While Benito Mussolini made his mark as the Italian fascist dictator during World War II, his experiences during the Great War formed his beliefs. An informative video traces the complex narrative, covering Mussolini's early life, his foundations in socialism, and his post-war rise to power. 

Concepts

world war i, biographies, benito mussolini, italy, fascism, socialism

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Ask learners to consider the influence Mussolini's experiences had on his politics after viewing the video
• Offer video as research on key figures during World War I

Classroom Considerations

• Part of a World War I video biography series
• Video presumes some background knowledge of Italy's involvement of the war, socialism, and fascism
  

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• The video situates Mussolini in a larger context in Italian politics
• Quotes from and photographs of Mussolini are intriguing for young scholars

Cons

• None

Common Core

L.9-10.2.a L.11-12.2.a