Totalitarianism after WWI

1. Totalitarianism after WWI

2. Aftermath of World War I • Europe was burdened by war debts. • Had to face the tough task of rebuilding • Several countries moved their governments toward TOTALITARIANISM

3. What is Totalitarianism? • A political system in which government controls every aspect of citizens’ lives. How do you control people in a totalitarian country? • Mass Communication= methods of communication (newspapers, radio, public address system) designed to reach large #s of people at once.

4. Key Traits of Totalitarianism • Other methods of enforcement: -Police Terror -Indoctrination -Censorship -Persecution

5. Russian Revolution Review • What was the name of the party that assumed power following the revolution? • Bolsheviks • What were their goals? • To create a socialist, classless society • On what philosophers ideas was the new society formed? • Karl Marx • What ways were his ideas put into practice? • Land taken from upper classes, given to commoners

6. Early Russia: Vladimir Lenin • Dictator: Vladimir Lenin • System of Government: Communism • Beliefs: Created a dictatorship instead of an equal society.

7. Russia: Josef Stalin • Dictator: Josef Stalin • System of Government: Communism • Beliefs: Controlled farms and industry. State Police enforced laws.

9. What happened if you disagreed with Stalin? • Stalin removed his enemies from society. “The Purge”. • Italy, Germany, Russia and Japan would depend on dictators to lead their governments. • Sent them to labor camps. • Destroyed birth records • Doctored photos.

10. Labor Camps in Siberia • Average temperature in Siberia during winter: -10°F to below -50°F (-45°F).

11. Italy Fascism A political movement that promotes an extreme form of nationalism, a denial of individual rights, and a dictatorial one-party rule. • Dictator: Benito Mussolini • System of government: Fascism • Beliefs: Destroy all opposition. Believed in restoring a new Roman Empire.

13. JAPAN • Emperor Hirohito • Japanese military was really in charge. • System of Government: Militarism & Imperialism • Beliefs: Wanted to seize new territories and take control of natural resources (I.e., coal, timber, iron ore, control of China) • Invaded the Chinese state of Manchuria.

15. Germany • Suffered the most from the Treaty of Versailles. • Germans became bitter as their economy crippled. • Went through “hyperinflation”. Prices increased as the value of the money decreased.

16. What happened next? • The rise of Adolf Hitler. • Tried to overthrow German government. • In prison, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle). • Book blamed Communists and Jews for Germany’s defeat in WWI. • Mein Kampf also provided Hitler’s plan for Germany’s rise to European and global power.

17. Why did Hitler blame the Jews? • Many wealthy bankers and businessmen in Germany were Jewish. • Since Germans were losing money, Hitler made the Jews an easy target. • 1932 – HITLERLed the National Socialist Party (NAZI) to victory in the national election. • NAZISM established.

19. NAZI Beliefs • Believed in a strong central government under the Führer (the leader). • One master Aryan race. • Jewish and Communists were enemies of the people.

20. Kristallnacht - 1938“Night of Broken Glass” Nazis destroyed many Jewish businesses and destroyed synagogues.

21. Other Actions by the Nazis

23. Non-Aggression Pact &The Axis Powers • Non-Aggression Pact – Hitler and Stalin agreed to avoid war with each other. AXIS POWERS • 1936 – Italy and Germany form a military alliance • 1940 – Japan joins the alliance.

24. Appeasement • British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain met with Hitler • Allowed Hitler control of Sudetenland but NO MORE • Appeasement: meeting demands of a hostile power in order to avoid war.

25. America’s Reaction • U.S. was reluctant to get involved in another war. • Congress passed laws to prevent the sale of weapons to any nation at war. • Americans wanted to remain isolationists.