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European Fascism. Mr. Giesler Global Studies. Small Group Activity Using your text, your notes, and working cooperatively - Summarize each of the following ID’s Marxism Democracy Totalitarianism Socialism Capitalism The Treaty of Versailles Benito Mussolini Adolf Hitler.
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European Fascism Mr. Giesler Global Studies
Small Group Activity • Using your text, your notes, and working cooperatively - • Summarize each of the following ID’s • Marxism • Democracy • Totalitarianism • Socialism • Capitalism • The Treaty of Versailles • Benito Mussolini • Adolf Hitler
What is Fascism • Fascism is right-wing - against: Marxism, Socialism, Anarchism, Communism, Environmentalism • Nationalistic - strong emphasis on patriotism and nationalism • Totalitarian in practice- • Extreme reactionary form of capitalist government - corporate power is absolute, and all vestiges of workers' rights are destroyed • Started in Italy (1922-43), Germany (1933-45), Spain (1939-75) • The origin of the term comes from the Italian word fascismo, derived from the Latin fasces (a bundle of elm or birch rods containing an ax: once a symbol of authority in ancient Rome). Benito Mussolini adopted the symbol as the emblem of the Italian Fascist movement in 1919.
Approaches to Fascism Marxism: Blame the Capitalists Capitalism: The Totalitarian Model (AKA Blame the Marxists) German Apologists: Result of Versailles Balanced View: A Result of Modern European Crises
Causes • Long-Term Problems that Produced Fascism • Change to Mass Politics - People were turning to other forms of Gov’t due to immense economic problems • Industrialization • Resentment toward Liberalism, Emancipation, and Enlightenment • Short Term Problems • World War I • Inflation • Great Depression • Bolshevik Fear
Why Italy • A method to stop the spread of socialism and communism • Mussolini was backed by wealthy industrialists and landowners • Middle-Class feared socialist reforms • Church viewed Fascism as a method to normalize State-Church relationships • Lack of faith in Italy’s institutions • March on Rome • King offered the post of Prime Minister to Mussolini • The violence of the Fascists (i.e.: blackshirts) intimidated opponents • The complicity of the police and the army • Quest for a new Roman Empire
Why Spain • Spanish Civil War • A long period of decline since the great days of the Spanish Empire • Little progress, lost her empire, and fallen behind in the industrialization process • Deep divisions in Spanish society: Landowners vs. Peasants. • Church vs. Anti-Clerical movements: sought to reduce the Church’s influence. • Conservatives vs. Liberals. • No Middle -extremists elements were increasingly popular. • Massive divisions between countryside and towns.
Why Spain • The Spanish army had a tradition of interfering in politics. • A history of violence within Spanish politics • Democracy had never really been established • Corrupts Gov. and undermined the concept of democracy • The weaknesses of the Gov’t • Failure to carry out reforms • Failed to maintain law and order. • Army concern at the possibility of a communist takeover. • The assassination of the right wing leader CalvoSotelo in July 1936 • Franco’s regime marked the end of democracy for the next 40 years
Why Germany • The economic collapse of Germany after 1929 • The lack of democratic roots in Germany • Under the Weimar republic • The president had the authority to declare a state of emergency (Hitler used Hindenburg’s ability to do this in order to establish his dictatorship
Why Germany • The fear of communism (Hindenburg appointed Hitler as chancellor as a result of such fears) • The Nazis exploited the weakness of the Weimar system and often used violence against their opponents • The Nazis made use of propaganda to shape public opinion • The Nazis used resentment against the Versaille Settlement to their ends. • Some other political parties did not support democracy and represented potential allies for Hitler
Homework • 1-page Précis • Read the statement below and respond • Resolved:“The rise of Fascism within Italy, Spain, and Germany may be best attributed to social unrest, economic strain, and political frustration., particularly after the end of World War I.” • Do you agree with the former statement? Please defend your assessment