Bell Quiz: Pages 528 – 535 1. What Treaty ended WWI? 2. Why did European countries create governments with authoritarian leaders after WWI? 3. What Year was the Soviet Union established? 4. Who took control of the Soviet Union after the death of V. I. Lenin in 1924? 5. Who were the “Black Shirts”?

Answers 1. The Treaty of Versailles. 2. European people created authoritarian governments to solve their economic and social problems. 3. 1922 4. Joseph Stalin. 5. Followers of Benito Mussolini supporters of Fascism.

Objectives Identify the types of governments that took power in Russia, and Italy after World War I.

Background The Treaty of Versailles (1919) was a peace treaty that officially ended World War I. Required Germany to accept full responsibility for causing the war (forced to sign a “War guilt clause”). Required Germany to make substantial territorial concessions (stripped of its colonies in the Pacific) and pay reparations ($33 Billion). The Soviet Union was stripped of all of its territories in the Baltic Sea area: Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, and the Ukraine. Following WW I many nations experienced economic depression. The post WW I years led to the rise of powerful dictators driven by the belief in Nationalism.

Nationalism Nationalism: loyalty to one’s country above all else and the desire for territorial expansion. Instead of securing peace the Treaty of Versailles caused anger and resentment. These problems overwhelmed the Weimar Republic. Other newly formed democratic governments in Europe also struggled. People turned to authoritarian leaders. Democracies collapsed, and dictators were able to seize power.

Russia The Soviet Union was established as a communist state in 1922. Communism is an economic and political system that is characterized by a one-party government system that is ruled by a dictatorship with state ownership of property. 1924, Joseph Stalin took control of the country after V.I. Lenin’s death.

Joseph Stalin Made agricultural and industrial growth the prime economic goals of the Soviet Union. Abolished all privately owned farms and replaced them with large government owned farms. All other economic activity was also placed under government control. By 1937 the Soviet Union was the second larges industrial power in the world. By 1939, Stalin had established a government that tried to exert complete control over its citizens (totalitarianism). Stalin was responsible for the deaths of 8 million to 13 million people.

Italy Benito Mussolini established a totalitarian regime in Italy. Italian middle and upper classes demanded stronger leadership. Mussolini played on the fears of economic collapse and communism and won the support of many discontented Italians.

Fascism By 1921, Mussolini had established the Fascist Party. Fascism stressed nationalism and placed the interests of the state above those of individuals. Believed that power should rest with a single leader with a small group of devoted party members. October 1922, Mussolini was appointed head of the government by the Italian king.

Review What types of government took power in Russia, and Italy after World War I?