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Formation of an Independent Italy
March 17, 1861 the Resurgence unified the many countries in the Italian Peninsula to become a whole country, which was now a sovereign state. Victor Emmanuel was the first king and Rome was its capital
I chose this photo because it clearly shows the division of Italy before and after its unification as one independent Italy -
Papal States Taken Over by New Italy
In September 1870 Italy entered the Papal states, a vote held in October then allowed Italy to annex the Papal states and Rome. This lasted until the early 20th century. I chose this because it shows the Papal States becoming apart of Italy. -
Failure of First Italo-Ethiopian War with the Battle of Adowa (Adwa)
From December 15, 1894 to October 32 1896 Italy fought in a war with Ethiopia in order to boost their status. This backfired when Italy was outnumbered by Ethiopian soldiers and were later defeated.
I chose this picture because it shows how out numbered the Italians were and how defeated they look. -
Italy invades and takes over Libya
Italy invaded Libya (a Turkish province) September 29, 1911, starting the Italo-turkish war, which Italy won. As a result, Italy gained the colonies Tripolitania and Cyrenaica aka modern Libya.
I chose this because it shows Italy having control over the people of Libya. -
Mussolini begins work as editor for the Socialist Party newspaper Avanti
Mussolini began working as editor for Avanti, the official newspaper for the Italian socialist party, in 1912. I chose this photo because it shows a paper by Mussolini. -
Mussolini kicked out of Socialist Party for pro-nationalistic sentiments regarding WW I
In 1914, Mussolini was kicked out of the socialist party because he advocated for Italy to militarily intervene in WWI, which was opposite of what socialists believed as they wanted to remain neutral. I chose this photo because I think it is talking about Mussolini being an imbicil. -
Treaty of London
Treaty between Italy and Allied forces which include Russia, Britain, and France. Decided to bring Italy into WW1. Promised Italy multiple areas like northern Dalmatia and Trieste, and Italy then joined the war even though neutral Italians didn’t want to take part in the war. We chose this picture because it displays which areas that Italy was promised to obtain if they took part in the world war through the London Treaty of 1915. -
Italy enters WWI on side of Germany
Italy joined the allies on May 23, 1915, due to the Treaty of London and the desire for territory on Austria-Hungary. This is significant as Italy committed itself to gaining more territory which is seen through them entering WWI against Austria-Hungary.
I chose this picture because it shows the Italian army before WWII which is important in terms of evaluating the personality of the soldiers. They seem to be happy within the photo. -
Beginning of Biennio Rosso (1919-1920)
Land occupations appeared in southern Italy, many lootings and riots hit shopkeepers in northern Italy during 1919. Economy was hurt because prices were cut in half and deputies of socialism walked out of parliament for protesting purposes. In June of 1920, the Ancona region was threatened with strikes and mutinies, which occurred due to the differentiation between social classes. We chose this picture because it shows the readiness of the working class with weaponry. -
Fasci di Combattimento
This group was filled with fighters that were connected together through the government, and were all fascists. They burned down offices of socialists. They wanted to attack Socialist institutions and that office was located in Milan. Got support from Italy as well. We chose this picture because this was the symbol of the fasci di combattimento group. The axe resembles their strength, and the crosses on the strong wooden part of the axe resemble the defiance these fascists contain. -
D'Annunzio takes Fiume
Gabriele D’Annunzio was an Italian military and political hero and played a large role in Italy because he took over the city of Fiume on September 12th, 1919. Fiume wanted to reunite Italy with its people. We chose this picture because it really displays how many Italians were in Fiume at the time that D’Annunzio helped them escape and took over with his army and how powerful D’Annunzio is with his military power as displayed here. -
Mussolini forms alliance with Giolitti
The National Blocs was founded in 1921 by Giovanni Giolitti, who had been the prime minister of Italy many times. This was an electoral list that was made by his Liberals, Italian fascists that were led by Benito Mussolini and the Nationalist Association of Italy led by Corradini. We chose this picture because it displays the National Blocs which included Benito and was founded by Giolitti. -
Mussolini forms the PNF (Fascist Party) and is elected its leader in Rome, Italy
The PNF was made by Mussolini in Rome, Italy, and he was elected the leader of it in 1921. It was a political party which displayed Italian Fascism and was basically a reorganized version of the Italian Fasci di Combattimento. This is very similar to the Fasci di Combattimento symbol of the axe with the wooden bars and the leather. This demonstrates the comparison and expansion of the Fasci di Combattimento and its similarity to the PNF. -
March on Rome / Mussolini Becomes PM
The squadristi/blackshirts, led by the leaders of the Fascist Party (except for Mussolini, who was in Milan), marched on Rome. Although there were less than 30,000 men present, the King was more afraid of what the march could lead to, but still refused to sign the military order, instead handing power to Mussolini. Mussolini agreed to faulty terms before demanding full control and frightening the ruling class enough into agreeing, allowing him to begin rule as a dictatorship. -
Acerbo Law
A law conceived by Giacamo Acerbo and proposed by Mussolini in 1923, with its purpose being electoral reform to stabilize the government by giving ⅔ of the Parliament seats to the party with the majority vote. However, it was really a thinly veiled attempt to allow the Fascists to gain full control of the Parliament in the following election so they could completely enact their dictatorship. -
Corfu Incident
A crisis between Greece and Italy, when an Italian delegation was assassinated on the Greek island of Corfu. In response, Mussolini called for a naval assault on Corfu after they did not agree to his ultimatum in full, going against Italy’s agreement to the League of Nations. Although the League originally intervened to discipline Italy, but ended up ruling in favor of them, having them withdraw from Greece but also forcing Greece to pay reparations. -
