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Social Impact of Fascism / Social Policies (Education Changes (Cult of…
Social Impact of Fascism / Social Policies
Education Changes
the Fascist intellectual Gentile was appointed Education Minister under Mussolini
he didn't do much
what he did do:
introduced a standard system of examinations
attendance at school dropped by 100,00 in the first 4 years of Fascist rule
ignored illiteracy rates and supported the closure of weaker schools
no major changes to Italian schools in the 1920s
from 1929, teachers were required to take oaths of loyalty to Mussolini
many took the oath but didn't like Fascism
in the 1930s there was a small effort to enforce Fascism at school
the standard textbook,
'Libro Unico'
introduced
as Mussolini states, this book stressed to the children,
"a real awareness of their duties as Fascist citizens"
Fascist government added courses to universities,
such as:
military training
Fascist culture
didn't control universities much
this lack of control was a factor that contributed to the rise of hatred against Fascism in the 1940s
Religion
compulsory RE in:
1923: elementary schools
1929: secondary schools
Cult of Mussolini
portrait of Mussolini in all classrooms
all pupils given:
a notebook with Mussolini on the cover
a free copy of the
Life of Mussolini
by Pini
school day began with the raising of the tricolour flag
prayers twice daily and songs about the leader
Government intervention
1926, 101/317 history texts banned
Class
Aim/Claim
Mussolini claimed he would create class harmony
1922-1925
male industrial workers benefited from:
a drop in unemployment
an improvementt in living standards
mainly a result of the general economic revival in Europe
1925-1926
workers out their independent trade unions and their right to strike
Result
instead of ending class conflict, Mussolini's Fascist state merely suppressed the ability of workers to defend their interests
Second Half of 1920s
as the economy began to decline
employers were able to end the 8-hour day and extend the working week
government cut wages
1925-1938, the level of real wages dropped by over 10%
as a result, by 1939, working-class standards of living had declined significantly
some social welfare legislation was passed
old age pensions
unemployment and health insurance
but, did not make up for decline in real wages and working conditions
Lower-Middle Classes
formed the backbone of the Fascist party
affected in different ways
small businesses hit hard by the Depression and Mussolini's economic policies
those who became part of the state bureaucracy or the Fascist Party experienced relative prosperity
good wages and considerable extra benefits
Industrialists and Landowners
gained the most from the Fascist corporate state
even during the Depression large firms benefited in many ways
either government contracts
or IRI
gave financial assistance and helped in the creation of huge monopolies
large landowners benefited during the depression
government restrictions on migration left unemployment high in rural areas
meant landowners could cut wages
agricultural wages reduced by over 30% during the 1930s
no attempt to redistribute land (as intended by a law passed in 1922)
by 1930, 0.5% of the population owned 42% of the land
87% of the rural population owned 13% of the land
Women
particularly suffered under Fascism
Battle for Births
stressed the importance of a women's traditional role as the housewife and mother
launched in 1927
aimed to increase the Italian population from 40 million to 60 million by 1957
from this, Mussolini planned to create a large army that would help expand Italy's Empire
How did the Fascist state encourage women to do this?
offered maternity benefits
awarded prizes to women who had the most children during their lives
taxation policy was used to encourage large families
couples with 6 or more children paid no taxes at all
in 1933, laws were imposed against abortion and divorce. Same-sex relations were outlawed
state tried to exclude women from paid employment
in 1933, government announced that only 10% of state jobs should be held by women
in 1938 this rule was extended to many private firms
Result: Success/Failure?
these government policies largely failed
number of births dropped throughout the 1930s
nearly 1/3 of Italy's paid workforce were female
The Church
Mussolini more successful in gaining support for Fascism from the Roman Catholic Church
by 1929 the Lateran Treaty, the Pope officially recognised the Fascist state
in return, the state accepted Papal Sovereignty over Vatican City
in separate agreements:
the state gave the Pope 1,750 million Lire in cash and governmentt bonds
in compensation for the loss of Rome
Mussolini agreed the the Roman Catholicism should be Italy's official state religion
with compulsory Catholic religious education in all state schools
in exchange the Papacy agreed the the clergy should not join political parties
the Pope gave official backing to Il Duce
however,
the rivalry between Catholic and Fascist Youth movements continued after the Lateran Treaty
although the Church agreed with several specific Fascist policies, several other disagreements emerged
(e.g. invasion of Abyssinia and involvement in Spanish Civil War, Mussolini's opposition to contraception and arbortion)
clear that Mussolini never fully controlled the Church
Youth
Mussolini believed that young people held the key to a great future for Italy
therefore, he particularly targeted them in his efforts to unite all Italians under Fascism
Various methods used to Fascistise the youth
indoctrination
Infant Schools
day started with a prayer that began,
"I believe in the genius of Mussolini"
Primary Schools
children were taught that Mussolini and the Fascists had saved Italy from a communist revolution
all school textbooks were inspected by the state, many banned and replaced with new ones emphasising the role and importance of Mussolini and the Fascists
older school children
less successful
the focus on traditional academic subjects and difficult exams required prevented many from going to secondary school of university
the School Charter of 1939, promised to improve the status of vocational training in schools and colleges
came too late to widen the Fascists' base of support
Youth Organisations
in 1926, all Fascist youth groups made part of the Pera Nazionale Balilla (ONB)
within the organisation there were different sections for boys and girls according to age
Also the Fascist Levy, Young Fascists for older boys (aged 18-21)
in 1937, the ONB merged with the Young Fascists
formed the Gioventu Italiana del Littorio (GIL)
membership made compulsory for everyone aged 8-21
all members of GIL and Fascist University Groups had to swear loyalty to Mussolini
Result
impact on school children not as great as Mussolini had intended
40% of 4-18 year olds avoided membership
in particular, private and Catholic schools tended to not enforce ONB membership
the entrance exams required for secondary school meant many children left school at 11
contempt for and resistance to Fascist Ideals not uncommon in universities