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Formation of an Independent Italy
the formation of independent Italy, also known as the Risogimento, combined several Italian states under one power. It resulted from riots and protests about the results of the Congress of Vienna. -
Papal States Taken Over by the New Nation of Italy
Papal States had become a part of Italy in the Risogimento before 1861. Rome was the only exception, being annexed from the kingdom of Sardinia in 1870 after the French troops that were protecting it retreated. -
Failure of First Italo-Ethiopian War with the Battle of Adowa (Adwa)
Italy wanted African territories to keep up with France and Britain, this caused them to sign a treaty with Ethiopia giving Eritrea to Italy in exchange for a loan for military funds. However, the countries had different interpretations of the treaty causing Italy to attempt to invade Ethiopia, but they were outnumbered and dealing with unfamiliar harsh lands, leading to their retreat. -
Mussolini begins work as editor for the Socialist Party newspaper Avanti-- 1912
In his thirties Mussolini worked as an editor for a socialist newspaper: Avanti. Mussolini was a socialist at the time, as he was raised by a socialist father. His position in the newspaper allowed him to begin gaining popularity. -
Mussolini kicked out of Socialist Party for pro-nationalistic sentiments regarding WW I
Mussolini supported Italy’s involvement in WWI, going against the socialist’s stance on pacifism. For this he was kicked out of the socialist party and fired from Avanti, something which the paper published. -
Treaty of London
Signed on April 26, 1915, the treaty of London was a secret treaty between Italy and the Triple Ententee to bring Italy into World War 1. The agreement talked about promises of territorial expansion for Italy against Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and in Africa where it was promised enlargement of its colonies. -
Beginning of Biennio Rosso
Also known as the “two red years”, industrial workers began a wave of militant action Throughout 1919, strikes, factory occupations and land occupations, organized by trade unions and peasant leagues and involving over 1 million workers, swept across Italy. By the end of 1919, socialist trade unions had more than 2 million members, compared to about 250,000 at the beginning of the year. -
Fascio di Combattimento formed in Mila
On 23 March, 118 people, representing various political groupings, met in Milan and formed a Fascio di Combattimento. They intended to bring together nationalists and socialists, and a militant-sounding Fascist Programme was published on 6 June 1919, which combined various left- and right-wing demands. They were united with a hate for the liberal state. -
D’Annunzio takes Fiume
Gabriel D’Annunzio led 2000 armed men to the city of Fiume, took control and ruled the city for 15 months against the liberal Italian Government and the Allies. This made D’Annunzio a hero to Italian nationalists and inspired Mussolini. Mussolini decided to adapt D’Annunzio’s tactic and won 5000 out of 270000 votes in Milan -
Mussolini forms alliance with Giolitti
Mussolini formed an alliance with that told Giolitti and other liberal politicians that talk of fascist revolution was not to be taken seriously and in return Giolitti offered the fascists an electoral alliance – an antisocialist National Bloc – for the national elections due to be held in May 1921. About 100 socialists were killed during the election campaign -
Mussolini forms the PNF (Fascist Party) and is elected its leader
On 2 August, Mussolini signed a peace deal, known as the Pact of Pacification, with moderate socialists and the General Confederation of Workers. He then resigned from the Fascist Central Committee and persuaded members to re-form the organization into the Partita Nazionale Fascista (PNF). Later Mussolini persuaded the Fascist National Congress to elect him as leader and in return, he agreed to end the truce with the socialists, and ordered all branches to organize action squads. -
March on Rome and Mussolini becomes Prime Minister
On October 28, 1922, Benito Mussolini led the March on Rome, a pivotal event in Italian history. This march consolidated fascist power and led to Mussolini being appointed Prime Minister by King Victor Emmanuel III, marking the beginning of his authoritarian regime. The event underscored the vulnerability of Italy's democratic institutions and set the stage for the rise of fascism in Europe. -
Corfu Incident
In August 1923, the Corfu Incident occurred when Italian forces bombarded and occupied the Greek island of Corfu in response to the murder of an Italian diplomat. This aggressive action strained relations between Italy and Greece and highlighted Mussolini's expansionist ambitions in the Mediterranean. -
Acerbo Law Passed
Acerbo Law passed: On July 15, 1923, the Acerbo Law was enacted in Italy, enabling Mussolini's fascist party to secure a significant majority of parliamentary seats in the upcoming elections. This legislative move consolidated Mussolini's power and paved the way for the further entrenchment of fascist ideology in Italian politics. -
Matteotti Crisis
The Matteotti Crisis unfolded in Italy in June 1924, following the assassination of Socialist leader Giacomo Matteotti, who had been critical of Mussolini's regime. This event sparked international condemnation and domestic unrest, exposing the violent tactics employed by the fascist government to suppress dissent. -
Aventine Secession
In December 1924, opposition parties in Italy, led by the Socialists, staged the Aventine Secession in protest against the fraudulent outcome of the elections and the growing authoritarianism of Mussolini's regime. This symbolic act underscored the erosion of democratic principles and the consolidation of fascist control over the Italian state. -
Battle for Grain
he Battle for Grain was launched in 1925 to combat poor harvest and the increase in grain imports by making Italian farmers to grow more wheats and become less dependent on imports. Mussolini tried to make Italy more independent of imports however caused more dependency on imports because of the misallocation of resources which affected the people more negatively as it created new problems. This is very significant as it shows how Mussolini failed to solve problems as a leader. -
Locarno Treaty Signed
On October 18, 1925, the Locarno Treaty was signed, aimed at ensuring European stability and security by resolving territorial disputes between Germany, France, Belgium, and Italy. This diplomatic achievement marked a brief period of détente in interwar Europe but ultimately failed to prevent the escalation of tensions leading to World War II. -
