Benito Mussolini was born in Predappio, near Forli, in Romagna, on July 29, 1883. Like his father, Benito became a fervent socialist. He qualified as an elementary schoolmaster in 1901. In 1902 he emigrated to Switzerland. Unable to find a permanent job there and arrested for vagrancy, he was expelled and returned to Italy to do his military service. After further trouble with the police, he joined the staff of a newspaper in the Austrian town of Trento in 1908. Expelled by the Austrians, he became the editor at Forli of a socialist newspaper, La Lotta di Classe (The Class Struggle). His early enthusiasm for Karl Marx was modified by a mixture of ideas from the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, the revolutionary doctrines of Auguste Blanqui, and the syndicalism of Georges Sorel. In 1910, Mussolini became secretary of the local Socialist party at Forli.When Italy declared war on Turkey in 1911, he was imprisoned for his anti-war propaganda . Appointed editor of the official Socialist newspaper Avanti, he moved to Milan, where he established himself as the most forceful of all the leaders of Italian socialism. At this stage in his life, his political views were anti-militarist and anti-war

By the beginning of 1915, Mussolini had begun building a new ideology based on Italian socialism infused with national sentiment. This new “socialism” would unite and integrate Italy and begin a rapid production that would put Italy among the advanced nations of the world. An aggressive minority also developed this new collection of ideas the fascisti whose main strategy was mass mobilization. The fascisti, argued that the government of Italy was trying to negotiate a conservative advantage, first with the Central Powers and then with the Entente. Italy did try to negotiate assistance for specific territories. For several months the government of the ruling elite was in fact bargaining with both sides. Mean while, Mussolini undertook a powerful campaign for intervention. Revolutionaries like Gabriele D’Annunzio, Giovanni Papini and Giuseppe Prezzolini, found a place on Mussolini’s staff at the Il popolo d’Italia. These spokesmen argued that war would accelerate improvements in agriculture, industry and commerce. It would revive Italy, provide opportunity for man of action. Also, they called on Italians to hoist their national passion, which would dedicate all Italians to collective mobilization. His interventionist propaganda continued on the streets while the government negotiated secretly. By April 1915, the Italian government had signed the Treaty of London. The Entente granted to Italy Tyrol, Trieste and the Julian Alps, all that was required was a win for the Entente . On May 24 Italy declared war against Austria-Hungary .

Under these circumstances the USI split its opinion towards Italian neutrality. During that time, Mussolini was convicted that the absolute neutrality of the Socialist party would probably collapse. However, Mussolini could not declare himself because of his official responsibilities to the Party, which was against the intervention. Mussolini was aware of the possibility that if he called for intervention, he would lose his leadership position- and eventually that did in fact come about. However, he also acknowledge the fact that a war on the side of the Central Powers, would mobilize all socialists against the government

Some common words found in the essay are:
Additionally Mussolini, Dinale Mussolini’s, Giuseppe Prezzolini, ForliWhen Italy, Central Powers, Italy Il, Julian Alps, San Giuliano, Mussolini Moreover, Party Mussolini, intervention crisis, il popolo d’italia, absolute neutrality, il popolo, popolo d’italia, socialist party, war tripoli, central powers, italian socialism, war italy, socialist newspaper, italy declared war,
Approximate Word count = 1481
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)