Lesson Plan: What is Fascism?

Unit 8 – World War II

Day 2, Tuesday April 22

Objective: SWBAT synthesize a definition of fascism from a primary source by Mussolini.

Standards: RH.9-10.4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a
text, including vocabulary describing political, social, or economic aspects of history/social
science.

1. Previously, students will have learned about the basics of fascism--how it rose, how
it became popular, who Mussolini was, how he popularized it, some of the things he
did. Today’s lesson is designed to delve deeper into the topic by using a primary
source to come up with a definition of fascism, a tricky concept that many historians
often have trouble defining.
2. As students enter the room, a speech by Mussolini from 1940 will be playing. The
importance of this speech is less on the words (although it is subtitled in English),
than to get them in the mood for the kind of rhetoric that Mussolini used. I will let the
clip play perhaps a minute into the period, to make sure that the students who come
in late still get the experience, then stop it, and ask them what they think of
Mussolini’s speech--both the words that he was using, the content, and how he was
giving the speech. Would you have been cheering?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vf_gUvPVUU
3. After discussing it for a minute or two, I will tell students that yesterday was just a
preliminary examination of fascism, and we will be delving deeper into the topic
today, with more words from Mussolini himself. I will hand out the primary source,
and make sure that students understand the origin of the source, before I asked
them to read it independently. I will also ask them to annotate it as they read, looking
for a definition of fascism. The source, “What is Fascism?” by Mussolini, is excerpted
and adapted, with difficult words defined (simplified even further for 1st period).
4. Once they have finished reading, they should answer the questions to ensure that
they comprehended some of the main points of the document.
5. I will explain the concept map on the reverse side, and how to use it. I will give them
5-10 minutes to fill in the concept map, and then we will compile our own concept
map on the board or the overhead from their contributions.
6. Based on their suggestions, we will together write a definition for fascism. The
concept map to definition process serves as both a reading strategy and as a
formative assessment. It also is an empowering activity for the students--I am not
feeding them information, rather they are coming up with the definition themselves.
 Benito Mussolini: What is Fascism? – Inclusion
The following is an excerpt from the Italian Encyclopedia, written in 1932 by Mussolini, in an attempt to
explain the doctrine of fascism to a wider audience.

As you read, please annotate the document for a definition of fascism.

Fascism believes that everlasting peace is neither possible nor useful. It thus rejects the
idea of pacifism [the opposition to all war]. To Fascists, war alone brings all human energy up to
its highest point. It gives nobility to the peoples who have the courage to meet it.

1. How do fascists feel about peace? Why do they feel this way?

2. What words/phrases does Mussolini use to make war sound more honorable than peace?

The Fascist thinks of life as duty and struggle and conquest. Such a view of life makes
Fascism the complete opposite of Marxian socialism. According to the Marxists, the history of
civilization can be explained simply through the conflict of [economic] interests among various
social groups and changes in the means of production. Fascism, on the other hand, believes in
holiness and heroism. This means it values actions not influenced by economic motives.
Fascism also fights against democratic thought and rejects it. Fascism denies that the
majority can direct human society. It denies that numbers alone can govern by means of
periodic meetings [of the legislature]. It believes that the inequality of mankind is unchangeable
and desirable.
3. Why is fascism the complete opposite of socialism?

4. Why does fascism reject democracy?

The foundation of Fascism is the state – its character, its duty, and its aims. The state
guarantees the people’s security, both within the nation and abroad. It represents the spirit of
the nation. It is the state which educates its citizens. It makes them aware of their purpose in life
and unites them. It leads men from primitive tribal life to the highest expression of human power,
which is empire.
But building an empire demands discipline. It requires the cooperation of all forces in the
state, and a deeply felt sense of duty and sacrifice. This fact explains the severe measures we
must take against those who oppose this movement of Italy in the 20th Century. Never before
has the nation stood more in need of authority, direction and justice.

5. What other phrases were probably intended to make the reader favor fascism?
 st
What is it? (1 draft definition)
What is it like?

What is it like?

Main concept:

Fascism What is it like?

Example:
Example:

Example:

Final Definition:
Fascism is
 Benito Mussolini: What is Fascism? – Honors
The following is an excerpt from the Italian Encyclopedia, written in 1932 by Mussolini, in an attempt to
explain the doctrine of fascism to a wider audience.

As you read, please annotate the document for a definition of fascism.

Fascism... believes neither in the possibility nor the utility of perpetual peace. It thus repudiates (rejects)
the doctrine of Pacifism (rejection of war) -- born of a renunciation of the struggle and an act of cowardice
in the face of sacrifice. War alone brings up to its highest tension all human energy and puts the stamp of
nobility upon the peoples who have courage to meet it…

Fascism is the complete opposite of Marxian Socialism. Fascism, now and always, believes in holiness
and in heroism; that is to say, in actions influenced by no economic motive. And above all Fascism denies
that class-war can be the preponderant (dominant) force in the transformation of society....

After Socialism, Fascism combats the whole complex system of democratic ideology, and repudiates it
(refuses to accept it). Fascism denies that the majority can direct human society; it denies that numbers
alone can govern by means of a periodical consultation, and it affirms the beneficial inequality of
mankind, which can never be permanently leveled through the mere operation of a mechanical process
such as universal suffrage (right to vote)...

Fascism denies, in democracy, the absurd conventional untruth of political equality dressed out in the
garb (clothes) of collective irresponsibility, and the myth of "happiness" and indefinite progress....
The foundation of Fascism is the conception of the State, its character, its duty, and its aim. Fascism
conceives of the State as an absolute, in comparison with which all individuals or groups are relative, only
to be conceived of in their relation to the State. The conception of the Liberal State is not that of a
directing force, guiding the play and development, both material and spiritual, of a collective body, but
merely a force limited to the function of recording results: on the other hand, the Fascist State is itself
conscious and has itself a will and a personality…

For Fascism, the growth of empire, that is to say the expansion of the nation, is an essential manifestation
of vitality, and its opposite a sign of decadence. Peoples which are rising, or rising again after a period of
decadence, are always imperialist; and renunciation (rejection of something) is a sign of decay and of
death. Fascism is the doctrine best adapted to represent the tendencies and the aspirations of the people
of Italy, who are rising again after many centuries of abasement and foreign servitude.
But empire demands discipline, the coordination of all forces and a deeply felt sense of duty and sacrifice:
this fact explains many aspects of the practical working of the regime, the character of many forces in the
State, and the necessarily severe measures which must be taken against those who would oppose this
spontaneous and inevitable movement of Italy in the twentieth century, and would oppose it by recalling
the outworn ideology of the nineteenth century - repudiated wheresoever there has been the courage to
undertake great experiments of social and political transformation; for never before has the nation stood
more in need of authority, of direction and order. If every age has its own characteristic doctrine, there are
a thousand signs which point to Fascism as the characteristic doctrine of our time. For if a doctrine must
be a living thing, this is proved by the fact that Fascism has created a living faith; and that this faith is very
powerful in the minds of men is demonstrated by those who have suffered and died for it.

1. How do fascists feel about peace? Why do they feel this way?
2. What words/phrases does Mussolini use to make war sound more honorable than peace?

3. Why is fascism the complete opposite of socialism?

4. Why does fascism reject democracy?

What is it like?
st
What is it? (1 draft definition)

What is it like?

Main concept:

Fascism What is it like?

Example:
Example:

Example:

Final Definition:
Fascism is