The Rise of Totalitarianism: Mussolini and Fascism Stalin and Communism Hitler and Nazism

1. The Rise of Totalitarianism:Mussolini and FascismStalin and CommunismHitler and Nazism

2. Franklin Delano Roosevelt: • "They (who) seek to establish systems of government based on the regimentation of all human beings by a handful of individual rulers...call this a new order. It is not new and it is not order."

3. Post-WWI Period • Economic and social consequences • Unemployment • Boom period – decline – inflation – Great Depression (Canada and USA) • People begin to lose faith in democracies, so how will countries like Germany, Russia and Italy, who weren’t democratic before the war, cope?

4. Totalitarianism Fascism Nazism Communism

5. Totalitarianism: • Form of government that theoretically permits no individual freedom and seeks to subordinate all aspects of an individual's life to the authority of the government • "All within the state, none outside the state, none against the state."

6. Totalitarianism vs Absolutism

7. Activity: • Please read pg 539-540, “The Nature of Fascism.” • Complete the note-taking chart entitled “What is Fascism?” [pg.539] • When you are done, compare with a partner • We will then discuss our answers as a class

10. Values and Characteristics of Fascism • Values: action, violence, discipline, warfare, and blind loyalty to the state • Characteristics: antidemocratic; reject faith in reason and the concepts of equality and liberty; emphasize the supremacy of the state; centralized and authoritarian government; destructive to basic human rights

11. Mussolini’s Rise to Power • Broken promises after WWI • Inspired by the revolution in Russia, peasants seize land and workers go on strike • Unemployment • Decline in trade • Higher taxes

12. Mussolini’s Rise to Power • One man comes to the forefront: Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) • Mussolini rejects his former socialist leanings and embraces nationalism, forming the National Fascist Party in 1919 • Fascist: from the Latin word fasces (ancient Roman symbol of unity and authority) and the Italian word fascio (group / league)

13. Fascism: • A governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.

14. Mussolini’s Rise to Power • 1922: March on Rome • King Victor Emmanuel III makes Mussolini prime minister [Italy is still, in theory, a parliamentary monarchy] • 1925: Mussolini takes the title Il Duce, “The Leader” • 1929: Pope Pius XI gives Mussolini his support in return for having Vatican City recognized as an independent state

15. Mussolini’s Rise to Power • The Fascists bring the economy under state control • Fascists control industry, trade, and agriculture • Preservation of capitalism • Favored the upper classes and industrial leaders • Production increased, but workers were paid low wages and forbidden to strike

16. Mussolini’s Rise to Power • Emphasis on loyalty to the state • Men encouraged to be ruthless, selfless warriors fighting for the glory of Italy • Women encouraged to have as many children as possible • Constant bombardment of propaganda

17. Mussolini’s Rise to Power • Large-scale public works: • Draining marshland to be used to grow grain • Constructing highways, schools and train stations • Planting trees • However, many projects were left unfinished, and corrupt officials overseeing these projects often took the funds for themselves

18. There has never been one unifying Fascist ideology, making the study of fascist states difficult • Each Fascist state is unique • Start thinking about how these totalitarian regimes could have led to WWII

19. Communism in Russia • July 1914: Russia enters WWI • August 1914: Germans defeat Russians at the Battle of Tannenberg • June-September 1915: Russians retreat from German-Austrian offensive • March 1917: The March Revolution forces Tsar Nicholas to abdicate. The Duma sets up a provisional government

20. Communism in Russia • April 1917: Lenin returns to Russia to instigate revolution • November 1917: The provisional government fails to end the war and resolve internal problems. The November Revolution brings the Bolsheviks (Communists) to power • March 1918: Bolsheviks sign Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (give up a huge chunk of land and of the Russian population to Germany). Bolsheviks wanted to put all of their energy into fighting their enemies at home

21. Communism in Russia • June-July 1918: Civil war erupts between the Reds (Bolsheviks) and the Whites (tsarist imperialists, Mensheviks, democrats); the Reds execute the tsar and his family • November 1920: Communist government wins civil war, after years of bloody fighting

22. Communism and Fascism • Similarities: Draw their power from blind devotion to the state or a charismatic leader; use terror to safeguard power; flourish during economic hard times by promoting extreme programs for social change; a party elite rules in the name of the national interest • Differences: International vs. national goals; classless vs. class-based society; support from urban and agricultural workers vs. business leaders and wealthy landowners

23. Союз Советских Социалистических Республик • Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) • Created by Lenin in 1922 • Produce a democratic / socialist constitution • Citizens over the age of 18 can vote OR ?

24. Stalin became the leader of the USSR • Marx had predicted that under communism, the state would wither away. Instead, Stalin turned the USSR into a totalitarian state

25. Five-year plans • Collectivization of agriculture • Propaganda • War on religion • A new elite • Benefits and drawbacks • Women in the Soviet Union