The Rise of Nationalism
World History, FHS
May 2010
Nationalism
What is a nation?
Many scholars believe that “nation” refers to people
who share ideas about themselves.
These ideas come from sources like a shared language,
ethnicity, culture, religion, geography, spirituality, and
politics.
Nationalism (cont’d)
Nationalism began as people started
taking the symbols of their nations and
making them part of their sense of
themselves.
This can happen consciously or
unconsciously. As a result, a feeling of
belonging to a nation becomes part of
people’s identity.
This sense of national identity can be
understood as a form of collective
identity that is shared by many people.
Nationalism (cont’d)
Nationalism defined:
love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it
the doctrine that your national culture and interests are
superior to any other
the aspiration for national independence felt by people
under foreign domination
So, why do you think nationalism might have played
a part in causing World War II?
While you watch, TAKE NOTES and be sure to jot down any
examples you see/hear of nationalism (click to play)
… “isms”
In some countries, such as Germany, Russia, Japan and
Italy, nationalism led to a lot of struggle over power,
economics and land.
The different leaders who wielded this power tried to
use it in different ways that they saw as best for their
countries.
These different policies resulted in a lot of “isms”
(ideological ways to run the countries):
Socialism
Communism
Fascism
Totalitarianism
Militarism
Socialism
The Nazi Party (also called the
National Socialist German
Workers’ Party) is an example of a
socialist government.
Hitler, the leader of the party,
spoke out against communism.
Socialism doesn’t have to be led
by a dictator, and isn’t racist by
nature. However, under Hitler,
socialism was the basis for a
totalitarian dictatorship.
Socialism (cont’d)
Socialism defined:
A completely classless society, where the government controls all
means of production and distribution of goods
A society characterized by equal access to resources for all
individuals with a method of compensation based on the
amount of labor expended
Characterized by the absence of private property
The idea is that if everyone works, everyone will reap the same
benefits and prosper equally. Therefore, everyone receives equal
earnings, medical care and other necessities.
Communism
Lenin took over Russia in 1917
and was the first leader to put
socialism to the test (before
Hitler)
His form of socialism was
communism. He started the
Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics.
Communism is a more
aggressive form of socialism,
though they both aim to
eliminate class struggle by
encouraging government
control of the economy
Communism (Cont’d)
Lenin died of a stroke 7 years after
he started the Russian Revolution.
Josef Stalin took control in 1927
and eliminated all of his rivals by
1930.
Stalin’s Soviet Communism is
sometimes called Stalinism. He
became the world leader of the
international communist
movement.
He controlled the economy, made
all farming collective, and
controlled religion (promoting
atheism)
Communism (Cont’d)
Communism defined:
a form of socialism that abolishes private ownership
a branch of socialism that uses militant action to
overthrow the upper class and government to achieve a
utopian society
a political theory favoring collectivism in a classless
society
Fascism
In 1922, Benito Mussolini along with
a small group of men marched into
Rome and demanded that they be
allowed to form a government.
They feared the spread of communism
and “stopped its spread” when the
king gave in to their demand.
Mussolini formed a fascist totalitarian
dictatorship to resist communism and
run the country, based on:
Ultra-nationalism
Glorification of war (the ultimate
expression of power)
Alliances with big business
Rejection of democracy (weak)
Fascism (cont’d)
Fascism defined:
A political regime, usually totalitarian
ideologically based on:
centralized government,
government control of business,
repression of criticism or opposition,
a leader cult
exalting the state and/or religion above individual rights
Totalitarianism
Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin, despite their various
forms of government, were all totalitarian dictators.
They had almost unquestioned authority
They led a single party that was in charge of ALL of the
government
They aggressively eliminated all opposition groups.
And…
Totalitarianism (cont’d)
They created a police state whose aim was to terrorize
and control the people.
Hitler’s SS and Gestapo
(secret police)
Stalin’s NKVD
Mussolini’s OVRA
Totalitarianism (cont’d)
Totalitarianism defined:
Dictatorship: a form of government in which the ruler is
an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or
laws or opposition etc.)
complete and unrestricted power in government
A system of government where the people have virtually
no authority and the state wields absolute control
Militarism
In Japan in the 1930’s, the military
replaced civilian politicians in the
government.
Japan invaded Manchuria, Ethiopia
and China in order to gain natural
resources from 1931-1937.
The new government officials ran
the country under the theory of
militarism: believing that the
military should dominate the
political and social life of the
nation, and that the strength of the
military is equal to the strength of a
nation
Militarism (cont’d)
Militarism defined:
military is the foundation of a society's security, and
thereby claims to be its most important aspect
a political orientation to maintain a strong military
force AND to be prepared to use it aggressively to
defend or promote national interests
Nationalism Revisited
What do socialism, communism, fascism,
totalitarianism and militarism have to do with
nationalism?
Classwork
Complete the Graphic Organizer
Be sure to give definitions AND examples
Complete the question(s) on the back
DUE by the end of class
When you finish:
Pick up an article on the Holocaust
Read it
Pull out important vocabulary. In your notes, write the
words and define them.
DUE TOMORROW.