Totalitarianism

Question 1

what is totalitarianism?

Answer 1

• ideology / political system
• ruler holds total authority over state
• controls all aspects of private and public life

Question 2

reasons for the rise of totalitarianism

Answer 2

WW1 AFTER
- political + social instabilities troubled Europeans
- weakened faith in democracy

GER + ITALIANS -> Paris Peace Conference
- strong gov that can revive their past glories
|
v
Facism, Nazism

Japan -> weak
militarists control gov in 1930s

Question 3

totalitarianism vs democracy

Answer 3

1) governance (will VS laws and wills of people)
2) power and responsibility (power in totalitarian ruler, no checks or balances VS separation of -power + systems of checks and balances
3) political parties (one party system ❌ opposition VS. free to form parties with different views -> democratic elections)
4) people’s rights (secret police + media censored. VS. freedom of speech + press)
5) foreign policy (racial supremacy + glory of nation and leader + ✅ foreign expansion. VS. appeasement policy in econ, political social problems)

Question 4

rise of Totalitarianism in Italy

Answer 4

> no land promised by allied powers
- criticised gov for weakness
- gov: ❌ failed to solve economic + social problems
-> lost confidence in democracy
wanted strong leader and gov

MMUSOLIN8 + FACISM

Question 5

march on rome

Answer 5

OCT 22, 1922
30000 FACISTS

-> coup to take over government

italian king VICTOR EMMANUEL III lost confidence in democracy (lol)
facists allowed to enter rome

OCT 29
mussolini -> prime minister

Question 6

dictatorship vs totalitarianism

Answer 6

d: focus on political control
t: control all aspects of society

Question 7

rise of Totalitarianism in Germany

Answer 7

Nazism

1918 Weimar republic-> unpopular
because signed treaty of versailles

great depression -> unemployment rate to 6 million
> lose confidence in democracy

Hitler:
promised jobs
overthrow of the treaty
-> mass support

Question 8

Rise of Hitler

Answer 8

Hitler -> German army in WW1
joined extreme nationalist party (German Workers Party)
⬇️
Nazi Party 1920
Leader in 1921

1923 Hitler and followers attempted a coup
BEER HALL PUTSCH
in beer hall in munich -> overthrow weimar republic
FAILED ❌❌❌

Hitler -> JAIL
but FAMOUS

release -> nazi support with charism and his skilled oratory

Question 9

rise of Totalitarianism in Japan

Answer 9

Militarism

was already rules by warrior class
-> military spirit deeply rooted

RISE:
- WW1 power struggles + corruption in JP GOV
- failed to solve econ crisis by great depression 1930s

JP support militarists (territorial expansion) to solve difficulties

Question 10

Militarism meaning

Answer 10

belief in military power
advocates expansion -> protect or strive for interests

Question 11

establishment of Facist Party

Answer 11

1921 - facism party found
1922 - prime minister -> all parties banned except the facist party
1928 - established facist dictatorial rule in ita ly

Question 12

Establishment of Nazism

Answer 12

1932 - nazi party became the largest party in the german parliament
1933 - hitler became chancellor
1934 - hitler became president as well
-> absolute power
banned other parties > one party dictatorship

Question 13

Establishment of Militarist regime

Answer 13

1931 - invaded manchuria in china
set up puppet state manzhouguo
-> more popular

1932 - party gov fell
-> militarists gained power -> military dictatorship

Question 14

Loopholes in Japan’s constitutional system (before WWII)

Answer 14

Meiji constitution 1889

democracy did not take root in jp
loopholes -> militarism

Meiji -> emperor head of state (great power)
establish military -> independent political force (❌.= controlled by cabinet , power to obstruct cabinet)
allowed military to control cabinet after fall of party government
-> military dictatorship