Rejection of Liberalism 30-2 Key Vocabulary

Democracy

A system of government where the citizens exercise power by voting.

Joseph Stalin

He led a totalitarian form of dictatorship in the Soviet Union. There was only one legal political party in the Soviet Union—the Communist Party. Opposition political parties were not allowed, and people who opposed or criticized him were imprisoned or eliminated. He demanded total obedience and control. He believed that he knew what was best for the Soviet people.

Adolf Hitler

dictator of Germany from 1933-1945, followed Mussolini's model of fascism. He developed and led German fascism as the leader of the National Socialist German Workers' Party. This ideology is also known as Nazism.

National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party)

a political party founded by Adolf Hitler that ruled Germany from 1920 to 1933. The predecessor to the Nazi Party was the German Workers' Party.

Abdicate

to renounce or give up the title of monarch

absolute monarchy

an authoritarian government headed by a hereditary monarch

Aryan race

in Nazi ideology, the ideal and pure race; the blue-eyed and blond-haired Germanic and Nordic people

Atrocity

an act of violence or cruelty that is viewed as exceptionally shocking because of its nature or extent

Authoritarian

a form of government in which the leader is not elected and does not respect the will of the people

Bolshevik Party

a political party created by Lenin. The goal of the Bolshevik Party was to overthrow the Czar and establish communism based on Lenin's slogan, "Peace! Land! Bread!"

Bolsheviks

Russian revolutionaries, led by Lenin, who followed the ideas of Marx

Bourgeoisie

the middle class; typically composed of factory or business owners

Censorship

government control over the media. Censorship restricts access to information and attempts to guide citizens in a certain direction. Censorship restricts access to information and attempts to guide citizens in a certain direction.

centrally planned economy

an economy based on a central government making all economic decisions for the country

charismatic

a personal trait of people who are strongly appealing, magnetic, and larger than life

classical liberalism

an ideology based on increased rights and freedoms for all individuals

class struggle

the struggle between the rich and the poor (the bourgeoisie and the proletariat)

collective

a group of individuals in a society who share a common issue or interest

collectivization

a policy adopted by Stalin that combined small farms into larger, government-controlled farms

command economy

an economy that is controlled by a central government, as in the former Soviet Union

communism

an ideology based on economic and political equality based on state ownership, with each person working to support the common good

Communist Party

a political party that promotes equality of rights under strict government control

concentration camp

prison camps for Hitler's enemies. These camps later came to be known as death camps, or extermination camps.

Constituent Assembly

a government made up of an elected body of officials

Controlled participation

Controlled participation happens when the government holds events that give participants the illusion that they are freely participating in the event.

coup d'état

the forceful overthrow of a government by a small group of individuals

denazification

a process used to remove all evidence of the Nazi regime in Germany

dictatorship

an authoritarian system in which power is concentrated in the hands of a single person; an autocracy

Duma

an elected legislative assembly established by Czar Nicholas II in 1905

Elitism

the advocacy or existence of a group of people as a dominating element in a system or society (better or superior to others).

Enabling Act

an act that gave the leader of Germany the power to make laws without the Reichstag's approval

Famine

severe lack of food causing widespread starvation

Fascism

a political ideology characterized by an extreme right-wing view and supported by a totalitarian government

Final Solution

Hitler's plan to cleanse Germany of all Jewish people

Fuehrer

the title Hitler gave himself when he became the leader of Germany

German Labour Front

a German organization that replaced unions and made new labour laws that went against liberal values

Gestapo

Hitler's secret police, known for its brutality

Gosplan

the state planning committee responsible for the economic planning of the Soviet Union

Hitler Youth (Hitlerjugend, or HJ)

a militaristic Nazi youth organization. HJ members were trained to be future Nazi Party leaders.

Hyperinflation

extreme inflation in which the price of a product increases at an alarming rate

Indoctrinate

to instruct someone to believe in an ideological point of view

Indoctrination

Teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically.

Inflation

a rise in prices related to an increase in the volume of money and resulting in the loss of value of currency

Junta

an oligarchy formed by a committee of military officers

KGB

Soviet secret police and intelligence agency

Kremlin

a government building in Russia/the Soviet Union

Kulaks

prosperous farmers from the Ukraine who opposed collectivization

Law Against the Formation of New Political Parties

a law stating that the Nazi Party is the only legal political party in Germany

Law for the Protection of the People and the State

an act that, among other powers, suspended civil liberties

Marxism

theories by Karl Marx that rejected classical liberalism and the unjust conditions brought about by the Industrial Revolution

Mein Kampf

a book written by Hitler that describes his ideology and his plan for the Final Solution

Militarism

The belief or the desire of a government or a people that a state should maintain a strong military capability and to use it aggressively to expand national interests and/or values.

Nationalization

complete government control of industries

National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party)

a political party founded by Adolf Hitler that ruled Germany from 1920 to 1933. The predecessor to the Nazi Party was the German Workers' Party.

Nationalism

An ideology and movement that promotes the interests of a particular nation, especially with the aim of gaining and maintaining the nation's sovereignty over its homeland.

New Economic Policy (NEP)

Lenin's economic policy of limited private ownership

Night of the Long Knives

a period in 1934 when Hitler executed his generals for disloyalty

Oligarchy

an authoritarian system in which power is concentrated in the hands of a small ruling group or committee

one-party state

a government that legalizes only one political party

pluralism

the belief that all groups have the right to exist alongside one another. Pluralists recognize that there are different social groups and that all groups have rights.

Proletariat

the working class in Russia and the Soviet Union

Propaganda

Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view (media, posters, education etc).

provisional government

a temporary government in place until a general election can be held

purge

removal of individuals who are deemed to be a threat to power or a menace to society

putsch

a German term for the planned overthrow of a government

quota

a predetermined amount of product a person or group must produce

Racism

The belief in the superiority of one race over another.

Reform

a change to a better form; an improvement to what is unsatisfactory

Reichstag

the German parliament building

Revolution

a rapid change in power or organization

Ruble

Soviet currency (money)

Scapegoating

The practice of blaming one group of people for the problems the government might be having in regards to the economy, political situation, or war effort

Single Party Rule

A type of political system that does not tolerate the existence of any other political parties.

Socialism

an ideology based on government ownership and control of industry and economic equality

SS

members of Hitler's police force; models for Hitler's master race

State

a central government or authority

Stormtrooper

a member of the German army known for use of violence and brutality

Third Reich

the name for Germany under Hitler's regime

totalitarian government

a government that exercises dictatorial control over many areas of life

trade union

an organization of workers who have common goals, such as working conditions and wages

utopian socialism

an ideology based on a society in which all members work and share profits equally

War Communism

an economic and political policy in Russia from 1918 to 1921 that included nationalization of industries, food rationing, and required labour duties

War Reparation Payment

Germany's obligation to give money for the reconstruction of countries damaged by war

Weimar Republic

a name used to describe Germany from 1919 to 1933