The Global Depression and Rise of Dictatorships Edited By Mr. Barkhau Shamelessly stolen from: http://conaapwh.weebly.com/class-powerpoints.html

The Rise of Fascism

New Forms of Government After WWI: Germany, Italy, and Russia turned to a new form of dictatorship = totalitarianism Government has total control over every aspect of the people’s lives The individual is a servant of the state Books, radio, films, and schools used to promote the government’s philosophy

New Forms of Government Fascism grew in Italy and Germany Fascism = a political philosophy that advocates the glorification of the state Single-party system One ruler Aggressive nationalism The state has absolute authority

Fascist Italy – Causes 1. Economic Distress - Inflation and high prices - Heavy taxes to pay for war costs - Widespread unemployment - Returning war vets couldn’t find work - Fascists promised to improve economic conditions

Fascist Italy – Causes 2. Fear of Communism - Italian workers started taking over factories - Italian peasants started seizing land - This is similar to how the Russian Revolution started that brought Communism to Russia - Fascists promised to stop the Socialists & the Communists - Factory & land owners now supported the Fascists

Fascist Italy – Causes 3. Appeal to Nationalism Italy was upset that it didn’t get more land in peace treaties after WWI Fascists said they’d get more land and restore the Roman Empire This appealed to the youth, veterans, and military people

Fascist Italy – Causes 4. Weak Government After WWI Couldn’t solve Italy’s problems No political party had a majority in the Parliament 5. Lack of Democratic Tradition Democracy = not a part of Italy’s history People more concerned with making ends meet, not defending democracy

Benito Mussolini Came from a working-class family Ambitious and determined Became an extreme nationalist during WWI 1919 = created Fascist Party in Italy Black Shirts = Mussolini’s private military band Used violence and brutality to stop opponents and gain support for the Fascists

Mussolini Seizes Power Fascist Party gained more & more support Result = Mussolini got stronger & bolder 1922 = the Fascists staged a “march on Rome” King Victor Emmanuel III refused to declare martial law Unopposed by the army, Black Shirt bands poured into Rome

Mussolini Seizes Power The King told Mussolini to form a new government Mussolini took over power without a popular vote or Parliament’s consent Made himself dictator and turned Italy into a fascist nation

Italy Under Mussolini (1922-1943) Government Totalitarian dictatorship led by IL DUCE = means “The Leader” One political party = Fascist party People denied civil liberties Black Shirts and secret police used to stop opposition

Italy Under Mussolini (1922-1943) Economy Government determined wages, hours, and working conditions Left most industries under private ownership, but controlled production and prices Set up more armament plants Italian efficiency – he “made the trains run on time”

Italy Under Mussolini (1922-1943) Militarism Drafted men to 4 years of service followed by 11 years on reserve Required military training in schools and Fascist youth groups Built more military weapons, tanks, etc.

Italy Under Mussolini (1922-1943) Most Italians supported Mussolini He brought order back to Italy Solved the unemployment problem Brought feelings of patriotism & nationalism back to the people Promised to bring back the glory of ancient Rome

Weimar Republic in Germany (1919-1933) After WWI: Germany set up a democratic government called the Weimar Republic New constitution created 2 major positions: President = weak; elected by the people Chancellor = powerful; elected by the majority party in the Reichstag (like Germany’s Senate) President from 1919-1933 = President Hindenburg

Problems with Weimar Republic Weak and unstable Couldn’t solve Germany’s problems after WWI Political parties could not cooperate

Fascism in Germany: The Nazis After WWI: small group of nationalists formed the National Socialist (Nazi) Party Attacked democracy Promised to save Germany from Communism Advocated extreme nationalism Wanted dictatorship

Factors Explaining the Nazi Rise to Power 1. Economic Distress Germany had to pay reparations of $35 billion after WWI to France and Great Britain Government printed more money to do this = caused inflation In 1932 = it took 4 trillion marks to equal 1 U.S. dollar Middle class lost savings and retirement accounts Unemployment In 1932 = 6 million Germans unemployed Nazis promised to save the economy

Factors Explaining the Nazi Rise to Power 2. Fear of Communism Germans feared a Communist revolution due to bad economy Nazis promised to save Germany from Communism 3. Lack of Democratic Tradition German heritage = autocracy, not democracy Otto von Bismarck Kaisers Autocracy meant success and democracy meant failure Flag of old German Empire

Factors Explaining the Nazi Rise to Power 4. Appeal to Nationalism Many Germans unable to accept defeat in WWI Nazis pledged to tear up Treaty of Versailles and denounce war-guilt clause Nazis demanded return of German territories and colonies Nazis defended Germany’s right to rearm Nazis claimed Germany had been “stabbed in the back” by Jews and Communists Promised to create a powerful German Empire

Adolf Hitler Leader of Nazi Party Austrian Failed artist Decorated WWI veteran Brilliant organizer and speaker Used propaganda and mass rallies to gain support and persuade people

Leaders of the Beer Hall Putsch In Munich in 1923 Nazi attempt at a revolution Hitler led a surprise attack and tried to kill top leaders of the Weimar Republic in a beer hall Failed Hitler went to jail for about a year Leaders of the Beer Hall Putsch

“Mein Kampf” Book written by Hitler while in jail “Mein Kampf” = “My Struggle” Outlined Hitler’s plans for Germany Blamed the Jews & Communists for Germany’s defeat in WWI Said Germans were a “master race” that should rule the world Said Germans needed “Lebensraum” = living space Explained his plan for the extermination of the Jewish race

Nazis Gain Power Nazis gained support as economy kept getting worse in Germany 1932 election = Nazis got 37% of the popular vote Made them the largest party in the Reichstag 1933 = Hitler appointed Chancellor by President Hindenburg

Nazis Gain Power 1933 = Hitler calls for new elections Voting = marked by intimidation & violence Reichstag building mysteriously burned down Hitler blamed the Communists Nazis got more support because people were so afraid Nazis got even more seats in the Reichstag in 1933 election

Nazis Gain Power Hitler pushed for the Enabling Act = made him absolute dictator for 1 year Could pass laws without the Reichstag or the President 1934 = President Hindenburg died Hitler blended the positions of President and Chancellor Now just 1 leader = Der Führer

The Third Reich: 1933-1945 Government Nazi Party controlled everything All other political parties outlawed Under Heinrich Himmler, the Gestapo (secret police) brutally oppressed anti-Nazis Torture, death, sent to concentration camps Brown Shirts = army members loyal to Hitler SS = Nazi elite; most trusted guards

The Third Reich: 1933-1945 Propaganda Propaganda Ministry led by Joesph Goebbels Used movies, radio, press, etc. to flood Germany with the Nazi cause

The Third Reich: 1933-1945 Education Used schools to influence the youth Only Nazis could teach Nazi textbooks Classes focused on Nazi goals Chemistry = kids learned how to make poison gas Social Studies = kids learned evils of democracy Math = kids calculated bomb distances

The Third Reich: 1933-1945 Hitler Youth Organizations set up for young people between ages of 6 and 18 Molded German youth to accept Nazi ideas

The Third Reich: 1933-1945 Science and Culture Scientists worked on war weapons All books, movies, etc. that were anti-Nazi were burned and banned

The Third Reich: 1933-1945 Women Inferior social status in Germany Excluded from politics Major purpose = to have children and increase the population of the “master race”

The Third Reich: 1933-1945 Economy Nazi regime set wages, hours, and working conditions Eliminated unemployment Public works projects - like the Autobahn, bridges, canals, public buildings, etc. Increased production of arms “Make guns, not butter”

The Third Reich: 1933-1945 Militarism Used draft to create a large army Remilitarized the Rhineland Shifted German industry to war production Gave military training to youth in schools & youth organizations This violated the Treaty of Versailles, but the Allies did nothing

The Third Reich: 1933-1945 Persecution of the Jews Ousted from jobs, businesses, and homes 1935 = Nuremburg Laws passed Said anyone with at least 1 Jewish grandparent was Jewish & couldn‘t be a German citizen Placed limits on leaving Germany Jewish people required to wear identification badges = Stars of David

The Third Reich: 1933-1945 Persecution of the Jews November 1938 = Kristallnacht = Night of Broken Glass Organized attacks on Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues

The Great Depression

Industrial Capitalism Benefits: Created the most substantial economic growth in the 19th century Provided opportunities for wealth and social advancement Problems: Promoted individualistic materialism Created vast social inequalities Unstable system  cycles of boom and bust, expansion and recession

The Stock Market Crash October 1929 = the stock market crashed Stock prices plummeted “Paper” fortunes were wiped out Banks and businesses closed People lost their savings World trade dropped 62% in a couple of years People lost their jobs  unemployment soared

The Great Depression Emergence of: Vacant factories Soup kitchens Bread lines Shantytowns Homeless people and beggars

The Great Depression Worldwide phenomenon Spread from America to Europe and beyond Lasted about 10 years A Run on a Bank in Berlin

Leading up to the Great Depression: Problems for U. S Leading up to the Great Depression: Problems for U.S. Factories in the 1920s U.S. = physically untouched by WWI 1920s = farms and factories were producing more goods than could be sold Unequal income distribution in U.S. = many Americans did not have enough money to buy these products Line to a Soup Kitchen

Leading up to the Great Depression: Problems for U. S Leading up to the Great Depression: Problems for U.S. Factories in the 1920s Many European countries could not afford to buy these goods either Germany and Austria = had to make reparations payments and needed U.S. loans to make them Britain and France = in debt to the U.S. from money they borrowed during WWI Europeans began producing their own products again as their economies recovered This reduced demand for American products

