Mussolini
How effective did Benito Mussolini manage Italian affairs between 1922 and 1945?
(Refer to achieving and consolidating control, political economy, Italian affairs, foreign policy.)
Benito Mussolini was born in 1883. In 1912 he became editor of the Avanti (a socialist newspaper.) In 1914 Mussolini left the socialist party over his pro-war views and formed his own newspaper ‘Il Popolo d’italia. In 1919 he formed the Fascist Party the ‘Fascio di Combattiemento’. The reasons for the rise of Mussolini are as follows: There was great resentment with the treaty of Versailles. By the terms for the treaty of London Italy had been expected to gain certain territories especially in Yugoslavia. At Versailles (1919) President Wilson of America resisted these claims and Italy was left disappointed. Economic problems in Italy were horrific. Between 1914-1918 prices rose by 250% due to waves of strikes, 500,000 steelworkers went on strike in Milan in 1920 which was followed by an agricultural strike in the Po Valley in 1920. There was huge failure of democracy. A new voting system introduced in 1919 tended to fragment the groupings in parliament and so worsened the chances of effective government. Mussolini was getting a broad spectrum of support. In 1919 Mussolini formed the fascist party which gradually attracted a broad range of support. Nationalists found an emotional appeal in Mussolini’s speeches, disgruntled unemployed soldiers following world war 1 followed him and also landowners and industrialists who were fed up with strikes and feared the rise in communism. By 1921 the membership had risen to 152,000 of whom 62,000 were working class and the rest were professional people and small tradesmen. In October 1922 Mussolini was convinced by other leading fascists that it was time to act, Mussolini demanded that he be appointed prime minister. He announced to the public his intention to march on the capital – Rome. His followers began to occupy towns throughout
(Refer to achieving and consolidating control, political economy, Italian affairs, foreign policy.)
Benito Mussolini was born in 1883. In 1912 he became editor of the Avanti (a socialist newspaper.) In 1914 Mussolini left the socialist party over his pro-war views and formed his own newspaper ‘Il Popolo d’italia. In 1919 he formed the Fascist Party the ‘Fascio di Combattiemento’. The reasons for the rise of Mussolini are as follows: There was great resentment with the treaty of Versailles. By the terms for the treaty of London Italy had been expected to gain certain territories especially in Yugoslavia. At Versailles (1919) President Wilson of America resisted these claims and Italy was left disappointed. Economic problems in Italy were horrific. Between 1914-1918 prices rose by 250% due to waves of strikes, 500,000 steelworkers went on strike in Milan in 1920 which was followed by an agricultural strike in the Po Valley in 1920. There was huge failure of democracy. A new voting system introduced in 1919 tended to fragment the groupings in parliament and so worsened the chances of effective government. Mussolini was getting a broad spectrum of support. In 1919 Mussolini formed the fascist party which gradually attracted a broad range of support. Nationalists found an emotional appeal in Mussolini’s speeches, disgruntled unemployed soldiers following world war 1 followed him and also landowners and industrialists who were fed up with strikes and feared the rise in communism. By 1921 the membership had risen to 152,000 of whom 62,000 were working class and the rest were professional people and small tradesmen. In October 1922 Mussolini was convinced by other leading fascists that it was time to act, Mussolini demanded that he be appointed prime minister. He announced to the public his intention to march on the capital – Rome. His followers began to occupy towns throughout