Authoritarian states Flashcards
(102 cards)
1
Q
What economic event in 1929 devastated Germany’s economy?
A
The Great Depression
This led to mass unemployment of around 6 million by 1932.
2
Q
What political outcome resulted from the economic collapse in Germany?
A
Increased support for extremist parties, including the Nazis
The discrediting of the Weimar Republic contributed to this support.
3
Q
What contributed to the hyperinflation crisis of 1923 in Germany?
A
Reparations from the Treaty of Versailles
This crisis weakened faith in democracy.
4
Q
What was the fear among industrialists and conservatives that led to support for Hitler?
A
The rise of communism
They felt that communist ideas would threaten their interests.
5
Q
Name the different political groups Germany was divided into during this period.
A
- Communists
- Social democrats
- Conservatives
- Nationalists
6
Q
What myth fueled extremist ideologies in Germany post-WWI?
A
The ‘stab in the back’ myth
This myth blamed internal betrayal for Germany’s defeat.
7
Q
What was a significant consequence of Germany’s defeat in WWI?
A
National humiliation due to the harsh Treaty of Versailles terms
This included loss of territory and reparations.
8
Q
What undermined democracy in the Weimar Republic?
A
Political instability and reliance on emergency decrees
Coalition governments contributed to this instability.
9
Q
What article of the Weimar Constitution allowed the President to rule by decree?
A
Article 48
This condition created an opening for authoritarian rule.
10
Q
What methods did the Nazis use to establish their state?
A
- Persuasion and propaganda
- Coercion and use of force
11
Q
Who was responsible for Nazi propaganda?
A
Joseph Goebbels
He promoted Hitler as a strong leader and savior of Germany.
12
Q
What slogan helped unify support for the Nazis?
A
Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer
This translates to ‘One People, One Nation, One Leader.’
13
Q
What was the role of the SA (Sturmabteilung) in Nazi Germany?
A
Intimidated political opponents to instill fear and weaken opposition.
14
Q
What event was used as an excuse to suppress opposition in 1933?
A
The Reichstag Fire
This led to the arrest of a Dutch communist leader.
15
Q
What was the Night of the Long Knives?
A
A purge in 1934 where Hitler eliminated rivals within the Nazi Party.
16
Q
What was the Gestapo?
A
The secret police enforcing Nazi rule through violence and fear.
17
Q
How did Hitler portray himself to the German people?
A
As a charismatic and decisive leader promising to restore Germany to greatness.
18
Q
What ideology did the Nazis promote to unite Germans?
A
Ultranationalism, antisemitism, and anti-communism.
19
Q
What concept justified Nazi territorial expansion?
A
Lebensraum
This means ‘living space’ and was aimed at Eastern Europe.
20
Q
What was the Volksgemeinschaft?
A
The concept of a ‘people’s community’ aimed at eliminating class division.
21
Q
What legal means did Hitler use to rise to power?
A
Manipulating the political system to become Chancellor in 1933.
22
Q
What did the Enabling Act of 1933 allow Hitler to do?
A
Rule by decree, effectively ending democracy in Germany.
23
Q
What was the Reichstag Fire Decree?
A
Suspended civil liberties and allowed mass arrests of opponents.
24
Q
What significant event happened after Hindenburg’s death in 1934?
A
Hitler combined the roles of President and Chancellor, becoming Führer.
25
What was Dachau?
The first concentration camp used primarily for political prisoners.
26
What were the Nuremberg Laws?
Laws that institutionalized racial discrimination against Jews and others.
27
What was the role of the SS?
The elite paramilitary force enforcing Nazi rule.
28
What was the significance of the July 20th, 1944 plot?
An attempt to assassinate Hitler that led to mass executions.
29
What were Hitler's early foreign policy successes?
* Reoccupation of the Rhineland
* Anschluss with Austria
* Sudetenland annexation
30
What did the Four-Year Plan focus on?
Increasing military production and expanding the army.
31
What was the impact of the Strength Through Joy program?
Provided cheap leisure activities but real wages stagnated.
32
What was the primary aim of Nazi education?
To indoctrinate youth with Nazi ideology.
33
What was the purpose of the Hitler Youth?
Military-style training and Nazi indoctrination for boys.
34
What was the role of Joseph Goebbels in Nazi Germany?
Controlled all cultural output and media censorship.
35
What resistance faced by the Nazis from the Catholic Church?
Opposition led to repression of priests and youth groups.
36
Who controlled all cultural output in Nazi Germany?
Joseph Goebbels
## Footnote
Minister of Propaganda
37
What was the purpose of the Degenerate Art exhibition in 1937?
Condemned modern arts as 'un-german' while promoting Nazi-approved works
38
What was the Aims of Nazi policies regarding women?
Kinder, Küche, Kirche (children, kitchen, church)
39
What were marriage loans used for in Nazi Germany?
Encouraged women to leave jobs and have children
40
What award was given to mothers based on the number of children they had?
