Rise of Italian Fascism DBQ

Directions: Utilizing the material covered within the lesson and the Digital Public Library of America, you will be completing a short Document-Based Question (DBQ).

You will be working collaboratively with a partner. This means you will need to talk to each other to develop your answers together. You will hand in ONE sheet of paper with both of your names on it.

Document 1: An excerpt from Giuseppe Prezzolini's book Fascism.
Read the excerpt and the caption. For more information, you may click on "View item information" and/or "View in HathiTrust" listed on the right hand side of the page.
Once completing the reading, answer the following question:

1. What evidence does the author present to explain the rise of Fascism in Italy?

Document 2: A drawing of a fasces by Giuseppe Barberi (1746-1809) of Italy.

Read the caption. For more information, you may click on "View item information" and/or "View in Smithsonian Institution" listed on the right hand side of the page.

1. Why do you think the fasces symbol has endured and even been adopted by American society?
2. Why do you think this image has not been removed from American monuments in light of the face that Mussolini used it as symbol of Fascism?

Document 3: A 1940 map describing Italy's plan to rebuild the Roman Empire, taken from the newspaper The San Francisco Examiner.

Read the caption. For more information, you may click on "View item information" and/or "View in David Rumsey" listed on the right hand side of the page.

1. What is this an example of?
2. What do you think would be the motive of Fascist Italy to rebuild the Roman Empire?

Document 4: The book jacket of The Official Life of Benito Mussolini(1939) by Giorgio Pini.Be sure to read the book jacket and the caption. For more information, you may click on "View item information" and/or "View in The New York Public Library" listed on the right hand side of the page.

1. Why do you think Mussolini worked so hard to perfect his public image?
2. What was Mussolini hoping to accomplish?
3. Compare Mussolini's propaganda to Stalin's. Explain the similarities and/or differences.

Document 5: A photograph of Italian and German youth marching together.

Read the caption. For more information, you may click on "View item information" and/or "View in The New York Public Library" listed on the right hand side of the page

Document 6: A photograph of Hitler Youth ("boy Nazis") marching in 1932.

Read the caption. For more information, you may click on "View item information" and/or "View in The Empire State Digital Network" listed on the right hand side of the page.

Based on Documents 5 and 6, answer the following questions:

1. Why do you think the Nazi German party took the idea of youth programs modeled by the Italian Fascist party?
2. What is the purpose of Italian and German youth propaganda and programs?