Rise of Totalitarianism

viewpoints of americans post wwi

the us was strong but wanted to stay out of european conflicts, helped europeans pay of reparations (gave loans), feared communism

great depression and its effect on nations and peoples

caused unemployment, bank failures, collapse in global trade, poverty, prompted government intervention including the new deal

cause of depression

high prices on stock exchange, investors used risky methods, people were nervous about the economy and sold all their stocks at once

how did the us try to address the depression

FDR’s new deal, includes stock market regulations, protection of bank deposits, aid to farmer, job creation, and social security, failed to end depression but eased its effects

how did Japan expand in the 20s and 30s

set up a puppet state in Manchuria to gain more materials, used the 21 demands to gain more rights in China, started the second sino-japanese war in 1937

role and influence of the zaibatsu

powerful business leaders who manipulate the politcal parties, driving rapid industrialization, banking and trade

ultranationalists and their role in Japan

radical militarists who were often officers in Imperial Japanese Army, blamed western influences for the depression, resented american laws that excluded Japanese immigrants, sought renewed expansion to get Japan its needed resources

the axis powers

germany italy and japan, share goals of expansion, ani-communism, and a desire to dismantle global order

life under stalin

extreme state-control, children attended free schools, free medical care, day care and cheap houses, women had access to education and jobs, worked in medicine engineering, and science, most people had inadequate food and housing

goals of the 5 year plan

build up heavy industry, improve transportation, and increase farm output

impact of the 5 year plan

government built factories, hydroelectric power station, railroads, and industrial conplexes, improved oil, coal and steel production, low living standards stayed low

command economy

brought all economic activity under government control

collectivization and its impact to the Soviet Union

a policy forcing peasants to merge land and labor into state controlled farms to modernize agriculture, peasants had to famr on state land, could keep houses but livestock and tolls belonged to the state

Kulkas

wealthy farmers who resisted collectivization, had their land taken, were sent to labor cmapls, and thousands were killed or died

what were the purges and who was affected

targeted former communist army heroes, industrial managers, writers, and ordinary citizens, staged show trail to force false confessions, increases Stalins power but the victims of the purge were experts in military

how communists attempted to maintain power and control

propaganda and a cult of personality to appear like a God, bombarded citizens with stories of communist success and capitalism evil, used radios, loudspeakers, newspapers, and billboards

why was Italy bitter after the Great War

didn’t get land promised by Allies, peasants seized land, workers went on strike or seized factories, returning veterans faced unemployment, trade declined, taxes rose, government split into opposing factions

who became its new leader and how

Benito Mussolini, organized the March on Rome in October 1922 to force King Emmanuel III to appoint him as prime minister which he accepted because he feared civil war

Black Shirts

supporters of Mussolini wanted to enfored fascism with violence, helped with the March on Rome, promoted Italian nationalism

March on Rome

a stage event by Mussolini and the black shirts to take control of government buildings so that Mussolini can become the Prime Minister

Fascism

extreme nationalism, one person has control over all, glorification of the military, offered a solution and order after WWI and the depression, promising a national rebirth

Italian tactics to maintain power

censored press, used the black shirts, used indoctrination to create devotion to him and convince people that fascism was the only type of rule, cult of youth, used the radio, used cult of personality

impact of Treaty of Versailles and inflation on Germany

create economic, political, and social crisis, imposed massive reparations, territorial losses, and military restrictions, making Germany take responsibility for starting the war

Hitlers rise to power

promised to end the economic crisis and restore Germanys greatness, was appointed to chancellor in 1933, used the enabling act: gave him absolute power, installed Nazis in top positions, took over government, prohibited strikes and unions

who was blamed for Germany losing in WWI

marxists, jews, corrupt politicians, business leaders

what is the concept of Lebensraum

Aryans are the best race, Jews are anti- aryan so they need to be removed, needed to go to war to gain space for aryans, wanted to conquer other races as they are superior

Nuremberg Laws

restricted Jewish life in Germany, couldn’t marry non-Jews, teach or go to school, practice law or medicine, hold government jobs, publish books

Kristallnacht

November 1938, a minor incident was used to attack all Jews, Jewish communities were attacked in Germany, Austria, and Czechslovakia

Final Solution

Hitlers plan to exterminate all the Jewish people

aggressive actions by Germany, Italy, and Japan leading up to WWII

Germany: rearmed, withdrew from league of nations, invaded Poland in 1939

Japan: invaded Manchuria, second Sino-Japanese war in 1937

Italy: invaded Ethiopia in 1935, intervened in Spanish Civil War, and annexed Albania in 1939

Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis

alliance between Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan

Anschluss

the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938, first act of expansion by Hitler

Germany, Italy, and Soviet Unions involvement in the Spanish Civil War

Germany: wanted to prevent communism, test new weapons

Italy: wanted to created another fascist state, solidify its alliance with Hitler, and expand Italian influence

Soviet Union: prevent spread of fascism,

Munich agreement

settlement permitting Nazi Germany to annex Czechoslovakia border regions known as the Sudetenland, signed by Germany, Britain, France, and Italy

who thought they achieved peace for our time

British prime minister Neville Chamberlain because he signed the Munich agreement thinking it avoiding another European qar

appeasement

a foreign policy involving making territorial or political concessions to avoid Germany and WWII, enabled Hitler to keep expanding

Nazi-Soviet pact

agreement between Germany and Soviet Union, including a secret protocol to divide Eastern Europe, enabling Germany to invade Poland, leading to WWII

what marked the beginning of WWII

Germanys invasion of Poland on September 1st, 1939

the difference between fascism and communism

Fascism: extreme nationalism, state glory, racial/national unity, demands obedience to a leader, war necessary for national strength

Communism: eliminating class, abolishing hierachies

Tactics used by dictators to maintain power

exploiting crises and fears, propaganda, scapegoating, manipulation, appelaing to nationalis,, secret police, indoctrination, elimation of rivals

failure of League of Nations to avert war

abandonment of key powers, such as US, structural weakness, and lack of an independent military

Similarities of regimes

all under authoritarian rule, propaganda used to gain and keep power, indoctrination of youth, expansion, tried to conquer and gain more territory

differences of regimes studied

Germany: wanted antisemitism and racial supremacy

Italy: fascism, less extreme terror than Germany or USSR

Soviet Union: communism, command economy, five-year plan

Japan: nationalism, militarism, privately owned companies (zaibatsu), Japanese supremacy