Unit 5 Rejection of Liberalism

Question 1

What does autocracy?

Answer 1

Rule by one person

Question 2

What is a oligarchy?

Answer 2

Rule by a group

Question 3

What is a tyranny?

Answer 3

Refers to a form of government where a single ruler or a small group has excessive and oppressive power, often abusing authority and limiting people’s freedoms.

Question 4

Classifications of Dictatorships

Answer 4

Autocracy, oligarchy, majority tyranny, one party state, and junta (military dictatorship)

Question 5

Totalitarianism?

Answer 5

takes control to the extreme, trying to influence every part of life, even what people think and believe.

Question 6

Basic Characteristics of Totalitarianism?

Answer 6

Official Plan for Everything:
The government has a detailed plan that covers every important part of people’s lives.

Single Mass Party with One Leader:
There’s only one big political group, and it usually follows one leader.

Government Controls Police and Weapons:
The government is the only one allowed to have police and weapons.

Party Controls Communication:
The political party in charge manages all the ways people get information (like news, TV, and radio).

Tight Control of the Economy:
The government has a strong grip on how money and businesses work in the country.

Question 7

Techniques of Dictatorships?

Answer 7

Authoritarian governments use several techniques to first gain power and then maintain it.
Vision
Propaganda
Controlled Participation
Direction of Popular Discontent (Directing Public Discontent)
Use of Force and Terror
Indoctrination

Question 8

Techniques of Dictatorships? (Vision)

Answer 8

provide your people with the idea that together you can accomplish something amazing (can include the cult of personality)

Question 9

Techniques of Dictatorships? (Propaganda)

Answer 9

use of a set of messages designed to influence the opinions or behaviours of large numbers of people.

Question 10

Techniques of Dictatorships? (Controlled participation)

Answer 10

people are given the appearance of having a voice in government;
Tokenism is when you let someone from a different group have a special job that everyone can see, but they might not actually have much say or power. It’s like saying, “Look, we included them!” even though they might not have a big role in making important decisions.

Question 11

Techniques of Dictatorships? (Direction of popular discontent)

Answer 11

build up hatred against real or imagined enemies to divert attention away from the government (scapegoat)

Question 12

Techniques of Dictatorships? (Use of force and terror)

Answer 12

Using force and terror is a very strong way to control a situation, but it has drawbacks. It takes a lot of time, people, and resources, and it might even lead to new opposition or resistance.

E.g. NKVD or KGB - Soviet Union
SA, SS, Gestapo - Nazi Germany

Question 13

Techniques of Dictatorships? (Indoctrination)

Answer 13

Indoctrination takes the place of education. Citizens, and particularly the youth, are not given alternatives or choices as to what to believe. They are subject to a systematic presentation of information designed to strengthen their support of the government. Schools and universities serve the interests of the government. Success is not measured in terms of original, or creative thinking, but rather in conformity.

Question 14

The Lure of Authoritarianism?

Answer 14

1. The Great Man Theory
2. Crisis Theory
3. Authoritarian Personalities

Question 15

The Great Man Theory?

Answer 15

the Great Man Theory suggests that outstanding individuals are naturally fit to be leaders, especially during challenging times. Society needs these remarkable people, and their exceptional qualities make them rise to leadership. The theory says that most people aren’t really cut out to be leaders, so they should follow these exceptional individuals. This idea, popularized by Thomas Carlyle in the 1800s, believes that great leaders are born with their qualities; they aren’t made through experience or training. These leaders are seen as heroes and gain a lot of followers.

Example of the Great Man Theory: Napoleon Bonaparte

Question 16

Crisis Theory?

Answer 16

the Crisis Theory says that when people feel their safety is at risk, they’re likely to give up some of their freedoms and follow a leader who promises to restore that safety. This can happen during real crises like wars or famines, but sometimes leaders create a crisis, like the Reichstag Fire in Germany in 1933, to make people more willing to obey and seek security.

Question 17

Authoritarian Personalities?

Answer 17

some people are more likely to support and follow authoritarian leaders because of their personality. Sociologist T.W. Adorno believed that due to various social and psychological factors, some individuals develop a mindset that makes them inclined to accept and even cooperate with authoritarian rule. He called these people “authoritarian personalities.”

Question 18

Radical?

