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Formation of an independent Italy
The Risorgimento movement was successful and Italy gained independence from Austria, however the Catholic Church still had its separate state in Rome and surrounding areas. Despite this, there were many underlying problems and the people of Italy were not yet unified yet. This image shows what the land of Italy looked like prior to its independece from Austria. The divided land shows a stark contrast in comparison to when it would be unified, thus showing the siginificance of this event. -
Papal States taken over by new nation of Italy
After the Franco Prussian War (1870-71), Napoleon III removed his troops from the Italian Peninsula. Italian troops then entered the peninsula, and annexed the Papal states into the Italian Kingdom. This map illustrates what Italy looked like before the Papal states were intergrated into the land and after they were taken over. This illsutrates the change that occured, thus representing this event well. -
Failure of First Italo-Ethiopian War with the Battle of Adowa (Adwa)
This war was a conflict between Italy and Ethiopia (supported by the Russian and French) over the Treaty of Wuchale, which Italy claimed made Ethiopia into a Italian protectorate. Ethiopia had better equipment and more troops, thus heavily defeating Italy in the Battle of Adowa. This ruined Italy’s plan to expand its colonial empire. This piece of art shows how much of a disadvantage that Italy was at, as the Ethiopians were very prepared and supplied. -
Italy invades and takes over Libya
Italy invaded Libya (a Turkish colony at the time) as an attempt to increase the size of its own empire and prevent French influence in Northern Africa. They were successful, and Libya was taken over in 1912. This image illustrates how the land was divided was Italian encroachment was in effect. The colors of the map being of the Italian flag colors further emphasize the Italian imperialism in effect, thus being representantive of Italy's efforts to expand its empire. -
Mussolini begins work as editor for the Socialist Party newspaper Avanti
He opposed imperialism and militarism and supported international solidarity. He was arrested for attempting to start an insurrection against the war. After his release, he became the editor for Avanti, and his articles encouraged violence around the liberal state which also helped to expel pro-Royalists and liberals from the Socialist Party. This image shows what the newspaper looked like and the large role that Mussolini had, thus being representative of this definition. -
Mussolini kicked out of Socialist Party for pro-nationalistic sentiments regarding WW I
The Socialist Party advocated for the Italian government to remain neutral; however, Mussolini no longer supported the idea of a class struggle, and turned to support Italian involvement in the war, moving towards an extreme nationalist position. Because of this, he was fired as the editor of Avanti, and created his own newspaper, Il Popolo d’Italia (‘The People of Italy’) to advocate for the war. This image shows the Il Popolo d’Italia newspaper that he founded, showing his large switch. -
Treaty of London
Many Italians were split over whether or not to enter the war, but the liberal government decided that they would. The Treaty of London was signed in 1915 and promised to join the war on the side of the Triple Entente. This map shows how the land would be given to Italy in the event that the Entete won, further emphasizing the Italian motives in signing this treaty. This thus represents the treaty because it shows the land allocation that was a part of the terms. -
D’Annunzio takes Fiume
Gabriele D’Annunzio led 2000 men into Fiume, which was one of the lands that Italy wanted but did not receive after the war. D’Annunzio took control of the city and held control for 15 months despite the liberal government. This made him a hero among the nationalists and inspired Mussolini. This image shows the order that D’Annunzio was able to instill when taking Fiume, thus highlighting the inspiration and admiration he was able to garner among the Italian people. -
Beginning of Biennio Rosso
This was the wave of militant action that industrial workers partook in as a result of the rising unemployment. During Biennio Rosso, there were many strikes, factory and land occupations organised by trade unions and labour workers. This image shows the combat groups that were tasked with controlling the violence during this period, further highlighting the unrest that was present. -
Fascio di Combattimento formed in Milan
118 people from various political groups formed a fighting group, with the intention of uniting socialists and nationalists. They were unified by a hatred of the liberal state. This image shows what the members of the Fascio di Combattimento looked like, thus giving a good representation of the different parties. -
Mussolini forms alliance with Giolitti
Mussolini assured Giolitti that there would not be a fascists revolution, so Giolitti offered them an electoral alliance (socialist National bloc). During the elections, the fascists won 35 seats, and Mussolini was happy with the outcome and decided that he would not support Giolitti’s coalition government. This image shows what Giolitti looked like. -
Mussolini forms the PNF (Fascist Party) and is elected its leader
Mussolini resigned from the Fascist Central Committee in order to outmaneuver the ras and persuaded the members of the Fasci di Combattimento to be reformed into the PNF. He then persuaded the fascist national congress to elect him as leader, and in turn he would end the truce with socialists. This image of the PNF symbol and Mussolini highlights the large role that Mussolini would play in leading the PNF and paving the way for fascism later on. -
March on Rome and Mussolini becomes Prime Minister
The ras wanted to move to national power, so fascists squads took over the town. The king refused to sign martial law and arrest Mussolini and was appointed as the prime minister of Italy. This image demonstrates the power and order that the fascists had during this march, ultimately highlighting the success that they had and how Mussolini would become Prime Minister with relative ease. -
Acerbo Law passed
This law allowed for the party who won the most votes to have ⅔ of the seats in parliament. This law was intended for the fascists to have total power over Italian politics. This is an image of Giacomo Acerbo, an influential politician who proposed this law. -
Corfu Incident
