1. The Rise of Dictators
The Rise of Dictators

2. Free Write
If someone wanted to become Dictator of a country, what conditions would they want to have in place to do that?

3. The Context A worldwide economic depression
Inflation causes economic crisis in Germany
Economic crisis in France, America and Britain
Increase in dictatorships and fascist states

4. Fascism Rises in Europe
Fascism: A militant political movement that emphasized loyalty to the state and obedience to a leader
Leader has complete authority
Sometimes emphasizes the greater importance of an ethnic group
Totalitarian Rule:
Government that exerts total control over a nation

5. Italy - Mussolini Mussolini took over in Italy
Took complete control of Italy in 1922 – “Il Duce”
His goal: create a new Roman Empire
Glory through military conquest
Organized gangs of “Blackshirts”
Suspended elections & declared dictatorship

6. Germany - Hitler
Hitler he tried to overthrow the gov’t, but failed
While in prison, he wrote Mein Kampf
Blamed Jews for every German problem
Proposed building stronger military
Expand German borders-Lebensraum
1932 – Hitler becomes Chancellor

7. Russia (Soviet Union) - Stalin
Stalin had been gathering power/influence in Russia
Made Russia into an industrial power
Controlled Russia almost entirely through fear

8. Japan - Hirohito
Japan’s Emperor, Hirohito, also began gathering power before WWII
Japan had also been launching invasions of China, trying to gain more land
1937 Japan begins all-out brutal invasion of China
Condemned by world powers
“Rape of Nanking” – 100,000 civilians put to death or brutalized

9. Think/Pair/Share
Why do you think so many Dictators rose to power at this time?