The Rise of Mussolini in Italy
Benito Mussolini (1883-1945)
“Il Duce”: “The Leader”
The Characteristics of Mussolini
• Little Man Syndrome: Stood 5’6. What he lacked in
physical size he made up for with his attitude and
aggressiveness
• Actor/journalist turned dictator (fascism)
• Great orator and presenter, his rallies and speeches
helped him gain popularity
• Firm believer that violence was the only viable
option for a successful future for Italy
• Wanted to restore the former glory of the Roman
Empire to Italy
• Any resistance would be put down by his followers
What is fascism?
• A system of government with
centralized authority under a
dictator.
• Usually involves terror, censorship,
nationalism, and racism.
Problems In Italy after WWI
• 460,000 soldiers killed
• Heavy debt
• Britain and France did
not give Italy the land
they promised: Fiume and
Dalmatia
• Governments were all
coalitions that couldn’t
make decisions
• Rising unemployment led
to unrest in cities
The Treaty of Versailles
• Italians believed that it treated them
badly.
• Italy had not been given the land
promised at the Secret Treaty of
London  Great Britain and France
received German territories in Africa
• Italy’s foreign Minister Orlando left
before the conference ended, feeling
humiliated.
Benito Mussolini
• Started as a
socialist, now he
does not care about
class. Just wants to
unite all of Italy
• States that he can
fix Italy’s problems
(we’ve heard this
before)
• Gains many Fascist
supporters (called
the Blackshirts:
paramilitary group)
Mussolini gains
power
• Promised to rebuild Italy and
recreate the Roman Empire
• Natalism: More Italian
Children: Larger population
meant a larger Italy
• Came to power in 1922 during
his March on Rome
• Marched to Rome w/ 30000
Blackshirts to demand
resignation of then Prime
Minister Facta
• Mussolini was trying to
intimidate the Italian
government
• His tactics were successful
1922 March on Rome
"Either the government will be given to us or
will shall seize it by marching on Rome."
• Was appointed Prime Minister by King Victor
Emmanuel to prevent a Communist Revolution in
Italy
• The King had wanted Mussolini to form his powerful
government because he could defend the King from
a Commuinist revolution
• Because of this, Mussolini becomes Prime Minister
of Italy and from then on has great power in Italy
March on Rome, 1922
Acerbo Law
• Law Mussolini created to give himself a guaranteed
majority in Parliament
• Because Mussolini was just placed as Prime Minister, a
lot of elected officials were not fascists and therefore
were against him
• The Law made it so that the party with the largest
amount of votes (at least 25%) would receive the
majority of power in parliament (at least 2/3)
• With it Mussolini gained more power and furthered
himself to a Totalitarian regime (a great amount of
authority)
Musso’s Propaganda
• After he gained power, he wanted to public to still accept
him and view him positively
• Re-Baptized in 1927- Catholics would support him more
• Had the Blackshirts and his secret police (OVRA)
terrorize any opposition
• Always media around him: Portrayed as “The Most
Interesting Man In The World”
• Teachers and Professors had to swear an oath to his
regime
• Personally chose all newspaper editors and called it
“Free Press”
• Defied death numerous times during WWI and during
his rise to power
Invasion of Ethiopia: 1935-36
• Mussolini acts aggressively during
the Great Depression to take
focus off of the poor condition
Italy is in
• Ethiopia was a stepping stone for
Fascist Italy and way for Mussolini
to show off to his people = Italy
was far more advanced in military
• Ethiopia is then added to Italian
East Africa
• Italy used poison gas: Criticized
and sanctioned by most countries
• This pushes Mussolini closer to
Hitler: Rome-Berlin Axis