Objective: How did the dictators rise to power during the 1930’s?
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
#_____
Name: _________________________
Please Begin:
Yellow journalism was based on
a. anti-imperialist beliefs
b. Christian missionary efforts
c. rumors and militarism
d. research and evidence
Which of the following most directly contributed to the rapid American victory in the Spanish-American War?
a. poison gas
b. modernized navy
c. trench warfare
d. yellow journalism
Which of the following lands were obtained by the US as a result of the Spanish-American War?
a. Puerto Rico
b. Spain
c. Hawaii
d. Alaska
President Theodore Roosevelt’s "Big Stick" Policy was used by the United States to
a. control the Western Hemisphere
b. expand its colonial empire in Africa
c. isolate itself from European conflicts
d. settle a dispute between Russia and Japan
Which overseas action clearly demonstrates the use of Theodore Roosevelt’s "Big Stick" foreign policy?
a. purchase of Alaska from Russia
b. U.S. declaration of war against Germany in 1917
c. seizure of the Hawaiian Islands
d. U.S. military support of the Panamanian revolt
Lesson Background Information
Hitler – Germany
Mussolini - Italy
Stalin – Soviet Union
Rise of Dictators in Europe
Directions: As we read today, we will be focusing on the rise of dictatorships in Europe. For each dictator
you need to collect the following information: Name of Dictator, Country, When did he gain power, How did
he gain power, Who supported him, Who was against him, What problems did he cause
Joseph Stalin Rises to Power in the Soviet Union
In the late 1920’s, Joseph Stalin rose to power as the Communist leader of the Soviet Union. He took
advantage of the economic hardships that faced the Russian people in order to seize control of the Soviet
Union. Stalin demanded complete obedience from the people he ruled and got it through the use of force.
Stalin executed his rivals, ordered the deaths of thousands suspected of supporting his rivals, and sent
millions of Russians to labor camps.
While leader of the Soviet Union, Stalin not only ordered the executions of political opponents, but
also ordered a designed famine (controlled starvation) that resulted in the death of over 5 million
Ukrainians. Additionally, he reorganized the nation’s economy which forced millions of people onto
government-owned farms.
Benito Mussolini Rises to Power in Italy
Benito Mussolini rose to power by appealing to the resentment of many Italians who felt they had
not won enough in the Treaty of Versailles. He was upset by the Treaty of Versailles because it did not grant
Italy the lands it was originally promised. Shortly after rising to power, Mussolini established a secret police
force to spy on his own people and that served as a model for Hitler’s secret police, the Gestapo.
Mussolini made fascism – extreme nationalism and racism – popular in Italy. By 1922 his Fascist
Party had gained enough strength to force the king of Italy to declare Mussolini the head of the
government. Within a few years, Mussolini had banned all political parties except his Fascist Party.
Known as Il Duce (the leader), Mussolini quickly put an end to democratic rule in Italy. Civil liberties
and the free press ceased to exist. Boys and girls of all ages were enrolled in military organizations that
taught them loyalty to the new government. Mussolini built up Italy’s military and vowed to recapture the
glory of ancient Romans.
Adolf Hitler Rises to Power in Germany
The Great Depression had hit Germany extremely hard. Millions of people had lost their jobs, and its
economy teetered on the edge of collapse. Germans rallied around Adolf Hitler, a shrewd politician and a
spellbinding speaker. Hitler gained popularity by exploiting people’s concern about unchecked inflation and
severe unemployment. Hitler also played upon bitterness over the Versailles treaty. The treaty had forced
Germany to give up some of its territory and to make heavy payments to the victors
In 1921 Hitler became chairman of the National Socialist German Worker’s Party, or the Nazi Party.
Openly racist, Hitler and the Nazis portrayed the German people as superior to all others. They directed
much of their anger against Jews, whom Hitler blamed Germany’s problems. His extreme anti-Semitism
(hatred of the Jews) would later lead to unspeakable horrors.
Soon after he became chancellor of Germany in 1933, Hitler ended all democracy and established
totalitarian rule. In a totalitarian state, a single party and its leader suppress all opposition and control all
aspects of people’s lives.
Hitler claimed that Germany had a right to expand its territory. Germany’s neighbors watched
uneasily as he rebuilt Germany’s military strength in defiance of the Versailles treaty. To gain support in his
expansion plans, Hitler formed an alliance with Italy in 1936.
Additional Reading on Hitler’s Rise to Power in Germany
When the stock market collapsed on Wall Street on Tuesday, October 29, 1929, it sent financial markets
worldwide into a tailspin with disastrous effects. The German economy was especially vulnerable since it was built
upon foreign capital, mostly loans from America, and was very dependent on foreign trade. When the Germans were
asked to pay up at the same time that profits from international trade dried up, the well-oiled German industrial
machine quickly ground to a halt.
As production levels fell, German workers were laid off. Along with this, banks failed throughout Germany.
Savings accounts--the result of years of hard work--were instantly wiped out all over Germany. Inflation soon
followed, making it hard for families to purchase expensive necessities with devalued money (money that was now
virtually worthless).
Practically overnight, millions of Germans became dirt poor due to the American stock market crash. The
Great Depression began, and Germans were cast into poverty and deep misery. They began looking for a solution-any solution. Adolf Hitler’s opportunity had arrived.
In the good times before the Great Depression, the Nazi Party experienced slow growth, barely reaching
100,000 members in a country of over sixty million. But the Nazi Party, despite its tiny size, was a tightly controlled,
highly disciplined organization of fanatics poised to spring into action.
Hitler was determined to overthrow the German government.
