Dictators

What party did Mao Zedong lead to power?

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

What was the Long March (1934–1935)?

A retreat by the CCP to escape the KMT, during which Mao emerged as the leader of the communists.

When did Mao declare the founding of the People’s Republic of China?

What was the Great Leap Forward (1958–1962)?

Mao’s policy to industrialize and collectivize agriculture, which led to mass famine and the deaths of 20–45 million people.

What was the goal of the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976)?

To purge 'counter-revolutionaries' and eliminate traditional and capitalist influences.

Who were the Red Guards?

Student-led groups who attacked intellectuals, officials, and cultural symbols during the Cultural Revolution.

What were the results of the Cultural Revolution?

Widespread chaos, destruction of cultural artifacts, persecution of millions, and a damaged education system.

What party did Hitler lead?

The National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party).

What book did Hitler write in prison, and what was its purpose?

Mein Kampf; it outlined his beliefs, including Aryan racial superiority and anti-Semitism.

How did Hitler gain dictatorial powers in 1933?

Through the Enabling Act, passed after the Reichstag Fire.

What were the Nuremberg Laws (1935)?

Laws that stripped Jews of German citizenship and banned marriage between Jews and non-Jews.

What was the Holocaust?

Hitler’s genocide of 6 million Jews and millions of others, as part of the Final Solution.

What did Hitler mean by lebensraum?

'Living space'; his belief that Germany needed to expand eastward for its people.

What event triggered World War II?

Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939.

What happened to Hitler at the end of WWII?

He committed suicide in 1945 as Germany faced defeat.

Who did Castro overthrow to come to power in 1959?

Fulgencio Batista, the corrupt dictator of Cuba.

What were Castro’s key reforms after taking power?

Land redistribution, nationalization of industries, and free healthcare and education.

How did Castro align Cuba during the Cold War?

He formed an alliance with the Soviet Union and adopted communism.

What caused the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962?

Castro allowed the Soviet Union to place nuclear missiles in Cuba, leading to a standoff with the U.S.

What were the results of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

The Soviet Union removed the missiles, and the U.S. agreed not to invade Cuba.

How did Castro improve healthcare and education in Cuba?

By making them free and accessible, improving literacy rates and life expectancy.

What were some downsides of Castro’s rule?

Lack of political freedoms, censorship, imprisonment of dissidents, and economic struggles due to the U.S. trade embargo.

How did Mao and Castro gain support from peasants?

Both promised land reform and wealth redistribution.

What did Hitler and Mao have in common regarding propaganda?

Both used propaganda to promote their ideologies and consolidate power.

How did the policies of Hitler and Castro differ?

Hitler pursued racial purity and expansion, while Castro focused on social reforms like healthcare and education.

Which dictator caused the most deaths through famine?

Mao Zedong, during the Great Leap Forward.