Event

1883 Benito is born



Benito Mussolini was born in Italy. His father was a socialist, and he was named after and raised with strong socialist beliefs.

1901 Mussolini's early career



After making good grades in school, Mussolini moved into a career in teaching. He became an elementary school master in 1901.

1903 Emigration and arrest



Mussolini left Italy to avoid military service, and he relocated to Switzerland. While there, he studied and became active in the Italian socialist movement, and he was eventually arrested for spreading propaganda.

1905 Military work



Upon returning home after his arrest, Mussolini found himself forced to enlist in the military in Italy. He served dutifully for two years.

1910 Mussolini the author



Mussolini began writing and distributing socialist essays and even a novel. His name and prominence as a socialist grew.

1914 World War I



When the war broke out, much of Italy supported the war. Socialist in Italy did not support war, but Mussolini took a stand for it, though it was for his own selfish purposes.

1922 The March on Rome



After years of seeking support and raising funds, Mussolini and his followers stormed the Prime Minister in Rome. They took over power from the king and began setting up a new form of government.

1923 The Start of a new government



Mussolini had much of the nation's support in the beginning. He passed laws and made changes that pleased nationalists, liberals, and others, causing the people to place more trust in him.

1925 Small changes toward dictatorship



Not everyone loved Mussolini, and a few on the opposing side tried proving he had been dishonest in his political dealings. Mussolini came clean, admitting not all of his dealings had been democratic.

1926 A movement toward Italy's youth



In order to spread his beliefs, Mussolini took control of the Italian schools. He began teaching his doctrine in order to raise generations of citizens who believed as he did.

1927 A Police State



Over a period of 2-3 years, Mussolini slowly changed laws, giving himself more and more power. By 1927 he had power to do whatever he pleased, making the nation into a police state.

1935 Gaining control of the business sector



By changing laws over time, Mussolini was able to gain control of many of the Italian businesses. He claimed to control over two-thirds of the businesses in Italy by 1935.

1940 World War II



Mussolini had been strongly influenced by Hitler over the years, and when World War II broke out, Mussolini sided with Germany. The Allied powers of Britain and later America would soon come after Mussolini.