Mothers Cross Award
41
Fill in the blank: The Nuremberg laws of 1935 stripped Jews of _______.
citizenship
42
What was the T4 Euthanasia Program?
Program that killed over 70,000 disabled people
43
What was the aim of Hitler's totalitarian state?
Eliminate all opposition and create a unified, obedient society
44
True or False: Most Germans conformed to Nazi ideology due to propaganda and fear.
True
45
What was a significant economic failure of Nazi Germany?
Autarky failed; Germany was still dependent on imports
46
What was Mussolini's approach to controlling political opposition?
Established a secret police organization (OVRA)
47
What did the Acerbo Law state?
Any party receiving 25% of the votes would automatically get ⅔ of the seats
48
What was the Flume Crisis?
Gabriele D’Annunzio seized the city of Fiume, showing the government's weakness
49
Fill in the blank: Mussolini's regime aimed to suppress _______ and nonconformists.
minorities
50
What was the Lateran Accords of 1929?
Agreement with the Catholic Church recognizing the Vatican as an independent state
51
What was the goal of the Campaign to Suppress Counter-Revolutionaries?
Targeted former KMT officials, landlords, and anyone deemed disloyal to the CCP
52
What did the Land Reform Law accomplish?
Confiscated land from landlords and redistributed it to peasants
53
True or False: Mao's policies promoted gender equality.
True
54
What was the impact of the Second Sino-Japanese War on the Chinese Communist Party?
Allowed CCP to mobilize peasant support and use guerrilla tactics
55
What type of economic hardship did Italy face after WW1?
High unemployment, inflation, and massive national debt
56
What was the significance of the term 'Mutilated Victory' in Italy?
Nationalists felt betrayed by allies after not receiving promised territories
57
Fill in the blank: The KMT was seen as representing the interests of the _______.
urban elites
58
What did the Blackshirts do in Mussolini's Italy?
Intimidated political opponents and employed propaganda
59
What was the outcome of Mussolini's intervention in the Spanish Civil War?
Drained Italian resources and alienated Britain and France
60
What was the result of Mussolini's failure in World War II?
Italy suffered defeats and Mussolini's government collapsed
61
What political party became the sole political party of China?
Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
## Footnote
The CCP eliminated all political competition.
62
What did the 1954 constitution establish in China?
A one-party state
## Footnote
This formalized the rule of the CCP.
63
What was the purpose of the Land Reform Law 150?
Confiscated land from landlords and redistributed it to peasants
## Footnote
This fulfilled Mao's promise and led to the execution of around 2 million landlords.
64
What were the Three-Anti and Five-Anti Campaigns aimed at?
Targeting corruption, waste, and industrial sabotage and create fear whilst purifying the party
## Footnote
These campaigns purged political rivals and instilled fear in the private sector.
65
How many people were labeled as 'counter-revolutionaries' by 1952?
Over 450,000
## Footnote
This led to imprisonment or execution for many.
66
What was the estimated number of people killed during Mao's suppression of political enemies?
Approximately 2 million
## Footnote
Many others were sent to forced labor camps.
67
What was the Hundred Flowers Campaign (1956-57) about?
Encouraging intellectuals to criticize the government, after a while Mao got rid of 500,000 intellectuals, viewing them as enemies of the state and using them as an example.
## Footnote
It ended with the anti-right campaign targeting 500,000 intellectuals.
68
What was a significant success of China's foreign policy during the Korean War?
Bolstered Mao’s image as a defender of Communism
## Footnote
Despite heavy losses, Mao framed the war as a victory.
69
What treaty did Mao sign with the Soviet Union in 1950?
Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship
## Footnote
This treaty provided economic aid and technical support to China.
70
What was a major diplomatic success for Mao in the 1970s?
President Nixon’s visit to China in 1972
## Footnote
This broke China’s international isolation.
71
What led to the Sino-Soviet Split in the 1960s?
Ideological and political tensions with the Soviet Union
## Footnote
This resulted in a complete breakdown of relations by 1961.
72
What was the impact of the Great Leap Forward on China's foreign policy?
Weakened Mao’s credibility both at home and abroad
## Footnote
The domestic disaster led to the deaths of 30-45 million people.
73
What effect did the Cultural Revolution have on China's international relations?
Further isolated China from the international community
## Footnote
Mao's radical policies alienated even fellow Communist countries.
74
What type of state did Mao create through his policies?
An authoritarian state
## Footnote
This was a key aim of his governance.
75
How did historian Jon Halliday view Mao?
Very critical, deeming him over violent
## Footnote
This perspective highlights the brutal aspects of Mao's rule.
76
How did historian Edgar Snow characterize Mao?
As a revolutionary hero
## Footnote
This view contrasts sharply with Halliday's criticism.
