World History Chapter 1

WORLD HISTORYChapter OneFASCISM (Italy/Mussolini)-1918-1945       * POST WAR DISCONTENT:

ü  Italy’s unification was completed in 1870

ü  The new state was weak both economically and politically

ü  Italy signed the Triple Alliance in 1882 with Germany and Austria.

ü  In 1915, Italy signed a secret Treaty of London with Great Britain, because the Allied powers promised Italy the territories of Trentino, Trieste and Northern Dalmatia, a special war loan and war indemnity.

ü  In return Italy was asked to remain neutral between the Allied and Alliance

ü  When the World War broke out, Italy remained neutral, thus Italy took part in the First World War on the side of the Allied powers on the bases of understanding in the secret Treaty of London.

ü  After the War was over, the Allied powers didn’t fulfill their obligations in the Peace of Paris. Italy was not given these province territories.

ü  In this situation their developed a sense of disappointment among the people and Italy government wanted a strong authority to take up a strong nine.

ü  Between 1919 and 1922 five different governments came to power but they were incapable of taking decisive action.

ü  Government couldn’t work smoothly because situation became worse due to rapid growth of population, high taxation on the people, high prices etc.

ü  In this situation Benito Mussolini found the Italian Fascist Party in 1919.

ü  In 1921, election the Fascist party captured 35 seats.

ü  Fascist resigned on October 27, 1922 and Mussolini marched to Rome with his followers on October 30, 1922 without any resistance.

ü  The king Victor Emmanuel made him the prime minister and Mussolini formed a government.

Fascist

It is derived from the Greek word FASCES meaning a bundle of rods with protruding axe which symbolize the power and authority of the ancient Roman Empire. They wore black shirts and follow quasi-military methods and are patriotic.

FASCISM: Modern political ideology that seeks to regenerate the social, economic and cultural life of a country by basing it on a heightened sense of national belonging or ethnic identity.

FASCIO:Italian word- union/league. Bundle of sticks with protruding axe used by Roman Consuls to punish the wrong doers.

SOCIALISM:Is an economic and political theory advocating public/common ownership and cooperative management of the means of production and allocation of resources.

WHY WAS MUSSOLINI ABLE TO COME TO POWER?

Because of following reason:-

1.      Disappointment after the war:

There was a general understanding that Italy had not been properly compensated from the Paris Peace Conference. The Allied powers didn’t fulfill their obligations which were assured to Italy by the Secret Treaty of London, 1915. They were not given the Port Fiume but this was given to Yugoslavia.

2.      The economic effect of the war:

The economic effects of the war on Italy were disastrous. The government had to pay heavy loans which they had borrowed from U.S.A. The demobilization of Army after the war intensified the unemployment problem. There was restriction in international trade; the value of currency rapidly declined and cost of living became very expensive. Factories were closed down and unemployment increased and frequent labor strikes spread all over the country.

3.      Lack of faith in parliamentary system of government:

There were at least nine political parties when votes for all men and proportional representation were introduced in 1919 election. With the formation of many political parties, no stable government was formed and the coalition government was inevitable. As a result no consistent policy could be persuaded and none of the government was capable of taking a strong decisive action that the nation whole heartedly demanded. As a result, the people were disillusioned and there was growing contempt and impatience with a system.

4.      A wave of strikes:

In the absence of a stable government, there were serious labor strikes especially in the industrial regions. The workmen seized the factories, they were accompanied with rioting, and looting of shops and the helpless peasants seized the properties of the Land lords. Thus, the Italian government failed to protect the private property of the citizens. This clearly revealed the weakness of the government in failing to solve the economic situation of the country.

5.      Mussolini and the Public Support:

Mussolini and his Fascist party were able to attract many sections of society as he promised to rescue the country from unstable and weak/feeble government. When the factories were seized by the people he showed sympathy and come out as the defender of private enterprise and property. In this way, he was able to get financial support from wealthy business interests. He also began to make good relations with the Roman Catholic Church through his conciliatory speeches.