The Great Depression Countries and colonies dependent on 1-2 products = hit especially hard by the Great Depression Example: Chile = dependent on copper exports  value of its copper cut by 80% Cocoa farmers in Ghana = badly hurt as prices of “luxury” and “commodity” goods dropped

The Great Depression: Capitalism Challenged Major result of the Great Depression = capitalist countries were challenged and criticized Capitalist countries = claimed the economy would regulate itself and self-correct itself if any problems arose But this wasn’t happening during the Great Depression

The Great Depression: Capitalism Challenged Some countries became interested in communism and looked twice at the Soviet Union Many Western European countries adopted “democratic socialism” = greater government regulation of the economy and a more equal distribution of wealth through peaceful means and electoral politics

U.S. Response to the Great Depression Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal Program (1933-1942) Combination of reforms designed to restart economic growth and prevent problems in the future Government projects  dams, highways, bridges, parks, etc. Social Security system Federal minimum wage

U.S. Response to the Great Depression Various relief and welfare programs to aid the poor, unemployed, and elderly Support for workers and labor unions Government subsidies for farmers to encourage more production Creation of new government agencies to help supervise the economy

Japan After World War I

A Japanese Woman in the 1920s Japan After World War I Limited participation in WWI Result: Economy grew during and after the war 1920s = Japan moving toward more democratic politics and Western values 1925 = universal male suffrage Emergence of two-party system Greater gender equality and more freedoms of expression Expansion of education Development of an urban consumer society Middle-class women entered new professions A Japanese Woman in the 1920s

Japan After World War I Tensions/problems resulting from Japan’s modernization and industrialization: 1918 = “rice riots” = millions protested the rising price of rice 1920s = union membership tripled as Japanese workers started to fight more for workers’ rights Increased disputes between landowners and tenants Rising women’s movement  wanted the right to vote and the end of legal prostitution

Special Forces of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Japan After World War I These tensions and problems = alarming  reminded many of how the Russian Revolution started in 1917 1925 = Peace Preservation Law passed = promised long prison sentences, or even the death penalty, to anyone who organized against the existing imperial system of government or against private property Special Forces of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department

Japan and the Great Depression Great Depression = what ultimately led to harsher authoritarian rule in Japan Japan = hit hard by the Great Depression Shrinking world demand for silk = millions of silk farmers now impoverished Exports fell by 50% between 1929 and 1931 More than a million urban workers left unemployed Food = scarce Families forced to sell their daughters to brothels

Japan and the Great Depression Many began to question whether democracy and capitalism could address Japan’s “national emergency” Growing movement in Japan = “Radical Nationalism” Extreme nationalism Opposed to parliamentary democracy Commitment to elite leadership focused around an emperor Dedication to foreign expansion Especially appealing to younger army officers Japan’s Young Women’s Patriotic Association

Japanese Authoritarianism 1930s = right-wing nationalist thinking continued to grow Parliament, political parties, and elections continued  but major government positions now held by military or bureaucratic figures, not party leaders Military began to have a more dominant role in political life Censorship limited free expression Only ONE single news agency allowed to distribute national and international news to newspapers and radio stations Trade unions banned  replaced with “discussion councils”

Japanese Authoritarianism 1937 = new textbook issued by the Ministry of Education Used in all Japanese schools Stressed the difference between Japan and “the West” Stressed the divinity of the Japanese emperor Students required to do more physical training Martial arts replaced baseball in gym classes Japanese Students at Rifle Training

Japanese Authoritarianism Authoritarian state in Japan gained a lot of popular support because it was able to pull Japan out of the Great Depression By the end of 1937 = “everyone was working” State-financed credit to businesses Government spending on armaments Public works projects

Differences between Japanese Authoritarianism and Fascism in Italy and Germany No right-wing party gained popular support or seized power Fascist political parties gained support & seized power No charismatic leader Mussolini and Hitler No fascist party Strong fascist parties People arrested for political offenses = “resocialized” = renounced their errors and returned to the “Japanese Way” People arrested for political offenses = institutionalized, deported, or killed Less repressive than Italy and Germany

Japanese Imperialism Japan believed it should have been given more land in the Treaty of Versailles 1930s = Japanese imperial ambitions began to grow Growing Japanese nationalism Military became more powerful in Japan’s political life

Manchuria Japan acquired sphere of influence in Manchuria following victory over Russia in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 Japanese fear = growing Chinese nationalism would threaten this sphere of influence 1931 = Japanese military seized control of Manchuria Set up a puppet state called Manchukuo Western powers = NOT HAPPY Japan = broke with its Western allies and withdrew from the League of Nations 1936 = Japan joined with Germany and Italy in an alliance called the Axis Powers

China 1937 = Japan invaded China Japanese forces = brutal and violent In many Chinese villages  every single person and every single animal were killed 1937-1938 = Rape of Nanjing 200,000 to 300,000 Chinese civilians killed or mutilated within a few months Countless women sexually assaulted