This 7 page report
discusses Benito Mussolini and his understanding that Fascism
depended on youthful energy and enthusiasm to both bring
Mussolini to power as well that power and the predominance of
Fascism throughout Italy. He influenced virtually every aspect of
an Italian child’s life as he changed the educational system,
mounted an extreme propaganda effort, and provided youth
organizations that were designed to create enthusiastic and
devoted Fascist Italians. Bibliography lists 7 sources.
Name of Research Paper File: D0_BWmusso.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
extreme propaganda effort, and provided youth organizations that were designed to create enthusiastic and devoted Fascist Italians. Bibliography lists 7 sources. BWmusso.rtf
Mussolini and the Children of Italy By: C.B. Rodgers - October 2001 -- for more information on using this paper properly!
Introduction Fascism in Italy in the pre-World War II decades of the 20th century did not have a well-defined ideology but was, nonetheless, profoundly anti-capitalist and anti-liberal. The conditions after
World War I allowed a small group of Fascists to rise to power through violence, the use and violation of the democratic institutions, relations with the monarch and the Catholic
Church, and intense indoctrination and training. Both women and children under Italian Fascism had two major roles, loyalty to Mussolini and loyalty to husband/father and family. When Benito
Mussolini became the head of the Italian government in 1922, he spoke of restoring Italian power and prestige, reviving the economy, increasing productivity, ending harmful government controls and furthering law
and order. Mussolini was committed to an ambitious modernization program: draining swamps, developing hydroelectricity and improving the railways. His ideas of modernization did not apply to the
role of women in Italian society. Population growth was a sign of national strength, thus Italy need to prove its "strength." Mussolini and his government officials also believed that women
should not work outside of their homes and in the early 1920s were immediately dismissed from employment of all types, a contributing factor in the larger economic depression of the
1930s. They were to produce babies to prove the nations strength and provide a never-ending supply of future soldiers. The fasces, bundles of sticks tied together, were a symbol of