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Period: to
The Interwar Period
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Shift in Government Control
-The Socialist Party of Italy gained widespread support, striking fear in the government and business elites, who worried socialist victory would damage the weak postwar economy. -
The Treaty of Versailles
-Italy was not given land promised to them by joining the Allies in WWI. -
Mussolini's Uprising
-Mussolini planned a fascist uprise to take control of the government by force.
-The attack never took place although the prime minister and government resigned as a result of threat. -
Mussolini Forms a Government
-The King asked Mussolini to form a government.
-Nationalist feelings grew as Mussolini's plans for expansion came into place.
-Mussolini referred to the Mediterranean Sea as "our sea". -
The Lateran Treaty
The treaty created the sovereign state of Vatican City, established Roman Catholicism as the only official religion in Italy, and mandated religious study in secondary schools. As a result, the Church supported him throughout his reign -
The Conquest of Ethiopia
-League of Nations did little to stop the invasion except to issue meaningless sanctions -
Expanding Italy's Dominion
-Mussolini wanted to expand to northern Africa and wanted Hitler's support.
-Between 1935 and 1939, the two allies gradually expanded their control over new territories, until the Western powers finally decided to act. -
Spanish Civil War
-Encouraged by the League's inability to act, Mussolini gave critical military support to Spanish nationalists during the Spanish Civil War.
- Italy sent over 50,000 troops, artillery, airplanes, and other war materiel in support of General Franco. -
Rome-Berlin Axis
Created a powerful alliance between Germany (Hitler) and Italy (Mussolini).