How did Canada Respond to the Rise of Totalitarian Governments?

Unit 3Mrs. Harnack

“All within the state, none outside the state, none against the state ”-That’s what Benito Mussolini said...but in Italian...

Totalitarian Government

• A totalitarian government restricts individual rights and makes everyone subordinate (inferior) to the government.

• Totalitarian governments stay in power using fear and oppression

• By the end of the 1930s, a number of totalitarian states had arisen.

Totalitairanism--facism• Italy and German were fascist

states.• Fascism is a form of

totalitarianism that emphasizes– National and

– Racial superiority.

“Aryan people are handsome and good.”

“Jews: always ugly and evil. Movie poster for ‘The Eternal Jew.’”

Yet another form of totalitarian regimes…

• In the Soviet Union arose yet another form of totalitarianism—a form of communism that established an absolute, oppressive, single-party government.

Urging people to support Communism

What is the poster’s underlying message? Why would conveying this message be important is dictatorship?

Joseph Stalin: Soviet Union Communism

Totalitarian regimes believe…

• That democracies are soft, decadent and lacking moral strength

• Citizens of totalitarian countries are persuaded through effective use of propaganda

• That you need to set aside your personal ambitions for the good of the state.

• This message helps discourage questions about human rights and the state’s leadership

Use of propaganda…an example for children

• "Der Giftpilz - The Poison Mushroom"

• Printed in 1938• ANTI-JEWISH NAZI

PROPAGANDAhttp://www.pzg.biz/poster_poison_mushroom.htm

"Der Giftpilz - The Poison Mushroom"

• Published by Julius Streicher who would later be hanged at Nuremberg for war crimes. His crime practicing FREE SPEECH in a sovereign nation! This is the most infamous anti-Jewish book that Julius Streicher ever published. It was a racial education manual for Adolf Hitler's Third Reich German children concerning the "Jewish problem". Once enlightened to the "Jewish menace" the population would be able to "protect" themselves and the nation.

Communism in the Soviet Union

• In the Soviet Union, the communist government took control of many aspects of the economy, such as banks, mines and old companies.

• They discouraged religion and used media as a propaganda tool

• Stalin was ruthless and used force to squash any opposition.

• During the 1930s millions of Soviet citizens were executed, imprisoned, deported of starved to death

Canada and Communism

• During hard times, communist ideas often attracted people who were poor and powerless.

• Communist Party of Canada was founded secretly near Guelph, ON.

• Police harassed these any suspecting communists, raided meetings, searched offices, seized documents and arrested leaders.

Fear of Communism in Canada?

• They feared Stalin and the unrest of the Revolution in the Soviet Union

• Fear that it would threatened democracy• Fear in recent immigrants and labour unions

(that they promoted communism and wanted to overthrow the government)

• Fear often fed by politicians like Prime Minister of Canada R.B. Bennett.

“What do they offer you in exchange for the present order? Socialism, Communism, dictatorship. They are sowing the seeds of unrest everywhere. Right in this city such propaganda is being carried on and in the little out of the way places as well. And we know that throughout Canada this propaganda is being put forward by organizations from foreign lands that seek to destroy our institutions. And we ask that every man and woman put the iron heel of ruthlessness against a thing of that kind.”

R.B. Bennett

The Rise of Fasicsm in Germany.• During WWI Germany had been a monarchy

• After WWI, the Allies established a democratic government in Germany

• The German did not love this new system that had been forced on them—political parties did not have solid support and the leaders were ineffective

Germany failed to prosper…

• Many Germans resented the war guilt clause (Treaty of Versailles)

• Burden of paying for reparations=a struggling Germany• Hyperinflation in 1922 the value of the Deutschmark

was reduced to almost 0 and prices rose +100x!!!• Germany failed to prosper, poverty was wide spread and

people were fed up!• When the depression started in 1929, the situation

became even worse...

• Work on the “Timeline of Rise of Totalitarian Governments in Europe and Asia” package– Read page 210-217 and use timeline to complete

question 1 on page 217.– Continue to work on the handouts in the package

following their instructions.– Attach additional T-chart to the back of the

package (for “was appeasement a mistake” sheet)– DUE: _______________________________