Answer 18

As in the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)
The change desired is a move toward the far left side of the economic spectrum and a complete rejection of political and economic traditions of the past.
The state controls all resources and the majority of the aspects of economic and political life

Question 19

Reactionary?

Answer 19

As in Nazi Germany
The change desired is a move toward an idealized past and an acceptance of economic inequality (accepting the belief that some people are naturally better than others.)
A degree of private business ownership was allowed so long as it served the interests of the state.

Question 20

Lenin’s Slogan

Answer 20

“PEACE, LAND, BREAD”
Lenin and the Bolsheviks believed that a violent revolution was necessary to overthrow the existing government and prevent the spread of liberal ideas in Russia. They successfully seized power, but then faced a five-year civil war as they tried to maintain control.

Question 21

The Russian Revolution - A civil war?

Answer 21

after the Bolsheviks took power, they faced opposition from the White Army, which was anti-communist and supported by the USA, Britain, and France. This led to a five-year civil war in Russia. In the end, the Red Army (Bolsheviks) emerged victorious, and by 1922, communism was established. In 1924, Russia officially became the Soviet Union, ruled by the Communist Party in a dictatorial manner, marking the beginning of a lasting distrust between the Soviet Union and the Western countries.

Question 22

War Communism - Lenin’s 1st Economic Policy

Answer 22

Lenin’s initial plan to turn Russia into a communist state was called “War Communism,” implemented from 1918 to 1921. This program aimed to rapidly nationalize industries. However, by 1921, it became evident that the move toward communism was happening too quickly. Agricultural and industrial production sharply declined, causing shortages. For instance, heavy industry plummeted to just 20% of the levels seen in 1913. This led to the realization that a more measured approach was needed.

Question 23

The New Economic Policy (NEP) 1922-24

Answer 23

Lenin introduced the “New Economic Program” (NEP), which permitted a limited amount of capitalism and allowed people to own small businesses. While the state still controlled major industries, the NEP introduced elements of individual incentive. This approach led to economic recovery, with a 40% increase in production. The NEP is symbolic of how some aspects of capitalism were embraced within a communist system, emphasizing the role of individual motivation in economic growth.

Question 24

AFTERMATH OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR for Germany?

Answer 24

right after the First World War in 1919, Germany adopted a new constitution and formed a republic with a modern, liberal, and democratic political structure. This republic was called the Weimar Republic.

Question 25

THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES – ENDED THE WAR

Answer 25

after World War I, Germany faced harsh terms in the Treaty of Versailles, negotiated without German involvement. These terms included limiting the German army to 100,000 soldiers with no tanks, reducing the navy with restrictions on submarines and vessels, and prohibiting a German air force. Germany had to recognize the independence of Poland and Czechoslovakia. The treaty also included the War Guilt Clause (Article 231), forcing Germany to accept sole responsibility for war damage. The Reparations Commission set reparations at $33 billion, but Germany eventually paid $713 million. Additionally, Germany was prevented from manufacturing and trading certain weapons, like tanks, submarines, aircraft, and artillery. These conditions stirred lasting resentment among many Germans.

Question 26

ECONOMIC TURMOIL

Answer 26

after World War I, the German economy was devastated. Reparation payments were a challenge, and massive inflation wiped out people’s savings. Just as the economy began to recover, the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression hit, causing severe economic hardship in Germany once again.

Question 27

A LEGACY OF AUTHORITARIAN RULE IN GERMANY

Answer 27

since the formation of the German Empire in 1871, the government operated in an authoritarian manner. The Kaiser (emperor) and the Chancellor (prime minister) held significant power and established a welfare state that included health, accident, old-age, and disability insurance. As a result, many Germans viewed the authoritarian system as generous because of the social benefits it provided.

Question 28

NATIONALISM, MILITARISM, AND LAW & ORDER

Answer 28

when the Weimar Republic couldn’t offer hope during tough times, many Germans turned to authoritarian rule. Adolf Hitler and his Nazi party took advantage of these fears. The Nazis promoted extreme nationalism, seeking the unification of all German-speakers. They used paramilitary groups to suppress dissent and intimidate opponents. Decision-making was centralized under a single leader to whom everyone owed loyalty.

