Transcript RevolutionsTotalitarianismGreatDepression

• Russia had been led for centuries by a
monarchy referred to as the Tsars (also
Czars, Csars, Tzars). In 1917, Czar
Nicholas II was leading Russia.
• There were huge discrepancies in wealth
and most Russians lived as serfs until
well in to the 1800s (serfs in other parts of
Europe had been freed in 1500s or 1600s).
• Many in Russia began to follow ideas of
socialism and Marxism. They called for a
different social class structure, less
poverty and less corruption in the
government and church.
• Rasputin was a mysterious figure who
was described as a “holy man”, a psychic,
and was said to have supernatural healing
powers.
• He was at the center of the unpopularity
of the Tsars because he had a lot of
influence on Nicholas and his wife
Alexandra.
• He was murdered by a group of nobles in
1916. The account of his killers states that
they poisened him, shot him three times,
and clubbed him. Yet he did not die until
they threw him into an icy river where he
died.
• Due to the country’s almost constant state
of unrest (most people resented Russia’s
involvement in World War I), Czar Nicholas II
created a representative government known
as the Duma.
• In February 1917, there was a revolution in
St. Petersburg and Czar Nicholas abdicated
his throne in favor of the Duma’s rule.
• In October 1917, there was a second
revolution. During this revolution, Vladimir
Lenin and the Soviets (workers, peasants,
and soldiers) assumed control. Shortly
afterwards, he had Nicholas and his family
executed.
• Once Nicholas had abdicated, there was
a power struggle between various
socialist groups. In the end, the
Bolsheviks (Marxists), led by Lenin were
victorious.
• They instituted many changes in Russia.
They signed a peace treaty with Germany
to leave WWI and redistributed land
through out Russia.
• The Russian Revolution had many
important global effects. Most importantly,
however, it encouraged many other
countries to have their own revolutions.
• It also introduced one of the greatest
totalitarian dictators, Josef Stalin, to power.
• Finally, it introduced Russia as a powerful
Communist country, and it would stay as
such until 1989. (This was not a true
communist country because the country
was controlled by Lenin as a dictator and
not the proletariat.)
• 3 weaknesses of U.S. Economy:
1. Unequal distribution of wealth (5% of
population had 33% of the income)
2. Overproduction in factories and
farming made their products worth
little (they were unable to pay their
debts).
3. With jobs lost, consumers demanded
less goods.
• On October 29, 1929 the United States stock
market crashed.
• By 1933 one-fourth of all Americans had no job.
• In the U.S., a long business slump
(depression) occurred. It came to be called
the Great Depression.
• American bankers demanded repayment for
overseas loans and investors withdrew their
money from Europe to use at home.
• World trade dropped and tariffs were raised.
• Germany and Austria were hit hard due to
their war debts and the need for American
loans.
On a spring evening in the early 1930s during
the Great Depression, you are one of thousands of
Germans gathered at an outdoor stadium in
Munich. You are unemployed; your country is
suffering. Like everyone else, you have come to
this mass meeting to hear two politicians
campaigning for office. Huge speakers blare out
patriotic music, while you and the rest of the crowd
wait impatiently for the speakers to begin.
Before long you will have to cast your ballot…
Candidate #1
Candidate #2
• Remember Germany’s long and glorious
• There are no simple or quick solutions to
past.
problems.
• Our present leadership is indecisive; we
need a strong, effective leader.
• Put people back to work, but economic
recovery will be slow.
• Rebuild the army to protect against
enemies.
• Provide for the poor, elderly, and sick.
• Regain the lands taken from us.
• Make sacrifices to return to economic
health.
• Put the welfare of the state above all, and
our country will be a great power again.
• Avoid reckless military spending.
• Act responsibly to safeguard democracy.
• Be a good neighbor country, honor our
debts and treaty commitments even if that
means more poverty.
• What strategy does each candidate have for solving the nation’s problems?
• How does each candidate view the role of the citizen in meeting the challenges?
• Which candidate makes the strongest appeal to the listener’s emotions?
• Which on would you choose and why? (Explain in detail)
•Totalitarianism – a government
that takes total, centralized
control over every aspect of
public and private life.
•Why would a country agree to a
totalitarian government?
• WWI devastated Germany. They were forced
to accept blame for the war and under the
Treaty of Versailles, were forced to pay
reparations, rebuild France and demilitarize.
As a result, Germany sank in to a deep, deep
Depression.
• Many Germans felt that the new government,
known as the Weimar Republic, was too weak
to get the situation under control.
• A young man named Adolf Hitler became
involved with the Nationalist Socialist party. He
preached that Germany had been severely
wronged and that he could fix the many
problems.
• In a few short years and after the publication
of Mein Kampf, Hitler was the leader of the
Nazi party (socialist). Soon, he was elected
German Chancellor and assumed total control
of the German government.
• He began his rule by creating a national
bank, instituting youth groups and building
projects and remilitarizing Germany. Soon, the
economy stabilized. Hitler was a great orator
and gave many speeches through out
Germany. He also used incredibly effective
propaganda, including films by director Leni
Reifenstahl.
• Joseph Dzhugashivili changed his name to Stalin
(“Man of Steel”).
• Stalin worked from 1922 to 1927 to gain control of
communist Russia.
• He transformed Russia into a totalitarian state.
• Russia practiced a command economy, controlling
factory production and increased the GDP. The
government also took control of farms creating
collective farms worked by hundreds of families.
• Stalin was cold and ruthless and launched the Great
Purge to eliminate anyone threatening his power. He
also used propaganda to gain support for Communist
ideas. (Socialist Realism – art that praises Soviet life
and Communist values.)
• Also used the “cult of personality” where he tried to
create a culture that worshipped him by naming
everything after himself.
• Took control after a long civil war with
Anti- Communists in 1949. Inspired by the
Russian Revolution and Stalin.
• Instituted the “Great Leap Forward” which
created small collective farms with little
industrialization. This led to one of the
greatest famines in human history. Mao is
often considered to be responsible for the
death of 40 million people.
• Also led the Cultural Revolution. This was
modeled after Stalin’s purges and hoped to
imprison or kill any “bourgeoisie” or
educated or wealthy people.
• Effectively used youth groups and
propaganda.
• Took power in 1922
• Mussolini is often credited as one of the creators
of fascism after he had a falling out with members
of the socialist party. Fascism is an extremely
nationalist, totalitarian ruled government that does
not promise to get rid of class differences, but
instead preaches unwavering nationalist unity.
• Mussolini rose through Italian politics, eventually
creating a position equal to the king of Italy.
• He used propaganda, secret police and youth
groups. He created jobs and public work
programs, and huge amounts of public
transportation. Hitler was inspired by Mussolini’s
actions.
•Why are totalitarian rulers
able to take control? Could
this happen in the US? Why or
why not?