Chapter 23: The Rise Of Fascism And Totalitarian States -Introduction

Chapter 23 - When Fascism and Dictatorships Took Over

1. Introduction

When the United States joined World War I in 1917, President Woodrow Wilson said he wanted to make the world safe for democracy. But the defeat of the Central Powers didn’t lead to a world full of democracies. Instead, the peace that came after the war left many people unhappy, even those on the winning side.

The people who lost the war, especially the Germans, were really upset because of the tough conditions they had to face from the Treaty of Versailles. At the same time, countries were trying to fix their economies that were ruined by the war.

The 1920s weren’t peaceful at all, with lots of problems inside countries and between them. Things got even worse in the 1930s when the Great Depression, which started in the United States, spread worldwide. These tough times, along with other problems, made some people support leaders who were strict but promised to bring order, wealth, and a brighter future. Some people thought giving up their freedom was worth it for the benefits these leaders promised. This led to dictatorships in countries like Germany, Italy, the Soviet Union, Hungary, Portugal, Poland, and Romania.

Themes

Cultural Interaction Fascism was a belief that said being loyal to your country, its leaders, and putting the country's needs first was more important than individual rights and freedoms.

Political Systems The mess left by World War I and the Great Depression made it easier for communism and fascism to spread, and for leaders with total power to rise.

Economic Systems In countries with fascism and communism, the government had a lot of control over businesses and the economy.