Totalitarianism and Political Systems

These flashcards cover key terms, concepts, and events related to totalitarianism, socialism, communism, fascism, and historical incidents regarding the political landscape of the 20th century.

Totalitarianism

A form of government that prohibits opposition parties and exercises extreme control over public and private life.

Bourgeoisie

The upper class that controls the means of production.

Proletariat

The lower class that works in businesses owned by the bourgeoisie.

Socialism

The belief that profit from human labor should go primarily to workers or society rather than private owners.

Communism

An economic system where the government owns all means of production and there is no private ownership of property.

Marx's Vision of Communism

The idea that the proletariat would rise up, seize the means of production, and share resources based on needs.

The Russian Revolution

A series of events in 1917 that led to the overthrow of the czar and the establishment of a communist government.

Kristallnacht

A violent anti-Jewish pogrom in November 1938, during which thousands of Jewish properties and synagogues were destroyed.

Fascism

An authoritarian political movement that emphasizes strong, centralized control and often includes nationalist, racist, and militaristic rhetoric.

Hyperinflation

An extremely high and typically accelerating rate of inflation, often eroding the real value of the local currency.

Gulag

A government agency that administered forced labor camps in the Soviet Union.

Nuremberg Laws

Racist laws enacted in 1935 that stripped Jews of their citizenship and barred them from marrying non-Jewish Germans.

Stalinism

A form of government characterized by state terror, censorship, and a cult of personality surrounding Joseph Stalin.

Propaganda

Information, especially biased or misleading, used to promote a political cause or point of view.

Enabling Act

A 1933 law that gave the German government the power to enact laws without consulting the legislature.

The Beer Hall Putsch

A failed coup attempt by the NSDAP in 1923 to seize power in Munich.

Aktion T4

A Nazi program for the forced euthanasia of the disabled, mentally ill, and chronically ill individuals.

Reichstag Fire Decree

A decree issued after the Reichstag Fire that suspended civil liberties and allowed for the arrest of political opponents.