polarization
All the harsh conditions in Italy created social disorder, so citizens began turning to extreme political parties. Clearly the party in power then wasn't working as effectively to fix the economy, seeing as parliamentary democracy takes much longer for decisions to be made. Italian citizens were in desperate need for economic change and were losing patience, therefore many people turned to extreme political parties that they knew would enforce change quickly. They took a leap of faith during time of crisis, hoping that the Fascist Party would bring more prosperity to their economy than their current party. Desperate times called for desperate measures. Primarily, working-class voters polarized to support socialism or communism, and this worried Italy of a possible revolution. However, Fascism seemed like a better alternative for most citizens who feared revolution and the rising power of left-wing ideas. During national struggles, powerful leaders are sought out by the citizens for guidance, often leading to political polarization. This major political shift to extreme parties gave Mussolini the chance to gain citizen’s trust, and later gain total power.
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Organized the fascist party and Black Shirts
Initially, Mussolini began organizing the Fascist Party with the support of mostly unemployed veterans after the war. Since the economy was completely destroyed at that time, these men were vulnerable and desperate for any source of income, so he assembled these men into an armed squad called the Black Shirts. This team was paid to follow Mussolini orders, and to victimizing all his political opponents, such as the Communists and Socialists. The Black Shirts wanted to ensure that these anti-fascist would no longer pose at a threat to his rising power. If he eliminated a great number of members from the opposition this way, the fascist party would then have a clear advantage in being elected. Therefore, they started a violent campaign against them and initially caused about 200 deaths and 800 injuries, not including all the violence they induced after Mussolini gained power. Many people were killed, and badly beaten or they were too scared to oppose Mussolini out of fear of being killed. He eventually gained a lot of support by intimidating the public into joining the fascist party and by terrorizing the opposition. The brutality caused by his Black Shirt army was a major factor in him gaining and maintaining power for so long. Citizens did not want to mess with them.
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Political Scapegoating
After Mussolini spent a good portion of his life as a member of the socialist party, he became rather critical of the political point of view. He was exiled from this party because he had expressed his encouragement for Italy to join the war, which contradicted the socialist value of pacifism. Mussolini firmly believed that there was great heroism in war, so he joined the Italian Army. While joined, he wrote a Diary of War that glorified armed struggles and attacked socialists who called for peace. In Mussolini's eyes, fighting was an act of dignity and national pride that would unify Italy. He explained that success in war would bring great power to their nation so they could become remarkable, like the ancient Roman Empire, and war was how they would gain territory and colonies, similar to Britain. Mussolini blamed Italy’s lack of glory on the pacifism of socialists who supposedly encouraged cowardice. If citizens adopted socialist values, it would ruin his plans of gaining a dictatorship, so he began claiming that socialist were the reason Italy had not reach full prosperity. This was an act of scapegoating, placing unnecessary blame on a specific group of people. As a result, Mussolini would convince citizens that he couldn't be held responsible for issues within Italy because it was always the socialist’s fault. He assaulted and blamed socialists to make fascism seem like the better political option. His Black Shirts would do unmentionable things to the innocent people that were simply an easy target for Mussolini. Benito would tell citizens that the issues within Italy weren't their fault, it was the communist's fault. As a result, people would feel more confident in themselves and Mussolini, while communist were forced into a life of terror for what they believed in. This was an effective tactic used to scare citizens away from the opposition. Mussolini would say anything to gain power.
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Passion and nationalism
Mussolini was the first man to formally use and establish fascism. This new political view was unlike anything citizens had experienced at the time, so in a way it was intriguing. He claimed that fascism was against all discrimination based on different social classes, and it encouraged strong unity among all citizens, regardless of class. In his Doctrine of Fascism, he explained this by writing, “The world see through Fascism is not this material world which appears on the surface, in which man is an individual separated from all others and standing by himself. . . . The man of Fascism is an individual who is nation and fatherland, which is a moral law, binding together individuals and the generations into a tradition and a mission.” Unification, in his eyes, was the key in bringing great power to Italy. Lower class citizens found hope in that idea since they often felt left unappreciated because of their little wealth, and he knew he could gather their support this way. Many supporters appreciated and identified with his passion for the betterment of Italy, as demonstrated in his powerful speeches. Citizens really believed that he was looking out for them and that his enthusiastic nature would bring about great things for Italy. To a certain extent, the things Mussolini said were just what he knew the people wanted to hear. If he did so, he could easily gain the support of all groups, but once given power he could rule as he pleased. His charisma allowed him to slowly gain more power over the people of Italy. They were in desperate need of a good leader and Mussolini's passion was enough to inspire people to support him.
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gaining his new government
Mussolini spent a lot of time gaining the support of every group he could, instilling fear into them if he had to. Aside from the terror caused by the Black Shirts, increased numbers of fascist thugs were running ramped in the streets victimizing and even killing the opposition. His violent campaign tactics put the majority of the citizens in the palm of his hands. By 1921, the Fascist Party was invited to join the coalition government, but once this occurred tense negotiations began happening within that government. Violence continued to flood the streets of Italy at his expense. Then, Mussolini began pushing hard for the resignation of the other parties. In October 1922, the March on Rome began where the Black Shirts and fascists alike demanded power. Mussolini and his men believed they were the only political party capable of restoring real law and order to Italy, so they wanted to get the king's attention by marching on the streets of Rome. After seven days of marching, members of the opposition resigned and King Victor Emmanuel gave power to Mussolini by
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allowing him to finally form his new government. Many people believe the king made this decision out of fear of Mussolini’s military influence and violent nature. From that moment on, he slowly transformed Italy into a place without democracy. By 1925, he had successfully and legally developed a Fascist dictatorship through a series of laws. All he needed was that last bit of supposed “temporary” power, after the March on Rome, to gain total power over Italy for the next 20 years.