“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.
Although he is known for his extreme fascist ideas, Mussolini did not begin his political career as a right-wing radical. Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was born on July 29, 1883 in Predappio, a town in northern central Italy (BBC). Employment prospects in Italy were dreadful, so Mussolini moved to Switzerland in 1902 and became involved in socialist politics, just as his father was (BBC). Known for his exceptional eloquence and charisma, Mussolini quickly gained a reputation among the socialists in Switzerland through his strong journalism skills (Bio.com). However, he was not able to find a permanent job, was arrested by the Swiss authorities for vagrancy, and returned to Italy in 1904 due to expulsion from Switzerland (Benito). There he continued to develop his public-speaking skills and advocate for socialism (Mussolini). Mussolini was “forceful and authoritative,” and...
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Mussolini was considered one of the first modern dictators and he essentially paved the way for Hitler and others to follow. Italy was still in chaos after World War I and showed no signs of recovery. When Mussolini attempted his rise to power, he did it through the political channels being voted in by the people. However, rather than seeking to improve Italy, “Mussolini's new cause became personal power; he sought to place himself in the position of dictator” (Gale). The way in which Mussolini spoke captivated crowds and made Italy fall in love with him. What Mussolini lacked in height he made up for in public speaking, as one of his critics describes, “Yet by the power of his public speaking, by his gestures and tone of voice, he was capable of inspiring tremendous enthusiasm in the crowds who gathered to hear him” (Gale). Italy felt as if Mussolini’s cult of personality was never going to leave, like it seemed as if Big Brother was never going to
To understand why Fascism gained such popularity after WWI, it is essential to find a working definition of what Fascism actually is. According to Benito Mussolini and his document What is Fascism, Fascism is “the conception of the state, its character, its duty, and its aim.” It is concerned primarily and totally with the affairs of state rather than those of the individual. The chief duty of a man in a Fascist nation is to do what he can to elevate the state to higher power or assist the state in whatever means necessary in its goals. As is evident to anyone studying this period in history, Fascism “repudiates the doctrine of Pacifism…” meaning that it is most certainly not afraid to use force or war to accomplish its objectives. A Fascist, especially a male Fascist, aspires to be a hero to his country and an ally to the state or nation of which he is a part. A woman ...
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Benito Mussolini." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Student Resources in Context. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.
Fascism is one of the great political ideology in the 20th century. It is a kind of authoritarian government that, according to Wikipedia, “considers the individual subordinate to the interests of the state, party or society as a whole.” Two of the most successful and to be in the vanguard of fascism government is Italian fascism – led by Benito Mussolini, and Nazi Germany – led by Adolf Hitler. Fascism in Italy and Germany, though in many regards very similar - have the same political ideologies, still have many aspects to them that make them different from each other.
Mussolini, Benito. “The Political and Social Doctrine of Fascism.” The Human Record . By Alfred J. Andrea and James H. Overfield. Vol. 2. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2011. 2 vols. 399-400.
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.
Benito Mussolini was brought up in one the poorest regions in Northeastern Italy. When he was in school, he always kept to himself and very quiet. He wasn’t a class clown, never cried or rarely laughed. He always sat in the back of the classroom and read a book. He rather do that than play with the other children in his class. He got kicked out his first boarding school. When he was growing up he was surrounded by many political philosophies. There was anarchism, socialism, and others. Both Benito and his father Allesandro had very bad violent tempers.
Weber, Eugen J. The Western Tradition. 1989. Oakville, Ont: Magic Lantern Communications Ltd, 1995. Web DVD.
"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...
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.
Benito Mussolini was the premier-dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943. He was the founder and leader of Italian Fascism. Mussolini, along with his Facets government, was able to successfully suppress the Mafia during the time of World War II. However, after the war ended in 1945, the Mafia emerged and ruled once again. Over the next thirty years, the Sicilian Mafia was not only able to gain control Sicily, but all of Italy as well.
Mussolini’s Consolidation of Power Between 1922 and 25. “ It seems that Mussolini from the outset was determined to retain power in his hand; but he was uncertain of the method to be employed. towards the other political parties and their leaders, towards the press, and towards parliament” (F.L. Carsten, an academic historian and specialist on European history. Fascism, The Rise of Fascism (1967). In 1922 Mussolini had just been appointed Prime Minister after the fascist march on Rome.
Mussolini came into power in 1922 and sought to make Fascism the only party in Italy, because he believed it was superior to all other parties. Both Mussolini and Hitler wanted to create a better economy for their countries, and had big plans to change the way their countries viewed things. Mussolini abolished democracy, and would not listen and shunned any ideas or citizens who opposed his political views. Although the men were quite similar in the ways they set goals for their countries, Hitler was extreme in his plans for future Germany. According to the lecture, Hitler’s plans were to make it known the Germans were the superior race, Jews and Gypsies were subhuman, Hitler promised to take back the land taken from the after the war, and Lebensraum. Both men had their countries became a part of the Axis powers, and along with Japan became Fascist nations. Mussolini’s rise to power came through his influence on the fascists people. According to the lecture it was fascists that marched to Rome in October 1922, and the people demanded that the king put Mussolini in charge of the government. It was through fear that Mussolini gained his power. Hitler on the other hand was
This ideology wasn’t around until the early 1900’s and was started in Italy around the time of World War I. Italy was in shambles then and many parties were trying to take control, Benito Mussolini became Prime Minister following the March on Rome in 1922. With this he gained the role of “ed duce” through legal means and created a one party system with him as the leader. This was the first time a fascist government had been in power. Many individuals confuse the ideologies of socialism, and communism with fascism. However, they are all different in the way they manipulate, and control the people. In regards to socialism Benito Mussolini said, We declare war against socialism, not because it is socialism, but because it has opposed nationalism. This is a major part of fascism because through nationalism is how the country will become powerful both economically but also militarily. *** Along with Mussolini, Germany during the same time period went under a great change to fascism.