Single Party States

1. Single Party States Benito Mussolini: Fascist Italy By: Chanel Viator Jason Shears

2. Benito Mussolini-Early Life • Born: July 29th, 1883 in Predappio, Italy • Father- Alessandro Mussolini, blacksmith, socialist journalist contributor • Mother- Rosa Mussolini, schoolteacher, devout Catholic • Younger Siblings- Arnaldo Mussolini, Edvige Mussolini • Living Conditions- Crowded two room apartment, basic meals, poor standard of living

3. Benito Mussolini- Early Life • Disruptive and aggressive at school • At age ten he was expelled from his local school for stabbing a classmate with a penknife. • Later expelled from Giosuè Carducci School in Forlimpopoli for similar actions of disobedience. • Despite behavioral issues Mussolini exposed his rhetoric skill and was intellectually capable. • Eventually received an educational diploma in 1901. • Mussolini’s political ideals were socialist in his early years reflecting his fathers.

4. Benito Mussolini-Early Life • In 1902 traveled to Switzerland with no stable source of income. • Mussolini associated with Russian Marxists in Switzerland and became an unconventional Marxist. • Lived day to day working many different jobs, mainly involving labor. • Arrested several times in Switzerland for minor offenses • Practiced his persuasive skills and leadership qualities while in Switzerland by producing propaganda and advocating strikes and violent demonstrations.

5. Conditions in Italy • Italy had only been entirely unified since 1870, previously being a collection of provinces. • Government was a constitutional monarchy with the monarch maintaining the majority of power. • The Government was ineffective in handling the multitude of problems Italy had after World War I • Large number of the population unemployed, high inflation rate, struggling economy, Spanish Influenza outbreak in 1918, numerous strikes organized by workers.

6. Italian Government (Before Mussolini Influence) • Monarch- Victor Emanuel III • Parliament consisted of two branches: Senate and Chamber of Deputies • Majority of wealth controlled by minority elite, majority of people poor. • Government had a substantial amount of debt that limited their actions and ability to solve ailments of Italian populace. • Unable to address issues of Italy or control the rise Mussolini, military generals, causing Victor Emanuel III to appease Mussolini

7. Benito Mussolini-Rise to Power • Mussolini returned to Italy in 1905 to serve his mandatory military service. • Left military in 1906 and began career as a teacher in multiple places and countries, most notably Austria. • In 1910 married RacheleGuidi • Politcal influence and popularity increased in the socialist party as he wrote many socialist papers opposing the Italian government. • Arrested repeatedly by Italian government for public speaking against Italy’s war againstTurkey.

8. Rise to Power • Red Week- June 1914 widespread protests and public unrest, created opportunity for Mussolini and socialist party to gain parliamentary majority. • Socialist party was unable to gain support, surprising Mussolini. • Mussolini changed his political philosophy from the socialist party, encouraging Italy’s entry into World War I. • Socialist party responded by removing him from the party and taking away his position as editor of a socialist newspaper “Avanti!”

9. Rise to Power • Mussolini continued his communication to the public with his own newspaper the “Popolod’Italia” • The usage of extreme nationalism and fascism began to be spread by Mussolini. • Mussolini’s propaganda production and political influence was halted in September of 1915 when he was drafted for World War I. • Served mainly on the frontline of the battlefield in the trenches • In February, 1917 Mussolini was wounded by mortar fire and he was honorably discharged back to Italy.

10. Rise to Power • Returned to Italy he regained control of his newspaper and heightened his writing of Fascist ideals to a more inclined audience now that Mussolini had the prestige of serving in the war. • March 23, 1919 Mussolini declared the emergence of the Fascist movement politically in a meeting in Milan. • After a period of little improvement Mussolini turned to the support of a group later named the “Black Shirts” • Composed mainly of former military paranoid of Bolshevism, a cause previously supported by Mussolini

11. Rise to Power • The Black Shirts conducted violence throughout Italy intimidating the opposition of Mussolini, mostly the socialists and causing upheaval for the existing government. • The Fascist Party won its first seats in the Italian parliament in May, 1921. A total of thirty-five seats won. • October 27th,1922 Mussolini organized the march on Rome with twenty-six thousand Blackshirts. They refused to disband without power of Italy shifting to Mussolini. The March was seperated into four groups led by four leaders known as “Quadrumviri”

12. Rule of Single Party State • Benito Mussolini was given the title of Italian Prime Minister on October 31st 1922 • Mussolini progressively implemented the decrees and laws that would establish him dictator and have the Fascist party unopposed. • Initially his cabinet was composed of members from multiple parties including the socialists. • He was granted to rule by decree with no check or balance to his power for one year after he was named Prime Minister

13. Rule of Single Party • Mussolini installed many public work programs to stabilize the Italian economy and lower he number of unemployed. • The large number of Black Shirts who supported Mussolini’s rise to power were converted to a state police that could continue to conduct single party objectives. • April 24th 1924 Fascist party gained 65% control of the parliament in Italy cementing control through faulty election intimidation and fear.

