Rise of Dictatorships Flashcards
1
Q
define fascism
A
autocracy or dictatorship, where the power of the state vested in one man only, and it is obligatory for all the others to obey his orders
2
Q
causes for rise of fascism
A
- discontentment with treaty of Versailles
- economic crisis
- political instability
- class conflicts
- threat of socialism or communism
- failure of league of nations
- leadership provided by Mussolini
3
Q
discontentment with treaty of versailles
A
- gained turkey and germany when it joined the allies
- by treaty, she only got southern tyrol and trentino, and coastal regions of dalmatia
4
Q
economic crisis (fascism)
A
- italy suffered heavy losses in terms of life and property in WW1
- trade and commerce were ruined
- unemployment
- shortage of food
5
Q
political instability
A
- elections failed to give clear majority to a single party
- 6 coalition governments were formed in italy
- various parties had different policies and programmes, no continuity in their policies
- unable to deal with unemployment, strikes, riots
6
Q
class conflicts
A
- issue in europe was whether control of government and economic systems would continue in possession of aristocracies or would be in the hands of less privileged majorities
- common man was promised that during the war, he would be rewarded by greater attention to economic needs, but promises were ignored
7
Q
threat to socialism or communism (fascism)
A
- communists inflamed atmosphere with revolutionary ideas
- workmen organised strikes, damaged machines, took hold of factories
- communists planned on overthrowing the government and capturing power
- people wanted powerful leadership who could establish peace and prosperity by ending lawlessness
8
Q
failure of league of nations
A
- proved weak and failed to achieve its aims
- failed to check rise of dictatorships
9
Q
leadership provided by Mussolini
A
- charismatic personality
- speeches praised the past glories of italy and won faith of countrymen
- aka ‘Duce’ meaning leader
10
Q
causes for rise of Nazism
A
- humiliating treaty of versailles
- growing fear of communism
- economic crisis
- resurgence of militant nationalism
- anti-semitic propaganda
- absence of strong opposition
- establishment of volunteer corps
- charismatic personality of hitler
11
Q
humiliating treaty of versailles
A
- germany was forced to cede large chunks of her territory to france, belgium, poland, denmark
- overseas possessions were divided among the allies in the war
- forced to pay huge reparitions (33 bil.)
- max number of german army was 100000
12
Q
growing fear of communism (nazism)
A
- after BOLSHEVIK revolution in russia, communist influence in germany increased
- captured seats in Reichstag
- hitler tried to persuade people in germany that nazism alone could check the growing power of communism
13
Q
economic crisis (nazism)
A
- germany suffered in agriculture, colonies, foreign investment, trade contracts
- foreign countries raised tariff against german goods
- unemployment
- hitler would condone farmers’ debts
- he promised capitalists that industries would not be nationalised
14
Q
resurgence of militant nationalism
A
- germans could not reconcile with democratic parliamentary system
- preferred prestige and glory to liberty and freedom
- hitler promised them this
15
Q
anti semitic propaganda
A
- nazis described jews as traitors, that jews had conspired with allies and could commit treason against germany
