Fascism (Mussolini and Hitler)

Social 30

Fascism

The word “fascism” comes from the latin word fasces. The fasces was a bundle of rods with and axe that was a symbol in ancient Rome of authority.

The fasces later became the symbol for fascism.

Fascist StatesNations with one party in control (prevalent in Europe and Asia

prior to WWII)-Used idea of Nationalism and Revenge to gain support-Promised the promotion of their country at the

expense of “lesser” peoples (Germany-Jews, Japanese-Chinese)

-The greater the crisis, the greater the demand for leadership

-Provided scapegoats for the problems of their country-Party control of everything + Dictator = False

propaganda to gain support-Crushed all opposition-Imperialism to increase strength and increase pride in

their country – leads to other conflicts-Generally a very militaristic government and society

Mussolini Mussolini was deeply

involved with the Socialist Party prior to WWI.

Broke ties with socialists because of their opposition to war.

With other ex-socialists, he formed a radical group intent on solving the country’s problems. Benito Mussolini

Biography

Blackshirts

The Blackshirts were a voluntary militia group that had the goal of violently promoting nationalism.

They fought against the socialists in the streets.

By the early twenties they controlled many towns.

Fascism Takes Control On September 20, 1922,

Mussolini called on the Italian king to allow his fascist party to govern Italy. The King refused. Mussolini mobilized his action squads and marched on Rome. Unwilling to risk confrontation, the government resigned. The king called on Mussolini to become Prime Minister and form a new Government. King Emanuelle III

Italian Fascist leader Benito Mussolini, center, hands on hips, with members of the fascist Party, in Rome, Italy, Oct. 28, 1922, following their March on Rome. This march was an act of intimidation, where thousands of fascist blackshirts occupied strategic positions throughout much of Italy.

Hitler Before WWI he had already become acquainted

with anti-Semitic and racial ideas.

Following WWI, Hitler became involved in a small nationalist group called the German Workers Party.

Hitler impressed the members with his speaking ability and soon was put into place as propaganda chairman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0eyxlRGo5Y&bpctr=1351748034

Adolf Hitler - How did he take power?

1923 - Hitler attempted to take control of a struggling Germany through the “Beer Hall Putsch.” He failed and was arrested. In jail he wrote “Mein Kampf” exposing his political ideology. He was considered harmless and was released in 1924.1932 – The Nazi Party won 230 seats during elections, but it was not enough to take control. The government formed a right wing coalition government. Hitler was given the position of the Chancellor of Germany.

Once in power he held a new set of elections that gave his party alone the ruling power.

A fire starts in the Reichstag, Hitler blamed it on the communists. He declares a state of emergency and suspends all civil liberties.1934 - Hitler declares himself the “Fuhrer of Germany taking dictatorial power.

Hitler, 2, 3

Core Fascist Values Human Inequality

Cult of the Leader

Government by Elite

Extreme Nationalism

Racial Purity and Superiority

Organized Violence

War and Military Force

Totalitarianism: Definitons The term totalitarian was

coined (invented) in the early 1920s by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. It is an extreme form of authoritarian government from either side of the political spectrum [communism and fascism] that exercises absolute and centralized control over its citizens using violence and intimidation: "A totalitarian regime crushes all institutions in its drive to seize the human soul"- Arthur M.Schlesinger, Jr.

A system of highly centralized government in which one political party or group takes control and grants neither recognition nor tolerance to other political groups. (source: http://www.thefreedictionary.com)

The government is in the hands of a minority who often rule through military might and extreme political repression. (source http://www.ilstu.edu/class/hist127/terms.html)

Totalitarianism: Definitons Totalitarianism is a form

of government in which all societal resources are monopolized by the state in an effort to penetrate and control all aspects of public and private life, through the state's use of propaganda, terror, and technology. (source: http://plaza.ufl.edu/lcurta/totalitarian.html)

Relating to or operating a centralized government system in which a single party without opposition rules over political, economic, social, and cultural life (Source: Encarta)

Activity Please read pp. 66 and

67 of Global Systems and pages 167 to 168 in your textbook.

If this diagram were a visual representation of the extent of government involvement in a liberal democracy, then using two circles draw what a totalitarian government would look like.

Government People

Autocracy autocratic, a

definition: a ruler who holds unlimited power and is answerable to no other person

  autocracy, a

definition: a one-party government in which somebody holds unlimited power

 

Egyptian presidential candidate warns Brotherhood's win will bring back autocratic rule – Cairo April 19, 2011

Cairo, Apr 19 : Former Egyptian foreign minister Amr Moussa has warned that if the Muslim Brotherhood's candidate wins the upcoming presidential elections, and if the political wing dominates the parliament, it may yield a one-party system that would bring back autocratic rule.

Fascism Fascism becomes possible when masses of people feel deeply

insecure, and was a response to the ineffectiveness of liberal democracies after World War One. When Mussolini rose to power Italy was beset by serious economic depression combined with inflation and political instability. Fascists rejected many liberal values, such as democracy and individual rights and freedoms. Fascism is anti-communist, anti-liberal, anti-individualist, anti-rational, anti-parliamentarian, pro-private property (but anti-laissez-faire, unregulated capitalism), and anti-egalitarian.

The term fascism itself is now used widely to embrace many dictatorial right-wing parties and government across Europe from the 1930s onwards. Fascists emphasized that strong leadership and security in a time of instability and disorder was of prime importance.