Battle for Land
It was made in 1926 to increase available farmland. Marshes and swamps were drained, most notably the Pontine Marshes near Rome. This allowed the establishment of many small farms. The farming itself, financed from public funds, created work for the unemployed. -
Battle for the Lira
Description automatically generatedIt was made on 18 August 1926, they revalued the lire, the Italian currency, to restore its value aboard to help internal price rises and to increase Italian Prestige. Battle for the Lira had a negative effect on the economy of the Italy and caused more problems than before as it increased unemployment. Battle for the Lira is significant because it demonstrates Mussolini’s failure as a leader as he furthered the problem he tried to fix. -
Battle for Births
It was put in place in 1927 to increase Italy’s population to create larger army to help expand the empire. To achieve this, Mussolini stressed the traditional role of women as housewives and mothers and reduced their employment opportunities. This is significant because it shows how this battle failed horribly despite the extreme measures, revealing the impact of the Mussolini’s rule on people. -
Kellogg-Briand Treaty signed
The Kellogg- Briand peace pact proposed to US by France as they felt threatened from its German neighbor and sought alliances to shore up its defenses. The lack of specificity in the pact created lee ways for countries and allowed them to invade, causing more disruption in international relationships, thus affecting world peace. This is significant because it shows how useless the pact was even though almost every country signed it to maintain world peace. -
Lateran Treaty with Pope
On February 11, 1929, Lateran Treaty was signed between Italy and the Holy see to put an end to the heated “Roman question”, concerning the temporal power and independence of the papacy in the context of Italian unification. Through this, Mussolini put the heated topic in Italy to end which consolidated his power and stability domestically. This is significant because it also gave international recognition as he resolved an international dispute. -
.Abyssinian Crisis
Mussolini invaded Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in October 1935 because he said, his policies of expansion weren’t any different from other countries and he believed that Ethiopia should’ve been held accountable for Italian losses in Battle of Adowa in 1896. The league of Nations only condemned Italian campaign and imposed economic sanctions on Italy which were never fully applied. The event signifies Mussolini’s consolidation of power through his foreign policy: his attempt to increase his influence. -
Stresa Front
In March 1935, Adolf Hitler publicly declared his intentions of rearming the German military – an act prohibited explicitly by the Treaty of Versailles. On 14 April 1935, Ramsay MacDonald from Great Britain, Pierre-Etienne Flandin from France, and Benito Mussolini from Italy met in Stresa. Its main aims were to reaffirm the terms of the Locarno Treaties, to declare the independence of Austria, to resist future attempts by Nazi Germany to alter the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. -
Rome-Berlin Axis Treaty signed
October 1936, Italy and Germany signed the Rome-Berlin axis, unofficially linking the two countries. This coalition was formalized when Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini signed the Pact of Steel where they promised to help each other if one went to war with another country. This is a demonstration of Mussolini maintaining his power by reinforcing his military might through the alliance with Germany, additionally, good relations with a powerful ally reinforces his political might as well. -
Italian involvement with Spanish Civil war
Italy in the Spanish Civil War ...Mussolini promised military support to Spanish nationalists who opposed the Second Republic. However, in September 1936, he signed the Non-Intervention Agreement which prevented intervention in civil war, but he still supplied to them. Mussolini's policies consequentially were aimed to increase authoritarian control in the region; by expanding military influence, this draws an image of Mussolini maintaining his power. -
Munich Conference
On September 29-30, 1938, Germany, Italy, Great Britain and France signed the Munich agreement, by which Czechoslovakia must surrender its border regions and defenses to Nazi Germany. The leaders of Britian, France and Italy were agreed to the German annexation in exchange for a pledge of peace from Hitler. Mussolini maintains his power by ensuring his ally’s influence; by allowing the German annexation, Mussolini effectively empowers the German regime and thus himself as an ally. -
Italy invades Albania
in 1939 Italy aimed to expand its territories and influence in the Balkans. Through strong military force, Italy quickly invaded Albania, implementing a puppet government and effectively annexing the country. This invasion heightened tensions in Europe. The event signifies Mussolini’s consolidation of power through his foreign policy: he is attempting to increase his influence over the area and politically. -
Italy enters WW II on side of Germany
WWII started on September 1, 1939, when Germany attacked Poland. Britain and France declared war on Germany. Italy remained neutral at first and then joined the war on June 10, 1940, as Germany’s ally before Germany defeated France. This is a demonstration of Mussolini maintaining his power by ensuring his ally’s influence; by supporting the German army, Mussolini effectively empowers the German regime and thus himself as an ally, as well as increasing both countries’ political influence. -
Mussolini brought down by coup during WW II
After the losses Italy took in WWII people started to lose confidence in Mussolini’s rule. A law was passed transferring power away from Mussolini, orchestrated by Count Dino Grandi. Mussolini was arrested the next day by King Emmanual III after a meeting with him. -
Mussolini Killed
April 28, 1945, Mussolini and his mistress, Clara Petacci were shot by the Italian partisans who had captured them as they were attempting to flee to Switzerland. When they arrived at the border and realized the guards has crossed over to the partisan side, they tried to disguise and tried to slip into Austria. But they were found and shot by the partisans. Their bodies were taken to Milan and put on public display.