1. The Rise of Totalitarianism (1920s-1930s)

2. What is Totalitarianism?
Totalitarianism: a system of government in which a leader (dictator) has complete control over his country and the lives of his people
Key Traits of Totalitarianism
Dictator: strong leader with total power
One party: ruling party is the only legal political party
Strict government control of all aspects of life
business, religion, the arts, education, etc.
use of propaganda, censorship, terror, and secret
police to control people
Individuals have very few freedoms
No freedom of speech, religion, press, etc.

3. Totalitarian Leaders Why did they come to power? What did they want?
People wanted strong leaders to get them out of the Great Depression
Nationalism—they promised to make their countries big and powerful
What did they want?
Total control over country and people
Strong military and economy
More land—they were willing to go to war for it!

4. Two Types of Totalitarianism: Fascism vs. Communism
Extreme nationalism – the nation is more important than the individual
Charismatic leader – big personality, good public speaker, inspires people
Different social classes – rich, middle class, poor
Anti-communism
Communism
No social classes or private property
Global communism - calls for all nations to be united under communism
Anti-religion
Both
Totalitarian dictatorship – required absolute obedience to leader
Anti-democracy
Extreme militarism – glorification of military

5. Italy Benito Mussolini (1922-1943) Fascist Fascist Party Leader
Government
Fascist
Political Party
Fascist Party
Policies/goals
Extreme nationalism
-Make Italy a powerful nation
-Build Italian Empire
Fix economy
Restore order
Support Catholic Church
Anti-socialism
Anti-communism

6. Germany Adolf Hitler (1933-1945) Fascist
Leader
Adolf Hitler ( )
Government
Fascist
Political Party
Nazi Party (National Socialist German Workers’ Party)
Policies/goals
Extreme German nationalism
Anti-Semitism (hatred of Jewish people)
Anti-communism
Fix economy
-Create jobs with public projects
Rebuild German military
Create a powerful German Empire

7. The Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.)
Leader
Joseph Stalin ( )
Government
Communist
Political Party
Communist Party
Policies/goals
Create the perfect communist state
Spread communism throughout the world
Government ownership of all property
Strict government control of economy
-industrialize / modernize using Five Year Plans
-build factories, hospitals, schools, and railroads
-government control of factories and mines
-collectivized farmland (took people’s land and
combined it into large government farms)
-Imprisoned or executed anyone who opposed

8. Japan Leaders Emperor and Military Dictator
-Emperor Hirohito was a “figurehead”
(symbolic leader with no real power)
-Hideki Tojo was the military dictator
Government
Military dictatorship
Political Party
None
Policies/goals
Rid Japan of European and American
influences
Strengthen military
Build a powerful Japanese Empire
-gain raw materials for industry

10. Fascist Aggression
Totalitarian nations began invading other nations in efforts to add to their empires
- Japan invaded Manchuria (Region of China)
- Germany invaded Austria and Czechoslovakia
- Italy invaded Ethiopia and Albania
The League of Nations failed to stop them
Democratic nations such as Great Britain, France, and the United States were alarmed by these actions but did little to stop them