Ms. Avar
Point Value:
/5 / Benito
Mussolini
(Video Notes) / TEACHER KEY
Instructions:Watch the video to complete the information below. If absent, see sample binder or webpage
/ 1. What influence did his socialist father have on Benito?Taught him to defy authority & rebel / 2. Describe Benito’s violent behavior during his youth.
- Bully
- Throwing stones
- Stabbed a student / 3. Why did Benito leave Italy and go to Switzerland?
To escape military service
4. What did Benito dislike and rebel against in terms of politics in Italy?
- Church
- King
- Government
- Censorship / 5. Why did Benito love his career in journalism?
Gave him the power to make up stories and used media to control the population / 6. How was Mussolini involved in WWI?
Signed up for combat – 17 months fighting /
7. What was happening in Italy in 1919?
Chaos / brink of civil war / unemployment / strikes / fearing communism / / 8. What did Mussolini promise to do for the people of Italy?
- Crush the communists
- restore law and order
- lower unemployment / 9. What political party did Mussolini create?
Fascism
What was his nickname?
Il Duce / “The Boss”
10. Mussolini convinced people he was the one man alive who could do what for Italy?
Bring back the “glory days” / 11. When the King felt threatened by Mussolini’s following, what political position was Mussolini granted?
Prime Minister / 12. Describe Mussolini's personality.
Deeply insecure: overcompensated by being charming or threatening /
/ 13. How could he win over almost anyone / what was his “art”?
His words / 14. What did Mussolini do to make sure that no other political party would be a threat?
Eliminated all political parties except Fascist party / 15. Between 1925 and 1926 how many assassination attempts were made on his life?
3
( Turn over - MORE QUESTIONS ON BACK!!)
16. Whose support did Mussolini really want?
The Catholic Church
/ 17. What would Mussolini do to the newspapers?
Censor them / mark what he thought was right/wrong / / 18. How did Hitler feel about Mussolini?
Mussolini was his hero
How did Mussolini feel about Hitler?
He never liked him
/ 19. What did Hitler do to offend Mussolini?
Murdered his Austrian ally / 20. How old were you when you had to start military training in Italy?
8 / 21. What was the first country Mussolini invaded in an effort to be an Imperializing power?
Ethiopia
22. How had Hitler changed since his visit to Italy?
Developed a sense of superiority / became a stronger leader / 23. Did Mussolini share Hitler’s viewpoint on anti-Semitism (hatred of Jews)?
No / 24. How did Mussolini’s actions contradict (go against) his viewpoint?
He took away the freedom of Italian Jews / 25. Did the general Italian population want to go to war?
No
26. How did the Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact affect Mussolini?
Worried that his fight vs. communism would weaken & not ready to enter into the war Germany was about to start / / 27. Was Italy really as powerful as Mussolini boasted?
No / 28. When Mussolini became ill, what was Hitler’s reaction?
Thought Mussolini had become weak and started to prepare his troops to possibly take over Italy
29. How did Hitler respond to the arrest of Mussolini?
Startled and threatened – went in to rescue Mussolini / 30. What did the Italian population do with the bodies of Mussolini and his comrades?
They hung them, dragged them through the streets, spit on and kicked them / / 31. How do some current Italians feel about Mussolini?
Some hate him /
some are neo-Fascists (want to have a revival of fascism)
32. In your opinion, why do you think Italy allowed somebody like Mussolini to have so much power?
Could you have guessed how it would end for Mussolini? Explain: