The Rise of Totalitarian Governments Benito Mussolini (1883-1945)
-
Upload
stewart-sherman -
Category
Documents
-
view
224 -
download
0
Transcript of The Rise of Totalitarian Governments Benito Mussolini (1883-1945)
The Rise of Totalitarian Governments
Benito Mussolini (1883-1945)
Totalitarianism
• Form of dictatorship
• Control of all aspects of citizens lives
• Few individual freedoms
• State controlled media (Books, radio, films etc.)
• Propaganda
• Germany, Italy, Soviet Union
Reasons for Rise of Totalitarianism
• Destruction, and Debt from WWI
• High Unemployment
• Rising Inflation
• Social Unrest
• Political Conflicts
• Anger and resentment over Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
Black Tuesday 1929- stock market crashes
Great Depressionduring 1930s
Increasing influence of new political parties that emphasize
state control-For example: Communism,
Nazism, Fascism
Total Controlof State by a
Dictator
Fascism Italy and Germany
• Totalitarianism • Single Political Party – only one political party, fascist• Glorification of the state - nation’s goals are
advanced at all costs, even war• Aggressive Nationalism – nation is superior to all
others• Private Property – individuals can own businesses and
factories• Class System – hierarchical distinctions between groups
of individuals in society; everyone NOT equal• Racism – belief that one race is superior to another*
Intense Propaganda – use of lies or falsehoods to promote the government’s political philosophy
• Destruction of the Opposition – jailing or killing political opponents
*Only in German Fascism aka “Nazism”
Communism in Theory“Marxism”
• No Class system – equality among citizens
• No Private Property – no private ownership of businesses or factories
• Collectivism – working for good of society
• No government – will eventually go away
Communism in PracticeSoviet Union
• Totalitarianism• Single Political Party - communism• Small upper class – government
leaders• No Private Property – no private
ownership of business, factories• Equality among Citizens – except
govt. leaders• Intense Propaganda – use of lies or
falsehoods to promote the government’s philosophy
• Destruction of the Opposition – jailing or killing political opponents
Contestant #1 I am a womanizer, have self-interested policies
and unfortunately suffer from ailing health.
Contestant #2I have a drinking habit and a defiant tongue or attitude
Contestant #3I am a decorated war hero,
do not drink and want to create a stable economy
Contestant #3Contestant #2Contestant #1
Nazism
FascismCommunism
*These theories, specifically Communism and Fascism, are completely different theories that are bitterly opposed; however they exhibit the same behavior
Totalitarianism
Post WWI Italy
• Rising unemployment
• Rising bread prices• Shortages of coal• Workers strike • Peasants seize land• Dissatisfaction with
TOV - Not given land promised
Mussolini’s Rise to Power
• Formed the Fascist Party
• Post WWI chaos creates conditions for change
• Promises something for everyone
• People were desperate for relief and wanted a strong government
Mussolini’s Rise to Power
• Promises, Promises Wealthy -
Protect Private Property
Worker - Full employment, workers benefits
Nationalists - rebuild Italy and recreate the Roman Empire
Blackshirts
• Mussolini’s followers• Attacked and intimidated political
opponents• Anti-Socialist ideas gained support of
Democratic Government
1922 March on Rome• Purpose:
– establish Mussolini and the Fascist Party as the most important party in Italy
• Results: – King Victor Emmanuel
appointed Mussolini Prime Minister
– Mussolini ended democracy– Mussolini became dictator
• named himself “Il Duce” or The Leader
Mussolini’s Leadership• Negatives
– Ended democracy & Individual freedoms
– Assaulted and murdered opposition
• Positives – Solved unemployment
problem– Restored patriotism
and nationalism and recaptured Italy’s greatness
– Made the trains run on time
Which of the following enabled Mussolini to rise to power?
The
Black
shirt
s
The
poor eco
nom
y
Pro
mis
es
All
of the
above
25% 25%25%25%
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
1. The Blackshirts
2. The poor economy
3. Promises
4. All of the above