Text Box: coffinweb 2009

Text Box: Canadian History 621 Quick Notes

Text Box: The Rise of Fascism The Rule of Dictators   As we know there was a fragile peace after the Versailles Treaty:  - The Map of Europe was re-drawn  - Imperialism, militarism, and nationalism were still very much alive.  - Over 50 million people died.  - Dictators and Fascism were on the rise.    FASCISM  What is it? It is a lot of things:    Fascism = Nationalism  Your own country and expansionism (making your country larger) are central to this belief; you use your grand national past (or someone else’s) as an example to convince your citizens (comparing the empires of the Romans to a proposed German empire).    Fascism = Totalitarianism  The state (government) controls all segments of society and enforce obedience with secret police.    Fascism = Faith in the Leader  Blind faith in the leader that thinks and decides for the entire population.    Fascism = Inequality of People  There is a hierarchy among the races; for Nazis, the Germanic race is superior.    Fascism = Idealization of Violence  Action, combat, and aggression are preferred over diplomacy and peace.    Fascism = Negativism  Fascism opposes Communism, the bourgeoisie (the upper class), Social Democracy, women’s rights, Capitalism. It also opposes all other cultures.    Fascism = Propaganda All citizens are constantly immersed in the ruling party’s ideas and ideology. In Hitler's time, propaganda poster for the Nazi party and its beliefs littered Germany.    Fascism = Irrationalism/Paranoia  Emotions, not the rational thoughts of the average person on the street, are addressed. Fact and science were inferior to intuition.    Fascism = Women’s Rights  Women are to reinforce the race by having as many children as possible and by taking care of the family at home.  There was, however, one exception: working in the war industry.    Fascism = The Rise in the Rule of Dictators  The League of Nations did not stop the rise of dictators in these countries:   Japan:          A group of men acting on Emperor Hirohito's behalf.  Italy:            Benito Mussolin (Il Duce).  Germany:  Adolf Hitler    

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