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Unification of Italy
Italy finally became one country in 1861 after years of wars and political efforts. It brought together several kingdoms and regions under King Victor Emmanuel II. Even though it was officially united, big cultural and economic differences still split the country, especially between the north and south. (I chose this photo because it shows how the different puzzle pieces of Italy finally fit together in a unified fashion.) -
Annexation of the Papal States
In 1870, the Italian army took control of the Papal States, including Rome, and made it the capital. This ended the Pope’s control over central Italy. It caused major tension with the Catholic Church, which refused to recognize the new government for decades. (I chose this photo because it represents the problems with the conflict in the Christian Church.) -
Battle of Adowa
Italy invaded Ethiopia expecting an easy win but was badly defeated at the Battle of Adowa. It was a major failure and embarrassed the Italian government. The loss damaged Italy’s image and stopped its early colonial ambitions. (This photo was chosen because it shows embarrassment, which the government felt thoroughly after the invasion.) -
Invasion of Libya
Italy attacked the Ottoman Empire and took over Libya in 1911. The war was part of Italy’s attempt to prove itself as a major power. While they won on paper, it led to long guerrilla warfare and resentment from the local people. (I chose this picture because it depicts a man trying to succeed, yet failing on every attempt, just as Italy did on their stampede on Libya) -
Mussolini Edits Avanti
In 1912, Mussolini became editor of Avanti!, the newspaper of the Italian Socialist Party. He used it to spread strong political ideas and became well-known on the left. This job gave him experience with mass communication and political influence. (I chose this photo because it depicts an editor reviewing something, just as Mussolini was doing.) -
Mussolini Expelled from Socialist Party
Mussolini was kicked out of the Socialist Party after supporting Italy’s entry into World War I. The party was against the war, but Mussolini believed it could strengthen the nation. This event pushed him away from socialism and closer to the nationalism. (I chose this photo because it depicts one character going one way (Mussolini and his war support) while the group says something the opposite (Against entering the war)). -
Treaty of London
Italy made a secret deal with the Allies to join World War I in exchange for land. They hoped the war would lead to national glory and new territory. After the war, Italy didn’t get everything it was promised, leading to anger and political unrest. (I chose this photo because the land that wasn't gained with Mussolini's rise to power and invasion, leading to social unrest). -
Biennio Rosso
After World War I, Italy went through two years of strikes, protests, and factory occupations known as the Biennio Rosso. Workers demanded better conditions, and many feared a communist-style revolution. The chaos worried the upper class and helped build support for Mussolini and the fascists. (I chose this photo because of the poor working conditions that the workers were facing in Mussolini's regime, they demanded better). -
Fascio di Combattimento formed in Milan
• Consisted of 200 members, reformed by Mussolini
• Later became the National Fascist Party (PNF)
• This picture was chosen because it is the symbol of the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento.
• Caused the formation of the PNF, allowed Mussolini to maintain power because it gave him a source of support from other fascists. -
D’Annunzio takes Fiume
• Gabriele D’Annunzio, a famous Italian poet, led 186 grenadiers of the Italian army to overtake Fiume, a city that contained many Italian people. D’Annunzio declared Fiume an independent state. His overtaking of Fiume proved significant because it grew the Italian nationalist movement, reinforcing the values that Mussolini had.
• This picture was chosen because it is an image of D’Annunzio, the man who led the overtaking of Fiume. -
Mussolini forms alliance with Giolitti
• Mussolini formed alliance with Giovanni Giolitti, a former Italian prime minister’s national bloc. Mussolini formed an alliance with giolitti in hopes of gaining more political power. Ultimately, it caused the fascist party of Italy to gain more power, helping Mussolini’s rise to power.
• This image was chosen because it is an image of Giovanni Giolitti, the man who Mussolini made the alliance with. -
Mussolini forms the PNF (Fascist Party) and is elected its leader
• Fasci Italiani di Combattimento becomes renamed to the PNF (National Fascist Party) Mussolini wanted to make the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento more centralized and tightly controlled, so he rebranded it. Creating the PNF to be more tightly controlled helped consolidate Mussolini’s power as it brought him legitimate support.
• This image was chosen because it is the symbol of the PNF. -
March on Rome and Mussolini becomes Prime Minister
• Black shirts, supporters of Mussolini, march through the streets of Rome to attempt to control of the Italian government. The March on Rome caused Mussolini to become prime minister as King Victor Emmanuel III appoints Mussolini as prime minister to prevent a civil war. This is significant as it allowed Mussolini to rise to power and control Italy eventually.
• This image was chosen because it shows blackshirts marching on the streets of rome. -
Acerbo Law Passed
• Baron Giacomo Acerbo proposes an electoral law that allows any party to have 2/3 of the seats in the chamber of deputies as long as they have majority of the votes (25%). This ultimately caused the Fascist party to gain power in the Italian party, leading to the rise of Mussolini.
• This image was chosen because it is a picture of Giacomo Acerbo, the man who proposed and helped pass the Acerbo law. -
Corfu Incident
• Italian Navy strikes an offensive against the Greek island of Corfu with about 5,000 to 10,000 troops. The motive behind this attack was to assert Italian dominance and expand Italian influence in Greece. This further increased Italian nationalist sentiment, helping Mussolini’s cause and consolidation of power.
• This image was chosen because it is of residents watching Italian troops occupy the streets of Corfu. This image demonstrates the offensive. -
Matteotti Crisis
• Giacomo Matteotti, a communist party leader, is kidnapped and killed by fascists for his opposition against the Fascist party’s election results. He called them rigged in May 1924. This demonstrates how Mussolini consolidated his power, which was through violence and terror and the elimination of political opposition.
