Learning Goal  The students will understand the Rise of the Dictatorial Regimes after WWI.  Media  Attitudes  Totalitarian States  Fascism  Collectivizm

Discussion  How would you define each of these three terms in your own words? Dictator—a ruler who has absolute power. Fascist—someone or something that glorifies the state above the individual. Totalitarian state—government aiming to control of the political, economic, social, intellectual, and cultural lives of citizens.

Rise of Totalitarian States  Dictatorial regimes in Europe: The triumph of democracy in Europe following World War I was shortlived. While France and Great Britain remained democratic, many other European states—including Germany and the Soviet Union—established dictatorships.  Characteristics of totalitarian states: New totalitarian states were formed in which a single leader and a single party led a strong central government. The governments aimed for total control over the lives of their citizens.  Loss of individual freedom: Totalitarian leaders rejected the ideas of limited government and individual freedoms. Instead, citizens were to sacrifice individual freedoms to the collective will of the masses, determined by the leader.

Discussion  What is expected of citizens in a totalitarian state? Citizens are expected to be completely loyal to their leader and to support the state's goals.

Fascism in Italy  Europe's first fascist movement: In 1919, Benito Mussolini created a new political group, the fascist League of Combat. Fascism is a political philosophy that glorifies the state above individuals.  Growing popularity: Mussolini appealed to Italians' fear of socialism and anger about the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. He called for more land to be awarded to Italy, using nationalist propaganda to gain followers. Thousands joined Mussolini's Fascist Party.  Control of the government: When Mussolini threatened to march on Rome with his Fascist organization, King Victor Emmanuel III made him prime minister. Mussolini used this position to create a Fascist dictatorship.  Efforts for totalitarian control: Mussolini used his secret police to control the general population. He spread propaganda through the use of mass media, including newspapers and radio. Youth groups indoctrinated children into the fascist ideology. On the other hand, Mussolini maintained traditional attitudes toward the family and the Catholic Church. Women were expected to focus on motherhood and homemaking.

Discussion  Why might Italians have been especially fearful of a socialist or communist takeover? A communist takeover had recently taken place in Russia, and the labor unrest in Italy made the middle class wary of socialist tendencies among the working class.

Background  As Mussolini's Fascist movement grew, government leaders worked to quell the resulting unrest. Italy was a constitutional monarchy, ruled by a king with a prime minister and cabinet. Victor Emmanuel III (1869–1947) had been king since 1900, when his father was assassinated. As Fascist forces prepared to march on Rome in 1922, the cabinet urged Victor Emmanuel to declare martial law to stop Mussolini's forces. The king refused, apparently fearing a civil war. Instead, he asked Mussolini to form a government under the constitution. The king quickly became a figurehead in the new government, with Mussolini assuming dictatorial powers.

The Emerging Soviet Union  Agricultural and industrial collapse: Beginning in 1920, a drought in Russia led to famine and industrial collapse. Hoarding of food added to the crisis. Lenin was forced to adopt the capitalist New Economic Policy (NEP) to avert a complete economic disaster. Peasants were allowed to sell their crops, and some people were allowed to own their own small businesses.  Creation of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics: Along with the NEP, the end of the drought brought economic recovery. Harvests improved. In 1922, Lenin renamed Russia the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), or Soviet Union.

Discussion  Why do you think Lenin and the Communist leaders thought it was important to change the country's name? They wanted the country's name to reflect their revolutionary principles by including the words soviet and socialist.