Modern European Countries Project:

Italy

Map of Italy

Italy During World War IIItaly left helpless after WWIMussolini’s Fascist Party gains popularity

as economy worsensMussolini put in charge after Fascists

demand him powerSecret PoliceCensorshipAll political parties banned except

FascistsNo more democracy

Part of Axis Powers until Operation Husky causes Mussolini to be overthrown July 1943

Cold War 1945-1960sFinal victory over Axis power in Italy came in

spring of 1945Mussolini was captured on April 27, 1945 by

communist Italian partisans and executed the next day for high treason

Italy became a republic on June 6, 1946A new constitution and a new parliament

was created Italy joined NATOBy 1950, Italy’s economy was stabilized and

started an economic boom

Cold War 1960s-1989Economic boom in 1960s1970s – starts Years of Lead

Social conflicts and terrorism1978 – Christian Democracy leader Aldo

Moro assassinated1981-82 – Giovanni Spadolini

(Republican)1983-1987 – Bettino Craxi (Socialist) End of Years of Lead, Communist Party

increases its votesUS puts missiles in Italy

Present Day1992-1997 – Corrupt government; Christian

democracy splits up and Socialist Party ceases 1994 – Silvio Berlusconi prime minister but resigns

because of scandal with bribery1996 – Prodi: prime minister1999 – Italy accepted into Eurozone2001 – Berlusconi second term as prime minister; Italy

part of Afghanistan War2003 – Part of Iraq War2004 –Berlusconi cleared of corruption after 4 year

trial2006 – Prodi second term 2008 – Prodi third term, fourth recession in 7 years

and largest since 19922011 – Italy has one of largest debts in Eurozone, IMF

orders Italy to reduce cost

Fun Facts About Italyhttp://library.thinkquest.org/CR02

12302/italy.html