BELLWORK 4/16• Read 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. Define fascism. 4. Describe the economic situation in Italy in 1920.5. Who were the Black shirts? How did they help

Mussolini?6. How did Mussolini come to power in Italy?7. THINKER: List one similarity and difference

between Fascism and Nazism.

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.

• After destroying 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.

WORLD WAR IIDICTATORS!

Acts of Aggression• When each dictator was in power, there were

specific acts that showed their aggression toward citizens.

• Today, we are going to look specifically at each dictator and what they did to show their violence, hostility and anger.

• As we talk about it, fill in the last column of your graphic organizer that we started last week

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!

Hitler1. Enabling Act (1933)

2. Nuremburg Laws: 1935 anti-Semitic laws that classified Jews and deprived them of German citizenship.

3. Breaking the Treaty of Versailles (1936)

4. Kristallnacht: 1938 – one night massacre of Jewish homes, buildings, and synagogues.

5. Formation of ghettos: Areas where minority groups are concentrated.

Kristallnacht

Ghettos

Why did people support Hitler?• Most people didn’t know

Hitler as a harsh, racist, violent dictator who prohibited individual freedoms

• So why did so many people support him?

• These questions will be answered in a short article.

• As you read, answer the following questions in your notes

• Be ready to discuss!

1. Summarize how Hitler was able to maintain strict control over Germany.

2. What was the Gestapo?3. How did the Nazis use fear

to stop freedom of speech?4. Summarize Hitler’s

aims/goals as leader of Germany.

5. How was Hitler able to come to power?

BELLWORK 4/17• Read about communism on the back of your red

“Russian Revolution” worksheet. • Instead of answering questions on your bellwork

paper, answer the questions on the worksheet.• Be ready to discuss!• We will use these characteristics to complete the

“Soviet Union” column of the graphic organizer.

Stalin• Act of Aggression: Great Purges• Persecution, imprisonment, and execution of

government officials.• As a class, we are going to read

more specifically about the Great Purges.

• Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.

• Be ready to participate!

The Stalin Purges and “Show Trials”1. How did Stalin attempt to improve the economy? What was the result of

this?

2. How did Stalin use his secret police? How did they treat Stalin’s “enemies?”

3. Who was Sergei Kirov? What happened to him? Why?

4. Who did Stalin target in his Purges? (groups, people, professions, etc.)

5. What was Stalin’s reasoning for killing government officials? (Why did he do this?)

6. How did Stalin “simplify” the judicial system?

7. How did Stalin get people to confess?

8. What were the “show trials?” Purpose?

9. Describe some of the crimes Stalin’s “enemies” were charged with.

10. List three effects of Stalin’s Great Purges.