The Rise of Fascist Italy: Mussolini's March on Rome and Ethiopia's Conquest

1. Rise of Dictatorships Fascist Italy

2. Fasces • A bundle of wood surrounding an axe. • Held by lictors (bodyguards) in Ancient Rome as a symbol of the authority of the man they protected. • Ceremonial, not to be used for actual fighting. • Symbol of the Fascist Party. • Originally, symbol of authority by the leaders of Ancient Rome. • By using this symbol, the Fascists were trying to connect themselves to the glory of the Roman Empire, proclaiming themselves its successor.

3. Italy Post-WWI • Prior to the rise of fascism, Italy was a constitutional monarchy. It was led by a king and a prime minister. • While suffering through the Great Depression, Italy suffered drastic unemployment and worker strikes, some led by communists. • As a result, the middle and upper classes demanded stringer leadership. • They found this in the Fascist Party, a right-wing party led by Benito Mussolini.

4. Benito Mussolini • Outstanding speaker, very charismatic. • Extremely patriotic and nationalistic. • Called for the expansion of Italy’s territory by force. • Stressed the importance of the state over the individual.

5. Fascism as an ideology • What fascists supported: • Extreme nationalism • Territorial expansion through war. • Power concentrated in the hands of one strong leader and a small group of devoted followers. • What fascists were against: • Communism • Free speech

6. The March on Rome • In 1922, Mussolini and members of the Fascist party marched on Rome as a sign of their increasing power. • They were given the nickname “Black Shirts” due to the color of their uniforms. • When important government officials, the army, and the police force began to side with the Fascists, it looked like the king was going to be overthrown. • However, at this point, the king allied with Mussolini and proclaimed him the chosen head of the government.

7. Political Issues • Under the fascists, Italy became a one-party state, that political party being the Fascist party. • All other competing political parties, especially the Socialist and Communist parties, were outlawed.

8. Military Expansion of Italy • Wanting to create a new Roman Empire, Mussolini set about expanding Italian territory in Africa. • At this time, Ethiopia was one of the last African countries not to be a colony of Europe. • In fact, the Ethiopians had defeated the Italians in 1896 at the Battle of Adowa, the only African power to successfully resist European takeover.

10. Emperor Haile Selassie • Fled Ethiopia after its conquest by the Italians • Spoke before the League of Nations, urging them to condemn the war and occupation of his homeland. • Ended by saying, “Today it is us; tomorrow it will be you.” • However, the League was powerless to do anything but issue sanctions.

11. Effect on the United States • The USA was one country which never officially recognized the Italian takeover of Ethiopia. • Many Americans, especially African-Americans, raised money for medical supplies to send to Ethiopia. Some even went there to help fight the Italians. • Emperor Selassie said this years later: “It moved me to know that Americans of African descent did not abandon their embattled brothers, but stood by us.”