Question 29

THEORIES OF RACIAL SUPERIORITY

Answer 29

Nazi ideology believed in the superiority of the German race and blamed Jews for Germany’s problems. They used anti-Semitic ideas, falsely claiming that Jews were responsible for many issues. This anti-Jewish sentiment wasn’t exclusive to Germany; historically, some Christians had blamed Jews for the crucifixion of Jesus.

Question 30

How did ideologies that rejected liberalism affect citizens?

Answer 30

the ideologies of Nazi Germany and authoritarian rule brought some advantages to some people, but the overall cost was devastating for many. While a few citizens may have gained, many others experienced significant suffering or loss of life.

Question 31

COMMUNISM IN THE SOVIET UNION

Answer 31

Marx and Engels created communist theories focusing on Western Europe. Lenin thought Russia needed a different approach due to less industrialization. In War Communism, people moved from rural to urban areas to kickstart industrialization in Russia.

Question 32

STALIN: 5 YEAR PLANS & COLLECTIVIZATION

Answer 32

after Lenin’s death in 1924, a four-year power struggle ensued until Joseph Stalin emerged as the leader. Stalin aimed to make Russia more communist by concentrating economic planning and introducing 5-year plans, resulting in a 20% annual increase in industrial production.

Additionally, the government enforced collectivization, taking land from private owners and creating large, collectively operated farms.

uring collectivization in Russia, the government targeted the kulaks, prosperous landowning peasants. Those who resisted giving up their property were often arrested, deported, or even executed. The kulaks became scapegoats for the challenges associated with collectivization.

when the government implemented changes in agriculture, few peasants were happy. Some chose to destroy crops, equipment, and animals instead of surrendering them to the state. These disruptions caused food shortages, including the Holodomor in Ukraine.

Question 33

STALIN ELIMINATES POLITICAL OPPOSITION

Answer 33

when some people grew disillusioned with Stalin’s leadership, he initiated a harsh crackdown called the Great Purge (1936-1938). This involved executing or exiling political opponents, including many top Red Army officers. Nearly 2 million people were arrested, with half of them executed and the rest sent to forced labor camps in Siberia. These camps were famously known as the Gulag.

Question 34

Evaluating Communism

Answer 34

after World War II, the world was divided into two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union. With fascism defeated, a new era called the Cold War began. It was a period of competition between communism (represented by the Soviet Union) and capitalism (represented by the United States).

Question 35

Perestroika

Answer 35

by the 1980s, the communist economy of the USSR was struggling, falling behind the United States, especially in technological innovation. In response, the Soviet Union introduced a program called Perestroika, meaning restructuring in Russian. It allowed some farmers and manufacturers to have more control, letting them decide what products to make, how much to produce, and what prices to set.

in 1988, Soviet leader Gorbachev allowed the creation of limited cooperative businesses in the USSR, leading to privately owned stores, restaurants, and manufacturers. He also increased foreign trade, reducing government involvement. This marked a significant shift towards free-market capitalism, the first since Vladimir Lenin’s New Economic Policy in 1922.

Question 36

Glasnost

Answer 36

Gorbachev introduced a period of openness and transparency called Glasnost. This allowed for dissent against the government, and eventually, the first truly democratic elections were called for. The combination of these policies, known as Perestroika and Glasnost, played a significant role in the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Question 37

CONSOLIDATING POWER

Answer 37

in November 1932, the Nazi party had one-third of the seats in the Reichstag. By 1933, Hitler became Chancellor and swiftly transformed Germany into a totalitarian state. Exploiting a fire in the Reichstag, which the Nazis may have started, Hitler used the incident to create fear of a communist takeover and consolidate his power.

Question 38

Hitler passed the Reichstag Fire Decree and Enabling Act in 1933 which made it possible to:

Answer 38

Hitler’s regime in Germany, after 1933, imposed severe restrictions:

Limited personal freedom, freedom of opinion, press, and organization.
Removed privacy from mail, telegrams, and phone conversations.
Allowed searches without warrants.
Passed laws through the Chancellor without Reichstag approval.
Banned all political parties except the Nazi party.

Question 39

Consolidation of Power continued

Answer 39

by 1933, Germany had become a dictatorship under Hitler. To eliminate opposition, he carried out a purge, including assassinating leaders of his own paramilitary group, the SA, during the “Night of the Long Knives.” When President Hindenburg died in 1934, Hitler declared himself Führer, solidifying his role as the leader.