The Rise and Fall of Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini is a charismatic individual. A gifted orator, who would feel a little bit insecure about his appearance, the impact he left on Europe and the world of politics is still felt even this day.
Mussolini was the son of Alessandro and Rosa Mussolini. His father was a socialist blacksmith who advocated anarchy. Mussolini got most of his early political ideologies from his father. Mussolini was an active member of the Italian Socialist party. Because Mussolini was a pacifist, he taught and lived briefly in Switzerland in order to avoid military service. He rose to national prominence in Italy by opposing the Libyan War, and the leader of the left of the socialist party. In 1913, he became the editor of Socialist daily newspaper Avanti.
Soon after WWI started, Mussolini unexpectedly abandoned his former ideas and became nationalistic and joined the pro-allied interventionists. The Socialist party, which was against all nationalistic wars, expelled him. He later founded his own newspaper, the Popolo d’Italia which was financed by the French in order to persuade Italy to join the allied cause. He joined the fight in WWI in 1915. In the years following the war, Mussolini organized his followers, who consisted mainly of war veterans, to form the National Fascist Party. Fascists believed in aggressive nationalism, violently opposed communists and socialists, and dressed in black shirts. Italy was in turmoil at the time and Mussolini grew in popularity by preaching reformation to the country. In 1921, he was elected to parliament and in October of 1922, Mussolini sent fascists to march onto Rome. King Victor Emmanuel III allowed them to enter and told Mussolini to form a cabinet. This cabinet consisted mainly of people who would agree with Mussolini and friends of his, making it easier for him to gain supporters.
As the new head of state, Mussolini slowly but surely transformed the government of Italy into a...