Interwar Period Study Guide (OPEN RESPONSE QUESTIONS NOT INCLUDED)

Vladimir Lenin

Russian founder of the Bolsheviks and leader of the Russian Revolution and first head of the USSR (1870-1924). Created the Group of Secret Police or the "CHEKA"

Benito Mussolini

Was originally a communist before WWI, during WWI, drafted by the Italian army and rose to the rank of a Corporal, after WWI he was enraged with Italy's failure to make territorial gains, and founded the fascist movement. Fascist dictator of Italy (1922-1943). He led Italy to conquer Ethiopia (1935), joined Germany in the Axis pact (1936), and allied Italy with Germany in World War II. He was overthrown in 1943 when the Allies invaded Italy.

Adolf Hitler

Austrian-born founder of the German Nazi Party and chancellor of the Third Reich (1933-1945). His fascist philosophy, embodied in Mein Kampf (1925-1927), attracted widespread support, and after 1934 he ruled as an absolute dictator. Hitler's pursuit of aggressive nationalist policies resulted in the invasion of Poland (1939) and the subsequent outbreak of World War II. His regime was infamous for the extermination of millions of people, especially European Jews. He committed suicide when the collapse of the Third Reich was imminent (1945).

Joseph Stalin

Bolshevik revolutionary, head of the Soviet Communists after 1924, and dictator of the Soviet Union from 1928 to 1953. He led the Soviet Union with an iron fist, using Five-Year Plans to increase industrial production and terror to crush opposition

Karl Marx

Recognized as the father of communism. Analysis of history led to his belief that communism would replace capitalism as it replaced feudalism. Believed in a classless society. Recognized for his predictions of the future: the communist manifesto

Weimar Republic

When Germany became a Democracy, 2 heads of state, has a president, but the president doesn't hold much power

Voters elect which Richstag they want to represent their decision, then the Richstag get vote on the chancellor

Communism

A theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state. Refers to the economic system that Karl Marx believed was the inevitable successor to capitalism.

Bolshevik Party

A political party that wanted Russia to lead an immediate worldwide revolution; it gained control of Russia by getting elected to the soviets by promising to leave World War I. Reshape the country into communism

Nazi Party

German political party joined by Adolf Hitler, emphasizing nationalism, racism, and war. When Hitler became chancellor of Germany in 1933, the Nazi Party became the only legal party and an instrument of Hitler's absolute rule. Only got a majority vote when the Global Depression hit.

Fascist Party (Italy)

was an Italian political party, created by Benito Mussolini as the political expression of fascism. Followed the Criteria:

~~Hyper-Nationalist

~~Hyper-Militaristic

~~"Criminals Everywhere"/Law and Order

~~Anti-Democratic

~~Mythic Origins

capitalilsm

an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit.

Bourgeoise

the middle class, including merchants, industrialists, and professional people

the "haves"

Free Market/Laissez-Faire

Little to no government interference in the economy. Good business succeeds, bad business fails. Potential problems with greed, corruption.

White Army

any of the armies that opposed the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War of 1918-21 and were anti-communist.

Secret Police

police who are loyal to the dictator who take care of social unrest, no one knows who is apart of them or isn't, because they're secret

5 year plan

Stalin's plan to reorganize the industry and agriculture to catch up with the industrialized west with collectivization of farms and unrealistic production quotas in factories

Kulak

A Russian peasant farmer who owns land. Late imperial and early Soviet eras.

USSR

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Created by Lenin in 1922.

Socialism

A system in which society, usually in the form of the government, owns and controls the means of production. takes wealth and redistributes it. Health care is funded by taxes on income.

Menshevik Party

Heavily devoted Marxist party that split from the Bolsheviks in 1903. Followed the order of Feudalism, Capitalism, then Communism

Freikorps

German paramilitary organizations formed by returning defeated German soldiers. The Freikorps served as the key paramilitary groups of the Weimar Republic.

Proletariat

Marx's term for the exploited class, the mass of workers who do not own the means of production

"Have Nots"

Totalitarianism

A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)

Treaty of Versailles

the treaty imposed on Germany by the Allied powers in 1920 after the end of World War I which demanded exorbitant reparations from the Germans

Debt and Deficit

National debt is the total of all the yearly deficits

Hyperinflation

A very rapid rise in the price level; an extremely high rate of inflation.

Red Army

Military organization constructed under leadership of Leon Trotsky, Bolshevik follower of Lenin; made use of people of humble background; the USSR's military

Collectivization

a system in which private farms are eliminated and peasants work land owned by the government

Purges

Joseph Stalin's policy of exiling or killing millions of his opponents in the Soviet Union. Those who opposed Stalin were considered this.

Gulag

In the Soviet Union, a system of forced labor camps in which millions of criminals and political prisoners were held under Stalin

Keynesian economics

Economic theory based on the principles of John Maynard Keynes stating that government spending should increase during business slumps and be curbed during booms.

February Revolution 1917

They got rid of Nicholas II. Parliament (Duma) was in control. Provisional government (Duma) replaced Nicholas II. October/November is when the Bolsheviks tried to take over this Provisional Gov't and put the communists in control

Russian Civil War

1918-1920: conflict in which the Red Army successfully defended the newly formed Bolshevik government against various Russian and interventionist anti-Bolshevik armies. Red vs. White Army.

Ukranian Famine

leader jospeh stalin: Ukranians didnt want to obey stalins rules so he set in motion events to cause a famine to destroy people.

October Revolution of 1917

The Bolsheviks seized power by force in a second revolution in 1917. Once in power, they changed Russia to a Communist nation.

Great Global Depression

An economic recession that began on October 29, 1929, following the crash of the U.S. stock market. The Great Depression originated in the United States, but quickly spread to Europe and the rest of the world.

Dawes Plan

A plan to revive the German economy, the United States loans Germany money which then can pay reparations to England and France, who can then pay back their loans from the U.S. This circular flow of money was a success.