Benito Mussolini Benito Mussolini was born in 1883, and grew up in Predappio, Italy. He was the son of a blacksmith and a schoolteacher, both of whom were socialists, Mussolini naturally adopted their beliefs. These beliefs included anti-war feelings and pacifism, the exact opposite of what his beliefs would later become. As a teenager, he was known to have bragged about being an "antipatriot". Mussolini became an editor of a Socialist newspaper near his hometown and …showed first 75 words of 270 total…

…showed last 75 words of 270 total…wanted more power for himself and would do anything to get it. This was evident in the way he terrorized his political opponents, often having them beaten or murdered. In his later years in power (1935), Mussolini turned to imperialism. His attempts at building a New Roman Empire eventually led to his removal as dictator and his assassination in (1945). Mussolini's major changes in political views and beliefs were fueled by his ever-growing dreams of total control.