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Formation of an independent Italy
The Risorgimento movement had caused states in the Italian peninsula to unify, ultimately forming an independent Italy with Emmanuel II as the king. Despite this, the Catholic Church remained owned a papal state in Rome. The following picture is significant because it gives a historical perspective on the Risorgimento movement. -
Papal States taken over by new nation of Italy
As papal states were annexed by Italy, Catholic individuals followed. This led to political and social hostility. The attached picture is significant because it illustrates the Papal States before and after Italy had annexed it. -
Failure of First Italo-Ethiopian War with the Battle of Adowa (Adwa)
In 1896, Italy wanted to defend its nationalism by annexing provinces in Tigre and Abyssina - Eritrea. They were ultimately humiliated in the Battle of Adowa. This attached picture is significant because it illustrates what the Italian army acted during the war. -
Italy invades and takes over Libya
In 1911, Italian troops invaded Libya, triggering the Italo-Turkish War. Italy's purpose was to expand the Italian empire in order to combat the French influence in Africa. The following picture is significant because it depicts Italian soldiers gathering around the corpses of the Libyan troops they had defeated. -
Mussolini begins work as editor for the Socialist Party newspaper Avanti
Mussolini was put in prison for his activism against the war, but after he got out, he started to edit a Socialist newspaper called Avanti! which was against the The following image is significant because it shows an Avanti! article that Mussolini edited. -
Mussolini kicked out of Socialist Party for pro-nationalistic sentiments regarding WW I
Mussolini was ejected from his editor role at Avanti! and kicked out of the Socialist Party because his political views were against the Italian government. The following image is significant because it was the emblem of the Italian Socialist Party. -
Treaty of London
The Treaty of London officially declared Italy as an ally of the Triple Entente during World War I. The following image is significant because it illustrates the land that would supposedly be given to Italy if the Triple Entente won the war. -
Fascio di Combattimento formed in Milan
The Fascio di Combattimento was a movement that happened in Milan in 1919. It was filled with people of various political views gathering with the hope of establishing unity. The following image is significant because it shows a group of people who had participated in the movement. -
D’Annunzio takes Fiume
Gabriele D’Annunzio didn't receive the liberal government well; he gathered 2,000 people and went to Fiume in order to take control of the territory and occupy it for a few months. The following image is significant because it's a photograph of Gabriele D’Annunzio himself. -
Beginning of Biennio Rosso
Biennio Rosso was a time period when the unemployment rate in Italy rose. This was caused by the worker shortage as a result of World War I. Many strikes, trade unions, land thefts, and factory occupations happened in Italy for years. The following image is significant because it illustrates a rebellion during the Biennio Rosso time period. -
Mussolini forms alliance with Giolitti
Mussolini formed an alliance with Giolitti in order to secure Mussolini's power that he would get from the upcoming national elections. The following image is significant because it shows a visual of Giolitti himself. -
Mussolini forms the PNF (Fascist Party) and is elected its leader
The PNF was founded by Mussolini on 9 November 1921. Mussolini was also elected as its leader. The following image shows the emblem of the PNF when the party was created. -
March on Rome and Mussolini becomes Prime Minister
Due to an anticipated march on Rome that Mussolini planned, the king allowed him to become the Prime Minister. Mussolini accepted which marked his rise in power. The following image is significant because it shows Mussolini himself announcing that he was the new Prime Minister. -
Acerbo Law passed
Baron Giacomo Acerbo purposed a law that gave Mussolini's party a majority of deputies, which would ultimately give Mussolini more power. In November 1923, It was passed by the Italian Parliament. The following image is significant because it shows Baron Giacomo Acerbo himself. -
Corfu Incident
Italy was in a military and diplomatic crisis with Greece. Mussolini was frustrated with Italians dying in Greece, so he wanted to show Greece the power of the Italian military. This gave Mussolini more support by means of nationalism. The following image is significant because it shows Italians preparing to attack Greeks. -
Matteotti Crisis
A political leader was murdered because he spoke against Mussolini's rule. As a result, Mussolini experienced much backlash. This pushed him to blame his secret police in the public for the crime. This following picture is significant because it shows the respect Mussolini once had gained from the public. -
Aventine Secession
In response to Matteontti's death, politicians left the Fascist Party and boycotted in efforts to remove Mussolini. They felt as if he wasn't acting in a true fascist way. The following picture is significant because it shows how the public perceived Mussolini at the time. -
Battle for Grain
Farmers were pushed by Mussolini to produce more grain. Too much grain was grown, which caused investment in other resources to plummet. The following photo is significant because it shows how excessive the wheat supply was at the time. -
Locarno Treaty signed
The Locarno Treaty was signed. Italy wasn't happy with the amount of land they received; they were promised more in the past. The following political cartoon is significant because it portrays how Italy wanted to benefit themself more than benefit other signatories. -
Battle for Land and Battle for the Lira
The Battle for Land and the Battle for the Lira were created in order to give farmers more land and give the Lira currency value again in the economy. -
Battle for Births
Women were encouraged to become housewives and increase birthrates. This was planned to produce more job opportunities for men. However, this backfired; it actually decreased the birthrate in Italy. The following photograph is significant because it shows Mussolini endorsing this activity. -
Kellogg-Briand Treaty signed
This peace treaty was signed by 15 nations, including Italy. They signed in order to build a better reputation with the world. The following picture is significant because it shows the representatives who participated in the signing of the treaty. -
Lateran Treaty with Pope
Mussolini signed the Lateran Treaty with the Pope in order to gain his endorsement for the Fascist Party. In the treaty, he enforced religious schooling and paid a large amount of money. The following photo is significant because it portrays the agreement Mussolini made with the Pope. -
Abyssinian Crisis
Italy invaded Abyssinia, breaking the Kellogg-Briand Treaty. As a result, the League of Nations imposed sanctions on Italy. This made the League more distant from Italy. The following image is significant because it shows how Italy attacked Abyssinia. -
Stresa Front
The Stresa Front was an agreement between France, Britain, and Italy to come together and resist Germany's mission of changing the goal of the Treaty of Versailles. The included photograph is significant because it shows the Stresa Front being conducted by representatives of France, Britain, and Italy. -
Italian involvement with Spanish Civil War
The Italian military was involved in the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939. The following photo is significant because it symbolizes Italy's actions while they were in Spain. -
Rome-Berlin Axis Treaty signed
Mussolini formed an alliance with Nazi Germany. This created an anti-Semitic presence in Italy; Mussolini attempted to outlaw Jews in certain places of Italy. The following photograph is significant because it shows Mussolini's approval towards Hitler by putting his right arm out. -
Munich Conference
This conference led to an agreement that allowed Germany to annex the Germanic areas of Czechoslovakia. Out of fear of another World War, British and French representatives agreed to Hitler's terms. The following image is significant because it shows British and French representatives and Hitler at the conference. -
Italy invades Albania
General Guzzoni led the invasion of Albania that Mussolini plotted. Italy's invasion was successful. The included photograph is significant because it depicts the invasion. -
Italy enters WWII on side of Germany
Italy declared war on France and Britain, which led to many strikes in Italy. The following photograph is significant because it shows a reaction to Italy's declaration when it happened. -
Mussolini brought down by coup during WWII
World War II was looking to be more successful for the Allies which led to Mussolini being blamed for most of Italy's failures. This ultimately led to Mussolini being removed from power by a coup. The following image is significant because it shows how the coup against Mussolini looked. -
Mussolini killed
On this day, Mussolini, along with his mistress, was executed. This happened three years after his dethroning. The following picture is significant because it shows Mussolini's brutal public execution.
