The view of the United States of America concerning Italy after Benito Mussolini’s “March on Rome” was important for the whole of Europe. The political course of the fascist country also affected the surrounding European states. In the primary phase of the fascist regime, the U.S. government was in the position to alter parts of Italy’s policy course, by applying political pressure. Thus America’s foreign policy towards Italy did not only concern this one country. It also had consequences for the rest of Europe, and the start of the Second World War.
This work is concerned with the view of the successive American administrations towards Italy after Mussolini’s ascension to power. Questions being answered are:
How did the U.S. government react after the fascist ruler took over Italy? Did the administration valuate Mussolini as a positive or a negative change for the European country? Was a thread visible in the U.S. attitude concerning Italy? What were the government’s reactions to Italy’s cooperation with Hitler? And: Could a different American political strategy concerning Italy have hindered Hitler’s war efforts?
To answer those questions, the work is structured along three main parts. The first part is addressed with the U.S. government’s position after Benito Mussolini’s soaring to power. This part is divided into a description of America’s characterization of the new leader and an account of the first times the U.S. questioned their view on Italy. Following this evaluation, the second part deals with the American view in the times of The Great Depression. The third part is concerned with the administrations view after Hitler’s rise to power. Finally the conclusion marks the end of this work.
Mainly four books were used: David F Schmitz’ “The United States and fascist Italy, 1922 – 1940” gives a well structured and informative overview of the American – Italian relations from Mussolini’s ascension to power, until the begin of The Second World War. Another useful book, in the first parts handling this topic, is H. Stuart Hughes’ “The United States and Italy”1. John P. Diggins’ work “ Mussolini and Fascism: The view from America”2 is mainly concerned with the public opinion in the U.S. toward Italy and very informative. Another well written and informative book dealing with America’s foreign policy is William L. Langer’s and S. Everett Gleason’s book “The challenge to isolation: The world crisis of 1937 – 1940 and American foreign policy”.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Main part
A. The US government’s view on the rise of Mussolini
A.1 The characterization of the new leader
A.2 The view being questioned
B. The US governments view in times of the great depression
C. The U.S. governments view after Hitler’s rise to power
Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper examines the evolution of American foreign policy and perceptions regarding Benito Mussolini's Italy from his ascension to power in 1922 until the onset of World War II. It investigates how various U.S. administrations justified their stance on the Italian fascist regime, specifically analyzing whether ideological fears of communism and economic interests outweighed moral concerns.
- The U.S. government's initial reaction to Mussolini's rise to power.
- The influence of economic factors and debt relief policies on diplomatic relations.
- The U.S. perception of Italy as a "moderate" and "stable" stronghold against communism.
- The perceived role of Mussolini as a "peacemaker" during the rise of Hitler.
- The contradictions in American foreign policy and their eventual failure in preventing war.
Excerpt from the Book
A.1 The characterization of the new leader
After Benito Mussolini’s “March on Rome” on the 28th of October 1922, the US government’s view of Italy was formed by two corresponding main points: Primary, a major threat was seen in a possible communist revolution in Italy. Thus, as a second point, the American export market, which was vital for the US economy, seemed endangered.
Until the failure of the workers factory occupation in 1920, Italy was in a revolutionary crisis. Even though the evident radical movement ceased to be present, the European country was still seen as unstable. The different administrations before Mussolini did not seem able to stabilize the nation. None of them stayed in power long enough to help the country with a constant policy. As early as 1917 a member of the US state department noted: “The Italians are like children. They must be lead and assisted more than any other nation.”
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the significance of Italian-American relations in the interwar period and defines the primary research questions regarding U.S. reactions to the fascist regime.
Main part: Analyzes the chronological shifts in U.S. diplomatic strategy, moving from the initial support of Mussolini to his later role in the context of the Rome-Berlin Axis.
A. The US government’s view on the rise of Mussolini: Discusses how early American administrations characterized the new fascist leadership as a stabilizing force against communism and instability.
A.1 The characterization of the new leader: Examines the formative period where economic fears and anti-communist sentiment shaped the U.S. perspective on Mussolini.
A.2 The view being questioned: Explores domestic crises in Italy, such as the Matteotti assassination, and how the U.S. maintained its support despite emerging evidence of fascist brutality.
B. The US governments view in times of the great depression: Details how the economic turmoil of the era led the U.S. to view Mussolini's Italy as a stable anchor amidst European chaos.
C. The U.S. governments view after Hitler’s rise to power: Reviews the final phase of policy where the U.S. attempted to utilize Mussolini as a mediator to curb Hitler's expansionism.
Conclusion: Summarizes the failure of U.S. diplomatic strategies, noting that fear of instability and miscalculations prevented an effective response to the rise of fascism.
Keywords
Italian-American Relations, U.S. Government, Benito Mussolini, Fascism, Foreign Policy, Communism, Great Depression, Adolf Hitler, Diplomacy, Rome-Berlin Axis, Ethiopia, Second World War, Isolationism, Peacemaker.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this paper?
The paper explores the official perspective of successive U.S. administrations toward Benito Mussolini’s Italy from 1922 to 1940.
What are the primary themes covered?
Key themes include anti-communist sentiment, the preservation of American export markets, the characterization of Mussolini as a "moderate" leader, and the misinterpretation of Italian foreign policy objectives.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine why the U.S. government maintained diplomatic support for Mussolini and whether a different political strategy could have mitigated the march toward World War II.
Which methodology is employed in the work?
The study utilizes a qualitative analysis based on historical literature and diplomatic documentation to trace the evolution of U.S. foreign policy.
What topics are discussed in the main part?
The main part covers three phases: the rise of Mussolini, the period of the Great Depression, and the subsequent rise of Hitler and the Axis alliance.
Which keywords best describe the paper?
Essential keywords include Italian-American relations, Fascism, Foreign policy, Communism, and U.S. diplomacy.
How did the U.S. rationalize the assassination of Giacomo Matteotti?
The U.S. administration largely ignored the moral implications, framing Mussolini's consolidation of power as an opportunity to restrain the "extremist" faction of the party.
Why did the U.S. view Mussolini as a "peacemaker"?
The U.S. believed Mussolini could act as a middleman to influence Hitler toward peace, particularly regarding the German takeover of Czechoslovakia.
How did the U.S. respond to the Pact of Steel?
Rather than viewing the alliance between Italy and Germany as a defeat for U.S. interests, the American administration interpreted it as a tactical opportunity for Mussolini to tame Hitler.
- Quote paper
- Julian Voje (Author), 2003, Italian-American Relations - the Perspective of the US Government, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/12264
