The Black Shirts or fascist gangs used fear and intimidation to basically force out the elected officials in the northern part of Italy. Many Italian citizens didn’t really care for these acts because they too have pretty much given up on the constitutional government. By 1925, Mussolini had already gained more power and have been given the name Il Duce or “The Leader”. To motivate the growth of the economy and end the problems with the owners and workers, Mussolini
Putnam, Robert. 1993a. Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
When Benito wrote some ignorant and cruel suggestions and ideas in the newspaper. So the he was fired. He then decided to created his own newspaper. He called it, "Li Popolo d’ Italia" (The People of Italy). He hoped the war between Italy and Turkey might lead to collapse of society that might bring him to power.
[9] Ginsborg, Paul, A History of Contemporary Italy: Society and Politics 1943-1988, (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003), 48.
“Fascism is a religion. The twentieth century will be known in history as the century of fascism” (Fascist). Those are the words of Benito Mussolini, an Italian journalist who started a political party of his own. Born in 1883, Mussolini became involved in socialist politics in Switzerland when he moved there in 1902 (BBC). Although he was active with the socialist party, Mussolini started publishing editorials that supported World War I, which he was drafted in himself in 1915 (Mussolini). This led to his expulsion from the socialist party. Ready for a major change, Mussolini gathered many nationalistic groups in Italy together and formed a single organization under his leadership (Mussolini). Rising to power in the wake of the Great War, Benito Mussolini was a violent, military-minded dictator who saw to the emergence of the National Fascist Party in Italy.
Italian Fascism is deeply imbedded in nationalism because Italian fascist saw it as necessity for a their country to assert its dominance and power in order to avoid acceding to decay (Kallis, pg.41). At first the citizens of Italy loved fascism for they thought it was doing wonders for their country. However, after Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler became friends, people started to turn away from their fascist ways. Now, the Italian people did not always dislike Mussolini for he did do some good things for the state. He restored stability after the end of World War I, he solved some of Italy’s economic problem, and also he instituted some welfare programs after the great depression. Fascism also played a major role in the art of cinema. At first, Mussolini was reluctant to back the industry but eventually he chan...
Fascism is such a unique form of government, and it needs the right conditions to form. Unfortunately, for many countries, and Italy specifically, fascism typically begins to grow after the previous political system failed. The political systems fail during or after the loss of a war, resulting in serious turmoil and corruption throughout the country, even with a powerful, charismatic leader trying to save the country. The Italian political system was extremely flawed because the ideals of fascism were lost as Benito Mussolini’s charisma and appeal took the forefront. The people thought they had power when they actually had no influence, the country was deeply divided politically and socially, and the people turned fascism into Mussolinism
"The manner in which Mussolini and the Fascist Party gained possession of the government was regarded in most foreign circles as an illegal act of violence." (3) As the nation of Italy began to suffer great debts, Mussolini had been summoned by the King to form a government to aid in the economic needs. This marked the birth of the Fascist Party in Italy. In the beginning of his rise to the top, Mussolini was popular amongst his people. His popularity was high, and people began to trust in his judgment and ideas. (4) He was, in essence, saving the people from the turmoil that had ensued the nat...
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It is true that the Italian dictatorship was more conservative in its application than that of Hitler’s reign of terror. But, both the fascist ideas and rulings of these two leaders proved to have some similarities worth mentioning. Both leaders left their countries with an economic and social debt to the Allies, which is still strong in the minds of many older members of the community.
In the early years of the twentieth century, Italy has created a new system of government, however suffered social and economic conditions. Improvements were made however, poverty and literacy were still problems that have not been solved well. While entering World War I, the nation was neutral up until joining the British and French in exchange for certain advantages. However, it was unsuccessful as Italy failed to take control of the territories that it claimed at the Versailles Peace Conference,and suffered significant losses. The ideology of fascism occurred when the power of Italy was shrinking and the idea of being a pacifist became weak. Benito Mussolini created a group of fascists to represent a means to stop the socialists and the communists coming into his nation.