6.      Lack of effective Opposition:

The anti-Fascist groups failed to co-operate with each other and made no determined efforts to keep the Fascists out. The government was not powerful enough to control lawless situation. For instance, when the communists refused to co-operate with the election (1921) with the hope of getting support from Fascists however, Fascists secured 35 seats only and majority of seats were secured by the socialists party, but socialists party failed to co-operate with Giolitti government and frustrated Giolitti resigned. Hence, the socialists tried to use the situation for their own advantage by calling a general strike of 1922.

7.      The General Strikes of 1922:

When the general strike began in the summer of 1922, the Fascists took advantage of the situation and declared that they would quell/suppress the strike if the government failed to do so. When the strike failed through lack of support, Mussolini marched upon Rome after finding the situation more favorable. He reached Rome with 50,000 followers (black shirts) with practically no resistance from the King Victor Emmanuel III. Mussolini was made the first ever Fascists Premier in history. In fact, he won the majority of the support from the people.

Q. Why the King allowed the Mussolini to become the Prime Minister?

There was Lack of confident in Lugi Facta (the then Prime Minister of Italy). The King had also doubt that the army with Fascist sympathy could be relied on to obey his orders to attack the supporters of Mussolini. The king had also an apprehension (worry) that a long civil war would ravage the country if the army failed to suppress the Fascists quickly. He was also afraid that some of the general might force him to abdicate the throne in favor of his cousin, the Duke of Aosta (who openly supported the Fascist)

Features of Mussolini’s Domestic Policy

ü  Ban on all Political parties

The leaders of the other parties and those who opposed the Fascist ideas were either killed or exiled. Eg. The socialist leader Giacomo Malteotti and Giovanni Amendala were beaten death by the Fascists thugs. All important decisions were taken by the Fascists Grand Council as per the advice of Mussolini. In this way, Mussolini adopted the title of IL DUCE of the country.

ü  Changes in Local Government

After consolidating his position, Mussolini introduced changes in local governments to suit his own purpose. Thus all the elected town councils and mayors were abolished and town and cities were run by party leaders known as “Ras” became powerful than the government officials.

ü  Strict Press Censorship

The Fascists government, introduced a strict Press Censorship in which Anti-Fascist Newspapers were suppressed and their editors replaced by the Fascists supporters. Radio, Films, Theatres were also controlled by the Fascist government.

ü  Control on Education System

Education system of the country in schools and colleges were strictly supervised. Teacher had to wear uniforms and new textbooks were written to glorify the idea and ideologies of Fascism. Every young people were forced to join government youth organizations where they were taught the glorification of Fascists regime.

ü  Co-Operation between the works and Employees

The government tried to promote co-operation between the employers and workers by setting up the corporate states. Both unions and employers associations were organized into corporations to improve the working conditions and disputes over pay. Workers were assured of some benefits like free Sunday, annual holidays with pay, social security, sports and theatre facilities and cheap tours and holidays.

ü  Understanding with the Pope

One of the outstanding achievements of the Fascists government was the settlement of dispute with the Papacy. By the Lateran Treaty of 1929, the Pope recognized Mussolini as the head of the government. In turn Mussolini recognized Vatican City as an independent city; he paid the Pope a large sum of money as compensation for the loss of his temporal possession. Accepted Catholicism as the official state religious institutions and made compulsory in all schools.

The main principle of Fascism

ü  Extreme Nationalism

Fascism believed in building up the greatness and prestige of the state with an idea that one’s own nation is superior to others

ü  A Totalitarian system of Government

As per fascism, the people’s way of life should controlled and organized to promote the greatness of the nation was more important than the interest of the individual

ü  One party system was essential

According to fascism, there was no place for democracy and the fascist were very hostile to communism. They believed in hero or leader worship which was great in winning mass support with thrilling speeches and skillful propaganda to make the nation great among others.

ü  Economic self sufficiency

According to fascism, economic self-sufficiency is very important in developing the greatness of the nation. So the government must direct the economic life of the people and the country.

ü  Military strength and Violence

Fascist believed in aggressive militarism and violence which were very important part of the way of life, once Mussolini remarked, Peace is absurd, Fascist doesn’t believe in it. Hence, the fascist party believed that they had captured by revolution, they allowed the violent treatment of opinions and carried on an aggressive policy to make Italy a great power again.