14. Rule of Single Party State • Mussolini managed to keep the support of landowners and industrialists while supporting the populace with public works. • The papacy even displayed acceptance of the rule of Mussolini a necessary part of Mussolini’s rule as Italy is nearly unanimously Catholic . • Mussolini controlled all forms of communication with the public including the press, radio and visual forms of expression in major city. • Mussolini effectively became dictator of the Italian populace.

15. Paper 2 Question • . Compare and Contrast how the status of women and minorities changed in Nazi Germany to another single-party state.

16. Elimination of Opposition • June, 1924 GiacomoMatteotti, socialist party leader spoke out against the Fascist government and was assassinated. • 1925- Mussolini outlawed the socialist party by decree and took many political liberties from the publics. • Free speech, trade unions, strikes, political parties were all deemed illegal. • System of police and spies were placed throughout Italy to maintain control over the populace. • Mussolini reduced the power of parliament and named himself King of Italy in 1928 by law.

17. Women in Fascist Italy • In the years preceding the rise to power by Mussolini, women contributed massively to Italy during the period of war. Effectively rationing and taking the responsibilities unattended by the declined male populace. • Women did not have equality legally or socially in Italy not having the ability to vote or maintain equality in the workforce. • When Mussolini gain control in the early 1920’s their role and responsibilities changed but, not towards equality.

18. Women in Fascist Italy • Mussolini shared the ideal of Hitler the focus of women in Fascist Italy was to produce a larger population for Italy. • In 1927 Mussolini stated publically his “Battle for Births” • A rate of five children was desired and even encouraged by better tax rates for larger families. • Mussolini believed the only way to compete with foreign powers was an increase in population.

19. Women inFascist Italy • The political position of women in Fascist Italy did not change and their position in the workplace was actually diminished to focus on family building.

20. Before Hitler • Women took part in Nazi organizations • Were allowed some autonomy to mobilize other women

21. Hitler’s Nazi Germany • Nazis believed that women must be subservient to men, avoid careers, devote themselves to childbearing and child-rearing, and be a helpmate of the traditional dominant father in the traditional family • activist women were replaced by bureaucratic women, who emphasized feminine virtues, marriage, and childbirth. • Women's wages remained unequal and women were denied positions of leadership or control

22. Holocaust Nazi Germany • Women were prime targets • Two million murdered • Preventing the rise of women, especially Jewish women • Hitler had strict view of women: to be good mothers and no employment • 1943 law, have 4 children and that the fathers of these children had to be "racially pure". • Not a social problem if women were unmarried having children

23. Minorities Nazi Germany • Jews were hated most for being blamed of backstabbing Germany after WW1 • Easy “scapegoats,” blamed for all of Germany’s problems • 7 million non-Jewish Soviet people were killed 6 million Jews were killed2.8 million Soviet prisoners of war were killed2.5 million non-Jewish Poles were killed1.5 million non-Jewish Poles were sent to forced labour concentration camps 500,000 gypsies were killed400,000 people were forcibly sterilised250,000 disabled people were killed15,000 homosexuals were sent to concentration camps10,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses were sent to concentration camps

24. Minorities Nazi Germany • 1920, Hitler announced to the very small Nazi Party the Five Points of national Socialism. One of these stated: • "None but members of the nation may be citizens of the State. None but those of German blood may be members of the nation. No Jew, therefore, may be a member of the nation." • anti-Semitism • Whites are superior.

25. Works Cited • "Benito, Mussolini (1883-1945)." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013. • Christopher, Hibbert. "Mussolini, Benito." Britannica Biographies (2012): 1. Biography Reference Center. Web. 18 Dec. 2012. • Cook, Bernard A., and Cook Bernard A. "Benito Mussolini." Great Lives From History: The Twentieth Century (2008): 1. Biography Reference Center. Web. 18 Dec. 2012. • Life in Fascist Italy." Life in Fascist Italy. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013. • Mangion, John. "The Rise of Fascism in Italy." The Rise of Fascism in Italy. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013. • "WHKMLA : History of Italy, 1918-1922." WHKMLA : History of Italy, 1918-1922. N.p., 2000. Web. 06 Jan. 2013. • "The Role of Women in Nazi Germany." The Role of Women in Nazi Germany. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013 • "Jews in Nazi Germany." Jews in Nazi Germany. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013. • "Nazi Germany - Minority Groups." Nazi Germany - Minority Groups. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013