• This image was chosen because it is a picture of Giacomo Matteotti, the man who got killed by fascist for being a political opponent. -
Aventine Secession
The Aventine Secession was a protest movement that was triggered by the murder of Giacomo Matteotti. Parliament members left the Chamber of Deputies because of the murder and the protest aimed to force King Emmanuel III to remove Mussolini from power and to recall elections. This image fits this event as it depicts a protest that is also fighting for the removal of another powerful officer. -
Battle for Grain
The Battle for Grain was a campaign by Mussolini which aimed to make Italy self-sufficient and not rely on other countries to balance the trade shortage. High tariffs were imposed and grants were given to farmers so they would be able to afford any machinery or equipment to produce all of Italy's grains. Imports fell by 75% and quality of diet also decreased. This image depicts the self-sufficiency of Italy and how they show other countries that they are doing fine without their imports. -
Locarno Treaty Signed
The Locarno Treaty was a peace agreement between Germany, Belgium, France, Great Britain, and Italy that aimed to stabilize post-WW1 conflicts. This treaty established Germany's western borders that neighboring regions were not allowed to invade. Britain and Italy agreed to help guard the border in case of any aggression. This image displays this event as it shows how all countries contributed and agreed on the terms of the treaty. -
Battle for Births
The Battle for Births was another campaign that aimed to increase the Italian population from 40 million in 1927 to 60 million by 1950. Loans were given to couples to marry and expected to be repaid unless a child was birthed, which in that case, the loan would be reduced. The more children the couple had, the less they had to repay. Married men with more than 6 children paid no taxes. This image shows how parents may have been overwhelmed with the amount of children they were expected to have. -
Battle for Land
The Battle of Land was a campaign by Mussolini that aimed to clear marshlands to make more area for farmers. This led to an increase of jobs and showed how the Italian government was taking initiative, which proved to foreign governments that Italy was able to be self-dependent. This image shows Italians working on the farmland that was provided to them to support Italy. -
Battle for the Lira
The Battle for the Lira was an economic policy that Mussolini implemented to show to foreign countries Italy's rising power. This policy led to imposes on wages by cutting them by 20% and areas of the economy becoming less valued to support the strength of the currency. This image shows an example of Italy (person on the right) flaunting their money and power to other countries(person on the left) to show their independency -
Kellogg-Briand Treaty Signed
The Kellogg-Briand Treaty was signed internationally (15 nations) which aimed to prevent any future wars. It got rid of war being a tool in international conflicts and reinstated peaceful disputes in case of any conflict. This image shows the efficiency of the Kellogg-Briand Treaty as World War II still occurred after the treaty was signed, as the gate here was installed to prevent anyone from passing into that area, however the design is flawed because passerby's can just walk around it. -
Lateran Treaty With Pope
The Lateran Treaty was a treaty which made the papacy recognize Italy as a state and Rome as its capital. In return, full independency was given to the pope and the Vatican was given full sovereignty. This image shows the Pope and Mussolini signing the treaty, which signified their agreement about each party's wish of recognition and other additional agreements. -
Abyssinian Crisis
This image demonstrates the Abyssinian Crisis as it shows the armed soldiers kicking in the door of a families home. This image compares to the crisis as the armed soldiers can be depicted to be Italy, as Italy invaded Abyssinia, where the man and the child in this image can be demonstrates as the society of Abyssinia. -
Stresa Front
The Stresa Front was agreement signed by Britain, France, and Italy to oppose Adolf Hitler's decision to remilitarize Germany, which went against the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. This image shows the meeting of the three parties; this would end up failing as no countries were prepared to stop Germany by force and the agreement was pretty vague. -
Italian Involvement in Spanish Civil War
This picture represents this topic as it demonstrates troops being sent goods for their overall well - being, where this relates to the topic as Italy was supporting the Spanish Civil War by providing military and financial aid, and more troops for the Spanish Civil War, which ultimately compares to this image where the troops are being supported by other countries sending them goods so that their country can win in the war. -
Rome-Berlin Axis Treaty signed
This picture was chosen as it represents friendship between two people. This demonstrates the Rome - Berlin Axis Treaty as it shows how Germany and Italy agreed to a treaty of friendship between the two countries, to pursue their own common foreign policies. -
Munich Conference
I chose this picture because it represents someone adding on something to this dinner piece. This image relates to the Munich Conference as Germany, Britain, France, and Italy all agreed to allow for Germany to add on the region of Sudetenland to Czechoslovakia. The thing that is being added on to this dinner compares to the region of land from Sudetenland which is going to Czechoslovakia. -
Italy invades Albania
This image shows the control that this hand has over this puppet of a person, where the fingers of the hand are controling everything that that person/puppet does. This relates to Italy invading Albania because that's all that Italy wanted was to gain control and power over Albania. -
Italy enters WW2 on side of Germany
This image demonstrates one individual helping another climb towwards succeeding to climb the mountain. This image relates to the topic as it demonstrates how Italy wanted to become alliances with Germany so that they could benefit from Germany's successes, as shown where the one individual at the top of the mountain has already achieved success, where the other is needing to achieve that same success through needing a hand with climbing the mountain, similar to Italy and Germany's alliance. -
Mussolini brought down by coup during WW2
This image shows many individuals having the ability and right to vote. This relates to this topic as Mussolini was brought down by coup because he was voted out of office due to his lack of performance in WW2 and public support. This image compares to the Grand Council as everyone in the grand council voted for Mussolini to not be in office anymore. -
Mussolini killed
This image relates to the topic as it shows an individual killing a higher person in office. This image compares to this topic as the Italian partisans killed Mussolini because of his attempt to flee Italy with his mistress. The individual with the sword in this image is represented to be the Italian Partisans who killed Mussolini, where he is the other individual on the ground.