Between the Wars
Prior to world war I, severe economic difficulties, disillusionment, and wounded national pride caused unrest and rise of extremism. In the 1920's major strikes broke out in northern factories, and the Italian government seemed helpless. All the desperate citizens looked for a leader to rebuild Italy as a national power once again. Benito Mussolini and his facist party were that hope. He took control of Italy with two-thirds of the popular vote. His enemies were silienced by terrorism and brute force. Starting in 1925, Italy began fighting the economic problems by becoming more proctectionist. More public works programs were being done to help boost the economy such as the taming of the Pontine Marshes, developing hydroelectricity, improving railways, and launching militray rearmament. In 1936, Italy's newly nationalist and imperialist ideals led to the war with Ethiopia. This was a defying act against the league of Nations and world opinion. By this time war seemed inevitable with the rise of Hitler, Stalin, and Tojo, so Mussolini decided to side with the other facist governments of the Axis powers.