77
How did the Facists use propoganda
Suppression of free speech, Mussolini would shut down opposing newspapers, and journalists who criticized him would be harassed or sent to jail, by the late 1920’s the fascist party had complete control over the media
78
what was the role of the Blackshirts
used to intimidate and physically assault opposition figures as a way to create a sense of fear and order
79
Corfu incident
After the assassination of an Italian general on Greek soil, Mussolini demanded reparations from Greece. When they refused, he ordered the bombardment and occupation of Corfu
80
Impact of the Corfu incident
Although the League of Nations intervened and Italy eventually withdrew, Mussolini was able to portray this as a victory, strengthening his image as a strong leader who would not tolerate insults to Italian pride.
81
Annexation of Fiume 1924
Mussolini successfully annexed the city of Fiume—a symbol of nationalist desire—without significant opposition. This satisfied nationalist demands and increased his popularity at home.
82
Invasion of Ethiopia1935-36
Mussolini invaded Ethiopia in 1935, seeking to build a new Italian Empire in Africa. The war was brutal, involving the use of chemical weapons, but Italy successfully annexed Ethiopia in May 1936, creating Italian East Africa. This was initially seen as a major triumph, and Mussolini was at the height of his popularity, presenting himself as the heir to the Roman Empire.
83
Sanctions from the league of nations 1935-36
The Ethiopian invasion led to international condemnation. The League of Nations imposed economic sanctions on Italy, which hurt the economy and isolated the country diplomatically. While the sanctions were largely ineffective, they pushed Mussolini closer to Hitler’s Germany
84
Alliance with Nazi Germany
Mussolini’s alignment with Hitler began with the Rome-Berlin Axis in 1936 and was solidified through the Pact of Steel in 1939. Initially, this alliance seemed to strengthen Mussolini’s position, but it ultimately led Italy into World War II, where the country was unprepared for large-scale conflict
85
Mussolini Failure in WW2
Mussolini’s entry into World War II in June 1940 was a catastrophic decision. Italy suffered a series of military defeats in North Africa, Greece, and Russia. The war placed immense strain on the Italian economy, led to widespread civilian suffering, and eroded Mussolini’s domestic support.
86
Fall of Mussolini
By 1943, the Allies had invaded Sicily, and Mussolini’s government collapsed. On July 25, 1943, he was arrested by order of the King. Though Hitler rescued him and set him up as the head of a puppet state in Northern Italy (the Italian Social Republic), Mussolini’s authority was effectively finished. He was captured and executed by Italian partisans in April 1945.
87
Role of women in Italy
heir “traditional roles” discouraging them from working outside of the house
-Financial incentives for those with more kids, quotas employed to limit the amount of women in the public sector
88
Economic conditions for Mao's rise
Warlord Era, After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, China fractured into regions controlled by warlords, leading to economic disintegration and high taxes causing widespread poverty and famine in rural areas
89
What type of issues did the economy face under the KMT
Hyperinflation after the Sino-Japanese war, adding to poverty
90
How did the sino-japanese war affect China
The war devastated China causing millions of deaths and destroying infrastructure
91
What were the factors that caused the KMT to lose the civil war
The KMT plagued by corruption, poor leadership, and a dissertation of troops gained led to their eventual defeat at the hands of the CCP.
On Oct 1 1949 Mao established the People's Republic of China
92
What tactics did the CCP use
After the war broke out, under Mao's leadership the CCP successfully adopted guerilla tactics and gained support from peasants through land reforms
93
What were the main class divisions in China
majority peasants vs oppresive land lords
Urban elites( KMT) vs Working class (CCP)
94
Weaknesses of the KMT
The nationalist government under Chiang Kai-shek was riddled with corruption and Bureaucratic inefficiency, the aid from the Second World War and civil war was often misused leading to frustration amongst the Chinese people and foreign allies
The KMT failed to add land reforms and paired this with heavy taxation
95
Mao's propaganda
Mao cultivated a cult of personality presenting himself as the savior of China through the embodiment of Communist ideals. The publication of Little Red Book in the 1960s became a symbol of loyalty to Mao.
96
Laogai system
A system used by mao, reform through labour camps, used to punish political oposition , 1-2 million deaths
97
Legal methods of Mao's power
Mao used legal framework and institutional reforms to legitimize the CCP and consolidate power, in 1949 the CCP became the sole political party of China eliminating all political competition.
1954 constituion formally made China a one party state, CCP
98
March on Rome
30,000 blackshirts planned to march on rome, causing King Emmanuel the III to abdicate the throne, starting Mussolinis regime
99
Mao's Long march
6000 mile retreat by the CCP army, preserved the core of CCP leadership and was used as propaganda to show the toughness of the CCP
100
Mao and religion
Suppressed most of the religions, viewing them as anti-communist, using their spaces as land, Some religions such as catholicism was allowed under state control
101
Great Leap Forward
Mao's plan to turn China from agrarian into an industrial powerhouse
Mismanagement of the policy led to high inefficiency and massive famine killing around 30-45 million.
102
Murder of Giacomo Matteotti
Mussolinis killing of socialist opposition to remove him as a threat
