Essay+Mussolini

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How much change did Mussolini bring to Italy? Were there more successes for Mussolini or for the Italian people?

Mussolini’s regime brought a lot of change to the nation of Italy and was rather successful in his minor campaigns. Overall, Mussolini failed in his attempt to maintain absolute control. Mussolini was able to take control of Italy with his policies, but the Italian people saw Mussolini’s inability to lead and were able to regain control of Italy. The success and changes are evident in the areas of family and women, religion, education and arts.

In the area of family and women, there was a lot of change induced by Mussolini. Mussolini forced women out of work, reverting to the stereotype commonly believed before the war, when the idea was that a woman’s place was in the home. Prior to the industrial revolution, women were not in the workforce. Mussolini’s desire to increase the population of Italy could not be achieved if women were active in the workforce. Due to this, Mussolini decided that women should be taken out of the workforce, so that they had no hindrance in having children. To apply greater pressure on the women who did not wish to have children to have children, Mussolini imposed taxes on unproductive marriages and marriages with fewer children. Mussolini’s population increase campaign was not a success, although it did bring change. The change benefitted the Italian people, as the economy was boosted greatly. Mussolini’s plan was a fail. The education system is another aspect of society, which Mussolini decided to reform.

Mussolini had complete authority in regards to the education system of Italy. Mussolini applied great pressure on the youth of Italy to join the fascist youth. As with the policies enforced regarding women and family there was positive progress for the nation of Italy. Mussolini managed to cut down illiteracy greatly, and had complete control over the media, the youth and the content taught in schools. Mussolini blocked previously approved textbooks, and in the end, there was only one textbook, which he allowed students to use. Mussolini’s laws were effective, and greatly benefitted the nation of Italy, but the more intelligent members of society refused to give in to Mussolini’s jurisdiction and rebelled. Mussolini did not try and force the intellectuals to obey his command, as they might encourage other members of society to rebel. Mussolini changed the examination system and was influenced by Hitler to promote racism.

Mussolini’s regime brought a great amount of change to the nation of Italy, and was successful to an extent. Overall, Mussolini failed to maintain absolute control. Mussolini’s policies benefitted the Italian people. The areas of women, religion, education and arts are the key areas where it is evident that he benefitted the Italian people.