Matteotti Crisis
Giacomo Matteotti, who opposed fascism, was murdered by fascist supporters, after speaking out against the party in Parliament. After he was reported missing, the Fascist Party shut down completely. However, the decisive actions Mussolini had taken in the preceding years in terms of government prevented the parliament from imposing real consequences against him. When no one did, it became clear that Mussolini, fascism, and a dictatorship were here to stay. -
Battle for Grain
The Battle for Grain was an economic policy undertaken by the Fascists in Italy during the 1920s as a move toward autarky. It happened in 1925. I chose this photo because it accurately displays the crisis that was occurring. -
Aventine Secession
This was an act of protest by all parties who opposed fascism--including the socialists, liberals, popular party, and communists--from the bicameral Parliament after the Matteotti crisis. Although it was meant to protest fascism, it really led to the overall establishment of Mussolini’s fascist dictatorship, as the separate parliament they tried to set up proved to be ineffective and could not oppose the Fascist Party. This resulted in total one-party control for the Fascist Party. -
Period: to
Battle for Births
The battle for births took place during the inter‐war years of 1925 to 1938. The demographic campaign promoted fecunditá, especially within the working class, by increasing welfare benefits, legislating tax breaks, making available better health care, and awarding highly public medals and recognition to those women who produced more than the state's target of five children per family. -
Battle for Land and Battle for the Lira
The Battle for the Lira was an economic policy undertaken by the Fascists in Italy during the 1920s as an attempt to raise the claims of Italy becoming a great power. The battle for land was an economic policy taking place shortly after the battle for grain in 1925. I chose this photo because it describes the events that were taking place and shows the significance. -
Locarno Treaty Signed
The Locarno treaty was meant to mutually grant peace in Western Europe through the cooperation of Italy, Great Britain, France, Belgium, and Germany, including mutual guarantees and arbitration treaties, trying to prevent the nations from attacking each other without due reason, and to encourage them to settle issues through discussion rather than warfare. It also notably removed the Allied troops from the Rhineland before they were scheduled to. -
Kellogg-Briand Treaty signed
The Kellogg-Briand Pact was an agreement to outlaw war signed on August 27, 1928. Sometimes called the Pact of Paris for the city in which it was signed, the pact was one of many international efforts to prevent another World War, but it had little effect in stopping the rising militarism of the 1930s or preventing World War II. I chose this photo because this treaty was the one that outlawed war which is significant to today. -
Lateran Treaty with Pope
The Lateran Treaty is the agreement which was signed in the Lateran Palace in Rome, on the 11th of February 1929 by Italy and the Holy See which recognized the Vatican City as a sovereign and independent papal state. I chose this photo because it shows the significance of the event. -
Stresa Front
The Stresa Front was Alliance between Britain, France and Italy that was agreed on 14th April 1935 when their prime ministers met to discuss their concerns towards Germany. In Stresa, Italy, they signed an agreement which established the Stresa Front. I chose this photo because it describes the events that occurred and shows where the event took place. -
Rome-Berlin Axis Treaty
An alliance designed by Galeazzo Ciano, Italy’s foreign minister, which linked the two fascist countries of Italy and Germany together on October 25, 1936. The treaty is significant as it led to a military alliance in 1939 under the ‘Pact of Steel.’
I chose this picture because it shows the companionship between the leaders. This is important because the alliance between the two countries was carried out for extensive time, so it is significant to understand the relationship between the two. -
Abyssinian Crisis
The Abyssinian crisis was a diplomatic crisis that took place between 1934 and 1937 over Italy's policy of aggression against Ethiopia. I chose this photo because it displays the importance of this event. -
Italian Involvement with Spanish Civil War
Italy became involved in the Spanish Civil War in February 1937 in support of the nationalists, whose cause was against the Second Spanish Republic. Italy’s involvement in the Spanish Civil War was significant as an alliance from the Rome-Berlin Axis Treaty, provided planes which mobilized the nationalist troops.
This photo was chosen because it shows different Spanish people in the war. It shows the intensity and passion of the people during this time. It shows the aggression of the people. -
Munich Conference
A conference held on September 30, 1938, where Germany was able to annex Sudetenland. This is significant as France and Britain allowed Hitler to annex regions of Czechoslovakia occupied by Germans. Prevention of war was not reached, and the conference caused awareness on failed diplomacy.
I chose this photo because it shows the leaders of each of the different countries during the Munich Conference. This is important in terms of understanding the importance of war to them. -
Italy Invades Albania
Italy invaded Albania on April 7, 1939 in which it was rapidly overrun. This invasion was caused by the imperialist policies of Mussolini, Italian dictator. This was significant as it displayed the aggression and dominance of Italy.
I chose this photo because it shows different Italian military trucks before the invasion of Albania. This is important as people can be seen on the left of the photo which appear to be chaotic with their hands up. -
Mussolini brought down by coup during WWII
Mussolini declared war on Britain and France in June 1940 which exposed Italy’s military weakness which led to numerous defeats. This caused tension throughout Italian society and the fall of the fascist regime on July 25, 1943, when Mussolini was overthrown and imprisoned by his former colleagues in the government.
This picture was chosen because it shows an image of Italian soldiers during WWII. This was chosen because it displays the intensity that soldiers faced during war. -
Mussolini killed
On April 28, 1945, Mussolini and his mistress, Petacci, were shot by Italian partisans who caught them while attempting to flee to Switzerland.
I chose this picture because it displays Mussolini which is significant in terms of understanding what the different leaders looked like of the countries.