1. Rise of Dictatorial Regimes

2. Rise of Dictators
1939 – only France and GB were democracies in Europe

3. Totalitarian Regimes Government controls people’s lives
Economic, social, intellectual, cultural
Wanted to conquer minds of the people
Mass propaganda and modern communication
Single leader of single party
Rejected idea of limited gov’t
Individual freedom not allowed

4. Consequences of Depression
People lose faith in democracy
Turn to Fascism
an extreme system of gov’t
Promise to revive economy
Punish those responsible for hard times
Restore order and pride
Attracted frustrated and angry

5. Fascism Militant political movement
Emphasized loyalty to state and obedience to a leader
Extreme nationalism
Nations must struggle
Peaceful states doomed to be conquered
Pledged loyalty to authoritarian leader
Brought order to the state

6. Similar to communism Rule by dictators
Allowed only their party to exist
Denied individual rights
State was supreme
No democracy of any kind

7. Different from communism
No class-less society
Each class had place and function
Fascists were nationalists
Communists wanted to unite workers worldwide (internationalists)

8. Characteristics of Fascism
Basic Principles
Authoritarianism
State more important than individual
Charismatic leader
Action oriented
Cultural
Censorship
Indoctrination
Secret police

9. Social Economic Political
Supported by middle class, industrialists, and military
Economic
Economic functions controlled by state corporations or state
Political
Nationalist
Racist
One-party rule
Supreme leader

10. The Rise of Mussolini in Italy
Benito Mussolini ( )

11. Problems after WWI 460,000 soldiers killed Heavy debt
Britain and France did not give Italy the land they promised
Governments were all coalitions that couldn’t make decisions
Rising unemployment led to unrest in cities

12. The Treaty of Versailles
Italians believed that it treated them badly.
Italy had not been given the land promised at the Secret Treaty of London.
Italy’s foreign Minister Orlando left before the conference ended, feeling humiliated.

13. Mussolini’s Background
Newspaper editor
Known to change political positions to gain favor
Created Fascist Party in 1919
Once considered himself a Socialist
Used general terms, such as “power and action” to explain political motives

14. The Fasces Symbol Comes from the Latin word fasces.
In ancient Rome, the fasces were cylindrical bundles of wooden rods, tied tightly together around an axe.
They symbolize unity and power.

15. Mussolini gains power Promised to revive the economy
Promised to rebuild armed forces
Gained support of middle class, aristocrats and industrialists
“Blackshirts” attacked Socialists and Communists

16. 1922 March on Rome

17. ***Mussolini obtained power legally***
March on Rome
30,000 fascists
King Victor Emmanuel III put Mussolini in charge in response to Communist opposition
***Mussolini obtained power legally***

18. Il Duce
Fascism conceives of the State s an absolute, in comparison with

19. Life under Il Duce Abolished democracy
Outlawed strikes
Controlled the economy by allying with industrialists and landowners
Censored radio stations and newspapers
Abolished democracy
Outlawed all political parties except Fascism
Secret police – the OVRA

20. Cult of State Worship “Hail to Italy, hail to Mussolini”
The individual had no significance except as a member of the state. The fascists were taught:
Credere! [to believe]
Obbedire! [to obey]
Combattere! [to fight]
“Hail to Italy, hail to Mussolini”
“Mussolini is always right”

21. Mussolini never gained control like Hitler and Stalin
Did not completely destroy old power structure
Armed forces retained some control
Victor Emmanuel III remained king

22. Compromise w/Catholic Church
Recognized independence of Vatican City
Gave Church $
Catholicism as “sole religion of the state”
Church urged Italians to be Fascists

23. Authoritarian States in the West
Wanted to preserve existing order
Eastern Europe
Parliamentary systems failed
No traditions of democracy
Rural and agrarian
Illiterate peasants
Dominated by landowners

24. Spain Democracy fails by 1931 Francisco Franco rises to power
Leads military forces against democratic government
Led to brutal and bloody civil war
Franco aided by fascists in Italy and Germany

25. Spanish Civil War ends in 1939
Franco establishes dictatorship
Favored landowners, businesspeople, Catholic clergy
Authoritarian