Thursday 4/21/11

1. Thursday 4/21/11 • Today: Please get a wksht and a partner. • Hmwk: Read pgs. 238-253 in Pink/Purple bk • Complete the ‘Task’ on pg. 255 for a quiz grade. Hmwk is DUE Monday 4/25

2. Totalitarianism • A government that aims to control the political, economic, social, intellectual and cultural lives of its citizens. • New form of dictatorship in 20th century

3. Fascism in Italy • Fascism- a political philosophy that glorifies the state above the individual by emphasizing the need for a strong central government led by a doctorial leader. • People are controlled by the gov’t and any opposition is suppressed.

4. Italy after WWI • Mass male population loss • Out 6 million conscripted-2 million dead, captured & wounded/disabled • Severe inflation • Industrial and agricultural workers strike demanding creation of ‘factory councils’ through which they could bargain with employers • Land Occupations • Returning soldiers and peasants seized control of barren land /uncultivated and forced landlords to sell at cheap prices

5. Fascist Movement is Born • Employers/Landlords blamed revolutionary demands on Russian Revolution influence and demanded gov’t take suppressive action • When gov’t didn’t take action then, employers/landlords gathered tenant farmers, veteran soldiers and urban middle class to use violence to submit and suppress these new ‘socialists’

6. Fascism’s Birthday-March 1919 • Fascio Combattimento (Combat Group) by former school teacher, Benito Mussolini. • Grew into an anti-socialist force; combatting socialist unions and Catholic peasant leagues. • Soon Mussolini’s movement was joined by the support of Employers/Landlords looking to fight against socialist.

7. Benito Mussolini 1883-1945 • Founder of first fascist movement • Unruly child-expelled for stabbing fellow pupil • Elementary school teacher • Prior socialist party member, but expelled

8. Growth of Fascism • Parliament elections May 1921 • Using Nationalistic ideals, fascists won 35 seats • November 1921-declared itself political party • PartitoNazionaleFascista (PNF) • Supported monarchy and free tade • By 1922- Employers/Landowners (middle class) feared socialism and communism. • People were angry they received so little land in WWI peace treaty agreement.

9. Prime Minister Mussolini • August 1922-fascist group had plans to overthrow gov’t and install new regime in Rome • Against other opinion-King Emmanuel III does NOT counter any fascist march and the Prime Minister resigns in protest… • October 29, 1922-Mussolini appointed Prime Minister King Emmanuel III

10. Consolidation of Power • 1923- Mussolini creates a national fascist militia and Fascist Grand Council • July 1923- Acerbo Law • Gives leading party at general election 2/3 seats in parliament • Summer 1924-socialist deputy, GiacomoMatteotti is stabbed to death by fascists • 1925- Mussolini intends to dictate a more autocratic gov’t • 1926-Mussolini acknowledged as head of fascist party…only answered to the king

11. Fascist Italy • 1926- outlawed other political parties • Established secret police- OVRA to watch citizens and enforce poilicies • Control mass media- newspapers, radio, films and spread ‘simple’ propaganda (“Mussolini is always right.”) • 1939-Fascist youth groups formed to promote military activities and values • Women seen as foundation of family and state • Overall NOT as severe as Stalin or Hitler…King Emmanuel III always stayed in power

13. Domestic Policies • The Lateran Accords, 1929- improved relations with the papacy • Recognized Vatican City • The Corporate State, 1930’s- formation of several levels of corporations set to regulate economic activity • Benefited employers and the state • System suffered under depression period • Modernization of Italian Economy • Changed exchange rate, provided loans, increased wheat production, land reclamation and improvement

14. The Lateran Accords

15. Foreign Policies • The Corfu crisis- Italian official murdered in Greece • Mussolini demands Greek island, Corfu and $ • Mussolini wanted dispute settled by the Conference of Ambassadors NOT League of Nations • Britain opposed Italy’s action and only agreed to COA settling dispute if Italy returned Corfu to Greece • Italy realized the need to be on Britain’s ‘good side’

16. Foreign Policies • Due to struggling economy during depression period and relatively small military power- Mussolini sought expansion in ‘cheap’ ways • Accumulation of Yugoslav territory of Fiume • Protectorate of Albania • Africa territory (limited) • Abyssinia treaty 1929

17. Foreign Policies • The Abyssinian crisis • Hitler admired Mussolini • Hitler first met him 1934 • Caused concern for Britain and France • Mussolini wanted Italian expansion in Africa for help to suppress Hitler Germany • League turns a ‘blind eye’ to Italian troops forced take-over of Abyssinia in Africa

18. Foreign Policies • Spanish Civil War- • July 1936 thru 1939 • Mussolini backed the rebels led by General Franco • Attempt to expand Italian influence overshadowed by Nazi Germany • The Rome-Berlin Axis- • October 1936 first agreement • Mussolini joins forces with Hitler • Italy struggles economically and politically • Mussolini killed 1945 by Italian Resistance and hung

19. Mussolini was Hitler’s Role Model

20. Tomorrow • Bring BOTH textbooks with you!!!