BELLWORK1. Explain Stalin’s Great Purges (targets, purpose,

reasoning) 2. How did Stalin “simplify” the judicial system?3. How did Stalin get people to confess?4. What were the “show trials?” Purpose?5. List three effects of Stalin’s Great Purges.6. THINKER: What was the purpose of the League of

Nations? Why was it created?

Fascism in Italy

Mussolini’s Rise to Power and establishment of a Fascist State

Italy Post-WWI• Read pgs. 557-558 and answer the following questions about

Mussolini’s rise to power: 1. List three problems Italy faced post-WWI.2. Who was Benito Mussolini?3. What is Fascism? How is it different than communism?4. Describe the economic situation in Italy in 1920.5. How did Mussolini appeal to the people? What did he promise

them? 6. Who were the Black shirts? How did they help Mussolini?7. How did Mussolini come to power in Italy?8. List 5 policies Mussolini implemented after he became leader.

Benito Mussolini: Il Duce• Oldest of three kids; mother was a

Catholic school teacher and father was a socialist & highly involved in politics.

• Heavily influenced by nationalist sentiment of Giuseppe Garibaldi (even made a speech at the anniversary of his death!)

• Mussolini was rebellious and was soon expelled after a series of behavior-related incidents, including throwing stones at the congregation after Mass, stabbing a fellow student in the hand and throwing an inkpot at a teacher

Benito Mussolini: Il Duce• In 1902, Mussolini moved to

Switzerland to avoid military service.

• Here he became very active in nationalist movements and began to adopt his personal views (violence as a means of politics; and anti-democracy/capitalism)

• He became active in strikes and was even imprisoned for leading a violent strike in 1903

• He was then deported back to Italy where he served in the military until 1909 when he became a teacher

Benito Mussolini: Il Duce• Became active in the Italian

Socialist Party and gained popularity in 1910 by writing his own anti-Italian government newspaper

• Began to lead riots & protests against the Italian war in Libya

• By 1911, he was the most well-known socialist in Italy and had 100,000 followers

• Eventually Mussolini was expelled from the Italian Socialist party due to his opposition to the party's stance on neutrality in WWI.

• Mussolini later founded the Fascist movement.

A man of contradictions:

Religion

Military

Politics

Marriage

Benito Mussolini: Il Duce• Following the March on Rome in

October 1922 he became the 27th Prime Minister of Italy.

• Destroyed all political opposition through his secret police and outlawed strikes

• Within five years he established complete control and transformed the nation into a one-party dictatorship

• Mussolini remained in power until he was replaced in 1943 and died two years later.

Mussolini and Blackshirt Youth

Characteristics of Fascism

Mussolini• Act of Aggression: Recreate the Holy Roman Empire.• Wanted to restore Italy’s power, influence, and

pride by force!• People supported Mussolini because he brought

order to the nation, solved unemployment and rekindled feelings of patriotism and nationalism.

• It was the Italians destiny to recapture the greatness and glory of ancient Rome!