Fascism Unit

Fascism

Government that glorifies the state and nation - the state controls every aspect of national life.

Fasces symbol description

Symbolizes unity and power

8 Characteristics of Fascism

1. Myth of rebirth-greatness

2. Ideology

3. Subordination to the state

4. Cult of state worship

5. Rampant sexism

6. Identification of enemies or scapegoats as a unifying cause

7. Restriction of rights and freedom

8. Controlled mass media

Myth of rebirth-greatness

Emphasis on a national or racial rebirth after a period of decline or destruction. (Ex. Germany and Italy after WWI)

Ideology

• Extreme right-wing ideology

• Nation is a pure race

• Powerful nationalism

Subordination to the state

• Fascism uses force/violence to make sure everyone bows down to the state

• Anti-democratic

Cult of state worship

• The individual has no significance except as a member of the state

• Constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, flags, etc.

Rampant Sexism

• Almost exclusively male dominated

• Divorce, abortion, and homosexuality are suppressed

Identification of enemies or scapegoats as a unifying cause

• “Our problems are caused by ___”

• This hatred is used to bring the country together

Restriction of rights and freedom

• Fear of enemies led to restraining of human rights

• People look the other way because…

The Black Shirts

The Black Shirts were Mussolini’s Fascist militia, formed in 1919, that used violence to fight political enemies and helped him seize power in Italy.

March on Rome

The March on Rome was a 1922 protest where Mussolini’s Black Shirts threatened to seize power, leading the king to make Mussolini Italy’s prime minister.

Mussolini forms a government

• King Victor Emmanuel III invited Mussolini to join a coalition government

• 1925 - Mussolini eventually sized dictorial power during a political crisis

The Lateran Accords - 1929

• Settled a long-running dispute over the Catholic Church’s role in Italian politics

• Terms: The Papacy was granted sovereignty over Vatican city

• Roman Catholicism was the sole state religion throughout Italy

Educational Techniques

• The first sentence pronounced by children at school was a hail to Mussolini

• Students participated in intense Phys Ed classes 2x a day to prepare them to enlist in the war effort

Anti-Semitism

• Jews were an integral part of Mussolini’s government

• Pressure started to build in the 1930s with Fascist ideology and Germany

Hitler’s Youth

• Born in Austria in 1889

• Had an abusive father named Alois

• Alois Jr. ran away at 13

• Adolf was very close with his mother

• Adolf was interested in: German military history and the American West

Hitler’s relationship with his father

• Alois was controlling and verbally abusive

• He wanted Adolf to live a traditional life with a steady career

Hitler’s teenage years

• 1903 - Father Dies

• Adolf was not focused on school and dropped out

• Failed his test to get into art school

The Nadir of Young Adolf’s life

• 1907 - Mother dies

• Adolf’s personality shifts

• He became an “ideas man” who was constantly changing his mind on what he wanted to do

Social Studies

• Becomes interested in politics and history

• Refuses to join the Austria-Hungarian Army

• Enlists in the German Army

World War I

• Blamed Jews for anti-war sentiment

• Temporarily blinded by chlorine gas

• Heard of surrender lying in his hospital bed

Early Political Involvement

• Subscribed to the “stab in the back” theory

• Sent to spy on the German Workers Party

• He discovers their views are similar to his

German Worker’s Party

• Joined German Workers Party and becomes their main attraction

• Nationalist Socialist German Worker’s Party - later becomes Nazi Party

• 1919 - 25 members ; 1921 - 3000 members

• Hitler wins a power struggle - named der Fuhrer (The leader)

Opportunity Knocks Once

• To pay reparations, Germany printed money, leading to hyperinflation

• 1921 - 1 American dollar = 4.2 German Marks

• 1923 - 1 American dollar = 4.2 Trillion German Marks

• Hitler saw this as his time to grab power

Beer Hall Putsch

• Hitler’s plan to take over the government

• Fails miserably

• He is arrested and put on trial for Treason

Trial and Jail

• Increases Hitler’s popularity (worked in reverse)

• He was sentenced to 5 years, but only served 9 months