Transcript Fascism and Hitler - Scott County Schools

FASCISM AND THE ROAD
TO WORLD WAR II
Fascism in Italy
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Fascism: loyalty to the state and obedience to its
leader; authoritarian leader who guided and
brought order to the state
Fascism is similar to communism
Due to rising inflation, unemployment, and social
unrest, Italy’s democratic government seemed
helpless
Italy wanted a leader that took action
Continued…
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Benito Mussolini promised to rescue Italy
Founded Fascist party in 1919
1922: 30,000 Fascist marched on Rome, demanded
that Mussolini take charge of the government, and
then Mussolini took power “legally”
He outlawed all political parties except the fascist,
censored media, and jailed his opponents
Hitler’s Rise
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At first, Hitler was nothing but a guy in the
German army during World War I
He joined a political group called the Nazi Party
who then created policies that formed the
German brand of fascism known as Nazism
Hitler soon became the leader of the Nazi party
Arrested after an attempt to Seize power in
Munich, put in jail, wrote Mein Kampf- My
struggle
When the Great Depression began, Germany’s
economy collapsed and people turned to Hitler
Continued…
Hitler is soon named Chancellor of
Germany
 Hitler turns Germany into a totalitarian
state
 Hatred of Jews was a key part of Nazi
ideology and blamed them for all troubles
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Other Countries; Other Dictators
By 1935, only one country with
democracy remained in Eastern Europe
 Hungary, Poland, Yugoslavia, Albania,
Bulgaria, and Romania all turned into a
“one-man show”
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Rise of Japan
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After the Great Depression, military leaders gained
control of the Japanese government
Japan’s government wanted expansion
1931- Japanese army seized a section of China
called Manchuria
 First
direct challenge to the League of Nations
 Japan withdrew from the League in 1933
Aggression Plans
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Mussolini attacks and gains Ethiopia
Hitler defies the Treaty of Versailles and builds up
his troops and moves into the Rhineland
Italy makes an alliance with Germany. Germany
then makes an alliance with Japan. These three
countries become known as the Axis powers
Civil War in Spain
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July 1936- army leaders who wanted a fascist-style
government joined General Francisco Franco in a
revolt against the government
Civil war breaks out
1939- Franco becomes Spain’s fascist dictator
Wanting Peace
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Britain and France hoped to keep peace by not
taking a stand against Fascist aggression
United States enters into an isolationist period
1938- Hitler annexes Austria
Hitler also demanded that the Sudetenland be
given to Germany and the Czechs refused
Appeasement
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The making of concessions to an aggressor in order
to avoid war.
Britain and France agreed that Hitler could take
Sudetenland as long as Hitler respected
Czechoslovakia’s new borders
6 months later, Hitler took Czechoslovakia
Non-aggression Pact
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Britain and France asked the Soviet Union to join
them in stopping Hitler’s aggression
Soviet Union was also bargaining with Germany to
never attack each other which created the Nonaggression Pact
War seemed inevitable