An Italian general was murder in Greek lands when making maps of the area. Mussolini used this to his advantage, and demanded Greece pay 50 million lire. They paid after Italy invaded the Greek island of Corfu. This image shows the Italian troops invading the Greeks, emphasizing the authority and fear that they were able to create among the Greek. This represents this event well because it shows how the Italians were able to intimidate the Greek into paying the reparation. -
Matteotti Crisis
Matteotti was a well respected socialist who spoke out about fascist violence that was occuring. He was then abducted by fascists and murdered, creating much discourse for the accused fascists. This political cartoon illustrates the discourse that Matteoti's death had and the resistance against Mussolini that it stirred up. It represents this event well because it shows the dislike for Mussolini that was beginning to arise and how the Italian people likely began to view him. -
Aventine Secession
Many deputies, including socialists, radical Popolari, and communists boycotted the Parliament with the intention of forcing the king to dismiss Mussolini after his involvement with the Matteoti Crisis. This image of Matteoti's coffin being carried around illustrates the cause behind this event, thus highlighting the discontent that people had with Mussolini because of it. -
Battle for Grain
This was a campaign aimed towards farmers to grow more cereal and reduce Italy’s dependence on foreign imports. This was successful in doubling cereal production and making themselves self-sufficient in wheat, but a misallocation of resources also resulted. This propoganda image shows Mussolini putting in effort to grow wheat and grain to strengthen Italy's sufficiency. This image represents this event well because of how it shows the Italian people being urged to take action. -
Battle for Land and Battle for the Lira
The battle for land was an attempt to increase the amount of farmland available and the Battle for the LIra was an attempt to increase the value of the Italian currency. The Battle for Land was unsuccessful and only one significant area was reclaimed, whereas the Battle for the Lira increased unemployment rates. This image shows the efforts put in by the Italian people in order to clear up more land for farming. -
Locarno Treaty signed
This treaty guaranteed the German western frontier as inviolable, and Britain and Italy would help if there were any aggression against the frontier. This image shows the signatories of the treaty, of which include the leaders of Britain and Italy. This represents the image well, because it emphasizes the significance of this event and alludes to the impacts that it would have later on. -
Battle for Births
This battle aimed to reinforce the domestic roles that women should have and increase the population of Italy. Benefits were given to those who were married and would have children. This battle was unsuccessful and actually resulted in decreased employment in women and a decline in birth rates. This propoganda image of Mussolini and his relatively large family shows how the Italian people were encouraged to have many kids in order to boost the population and strengthen the nation. -
Kellogg-Briand Treaty signed
This was an international agreement where those who signed promised to avoid "disputes or conflicts of whatever nature or of whatever origin they may be, which may arise among them." However, there were virtually no methods of enforcement. This image shows that many diplomats and leaders that were present at the signing, ultimately showing the siginificane of this international agreement. -
Lateran Treaty with Pope
This treaty ended the tensions between the papacy and the Italian state. There would be papal sovereignty over Vatican City, and the pope formally recognized the Italian state. This image shows Mussolini and the pope signing the treaty. This image is significant, as it shows the ending of the conflict between the two parties that had lasted for many years. -
Stresa Front
This was an agreement between France, Britain, and Italy to oppose Hitler’s intention of rearming Germany and violating the terms of the treaty of Versailles. This political drawing illustrates how Hitler (Germany) could feel isolated and targeted from the other nations, while Italy is looking towards Germany and is almost sympathetic, alluding to their alliance that would take palce in the future. -
Abyssinian Crisis
Italy invaded Abyssnia in 1935. This led to the League of Nations to impose sanctions on Italy leading for Mussolini to be more resentful of ideologies that were not fascist. -
Rome-Berlin Axis Treaty signed
This treaty informally linked Italy and Germany together. As a result, Italy’s fascists ideologies became more anti-Semetic. This image of Mussolini and Hitler shows their alliance together and how they had relatively good relations with each other, thus illustrating how the treaty further solidified this relationship. -
Munich Conference
This led to an agreement between Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy that allowed for Germany to annex Sudetenland, which was located in Czechoslovakia. This image illustrates the several diplomats and leaders present at the conference, including Hitler. -
Italy invades Albania
This military invasion was a result of Mussolini’s imperialist policies. Albania was quickly defeated, and it came under the Italian kingdom as a protectorate. This image emphasizes the ease that Italy was able to take Albania with. -
Italian involvement with Spanish Civil War
Italy supported the nationalists against the Spanish Second republic and provided them with many weapons. -
Italy enters WW II on side of Germany
The French government fled to Bordeaux during the German invasion, and Paris was an open city. Mussolini took this opportunity to declare war on France and Britain and take their colonies. This image however, shows that Italy was not able to contribute much to the war, as they were not the most militarily advance or best trained. This emphasizes the many military failures that they would face. -
Mussolini brought down by coup during WW II
The Fascist Grand Council voted to remove Mussolini from power, and the king forced him to resign. He was then arrested and imprisoned. This image of the flag of the Italian Social Republic shows the puppet state that Mussolini woudl briefly preside over following the coup that overthrew him. This is representative of the event because it shows a direct effect that the coup had. -
Mussolini killed
The Germans fled Italy in response to the allies pushing through Italy, and Mussolini was recognized by a group of communsit partisans and shot. This image shows Mussolini along with other corpses being displayed in public after his death. This image emphasizes the dislike that many Italians had for him.
