World War II: Totalitarianism on the Rise Learning Focus 3.2 The rise of Totalitarian/fascist leaders in Germany, Italy, and Japan and the failure of appeasement that led to the outbreak of WWII in Europe in 1939. It also examines how prejudice, discrimination, and racism led to the Holocaust.

Vocabulary: Words to know Totalitarianism = form of government that permits no individual freedom and that seeks to control the people’s lives to the authority of the government. By the beginning of World War II, “totalitarian” meant absolute and oppressive single-party government.

Vocabulary: Words to know Dictator = is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power with military control. The term "dictator" is generally used to describe a leader who holds and/or abuses an extraordinary amount of personal power, especially the power to make laws without effective restraint.

Vocabulary: Words to know Fascism = A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.

Vocabulary: Words to know Nazism = is the totalitarian ideology and practices of the Nazi Party ( National Socialist German Workers’ Party) under Adolf Hitler, and the policies adopted by the dictatorial government of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945.

Vocabulary: Words to know Policy of Appeasement = is an approach to foreign relations which tries to maintain peace by making concessions to the aggressor to prevent war. It was practiced by many Western nations facing Hitler, but the two main appeasing countries were Britain and France.

Vocabulary: Words to know Nationalism = a strong devotion to a particular country. A feeling that no other country but your own is the best country in the World.

Vocabulary: Words to know Reparations = money that Germany was made to pay at the end of WWI. It was made to accept fault with the War Guilt Clause as stated in the Treaty of Versailles.

Vocabulary: Words to know Treaty of Versailles = Treaty which ended WWI and Germany admits to starting the war and is made to pay reparations. This treaty caused Germany to have resentment against the terms.

Vocabulary: Words to know Bigotry = is being obstinately or intolerantly devoted to ones own opinions and prejudices without feeling any regret, shame, or political correctness.