Hitler began his career in politics appealing to disgruntled World War I veterans who were predisposed to
violence. By 1930 he was quite different, or so it seemed. Hitler counted among his supporters a number of German
industrialists, and upper middle class socialites, a far cry from the semi-literate toughs he started out with.
He intentionally broadened his appeal because it was necessary. Now he needed to broaden his appeal to the great
mass of voting Germans. His chief assets were his speech making ability and a keen sense of what the people wanted
to hear.
By mid-1930, amid the economic pressures of the Great Depression, the German democratic government
was beginning to unravel. The German people were tired of misery, tired of suffering, and tired of weakness. These
were desperate times, and they were willing to listen to anyone who provided ideas about how they could improve
their lives. Hitler was their man.
1. What evidence from the passage shows that the fate of Germany was connected to that of America?
2. What conclusions can be made about the Nazi Party based on its size prior to the Great Depression? What
evidence supports that?
3. What can one tell about Hitler based on his speech ability and other “assets?”
Rise of Dictators in Europe
Exit Ticket
#_____
Name: _________________________
1. Match the dictator to the country he controlled by drawing a clear line between the pairs.
Adolf Hitler
Soviet Union
Benito Mussolini
Germany
Joseph Stalin
Italy
2. Match the dictator to the political organization they are affiliated with by drawing a clear line between
the pairs.
Adolf Hitler
Communist Party
Joseph Stalin
Nazi Party
Benito Mussolini
Fascist Party
Summarize in ONE sentence how each dictator gained power in their country:
Hitler:
Mussolini:
Stalin:
Rise of Dictators in Europe
Homework
#_____
Name: _________________________
Directions: Complete the reading and answer the questions that follow.
Document 2: Germans Elect Nazis
1 Adolf Hitler and the Nazis waged a modern whirlwind campaign in 1930 unlike anything ever seen in Germany.
Hitler traveled the country delivering dozens of major speeches, attending meetings, shaking hands, signing
autographs, posing for pictures, and even kissing babies.
Joseph Goebbels brilliantly organized thousands of meetings, torchlight parades, plastered posters everywhere
2 and printed millions of special edition Nazi newspapers. Germany was in the grip of the Great Depression with a
population suffering from poverty, misery, and uncertainty, amid increasing political instability.
For Hitler, the master speech maker, the long awaited opportunity to let loose his talents on the German people
3 had arrived. He would find in this downtrodden people, an audience very willing to listen. In his speeches, Hitler
offered the Germans what they needed most, encouragement. He gave them heaps of vague promises while
avoiding the details. He used simple catchphrases, repeated over and over.
4
5
His campaign appearances were carefully staged events. Audiences were always kept waiting, deliberately letting
the tension increase, only to be broken by solemn processions of Brownshirts with golden banners, blaring
military music, and finally the appearance of Hitler amid shouts of "Heil!" The effect in a closed in hall with
theatrical style lighting and decorations of swastikas was overwhelming and very catching.
Hitler began each speech in low, hesitating tones, gradually raising the pitch and volume of his voice then
exploding in a climax of frenzied indignation. He combined this with carefully rehearsed hand gestures for
maximum effect. He skillfully played on the emotions of the audience bringing the level of excitement higher and
higher until the people wound up a wide-eyed, screaming, frenzied mass that surrendered to his will and looked
upon him with pseudo-religious adoration.
Hitler offered something to everyone: work to the unemployed; prosperity to failed business people; profits to
6 industry; expansion to the Army; social harmony and an end of class distinctions to idealistic young students; and
restoration of German glory to those in despair. He promised to bring order amid chaos; a feeling of unity to all
and the chance to belong. He would make Germany strong again; end payment of war reparations to the Allies;
tear up the treaty of Versailles; stamp out corruption; keep down Marxism; and deal harshly with the Jews.
7 He appealed to all classes of Germans. The name of the Nazi Party itself was deliberately all inclusive – the
National Socialist German Workers' Party. All of the Nazis, from Hitler, down to the leader of the smallest city
block, worked tirelessly, relentlessly, to pound their message into the minds of the Germans.
On Election Day September 14, 1930, the Nazis received 6,371,000 votes – over eighteen percent of the total –
8 and were thus entitled to 107 seats in the German Reichstag. It was a stunning victory for Hitler. Overnight, the
Nazi Party went from the smallest to the second largest political party in Germany.
9
It propelled Hitler to solid national and international prestige and aroused the curiosity of the world press. He was
besieged with interview requests. Foreign journalists wanted to know – what did he mean – tear up the Treaty of
Versailles and end war reparations? – and that Germany wasn't responsible for the First World War?
1. According to paragraphs 1 & 2, why was Germany economy so vulnerable?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Germany was struggling to pay World War I reparations.
Germany relied on loans from other countries.
Germany was led by Adolf Hitler.
Germany suffered from high inflation known as hyperinflation.
2. Which of the following best summarizes the conditions and events in Germany described in
paragraphs 3 & 4?
a. Production increased and unemployment decreased as a result of Germany’s failure to pay
its loans.
b. Germany experienced tremendous prosperity due to increased production and inflation.
c. Germany’s middle class sank into poverty as a result of a decrease in production and bank
failures.
d. Germany continued a steady level of unemployment throughout the Great Depression.
3. Based on the reading in paragraphs 5 – 8, how did Hitler change his political approach to gaining
power in Germany?
a. Hitler first tried to appeal to many industrialists and upper middle class socialites, but then
decided to appeal to World War I veterans.
b. Hitler first tried to force people to support him with military action.
c. Hitler first tried to appeal to Jews, but when they would not support him he turned against
them.
d. Hitler first tried to appeal to World War I veterans, but then decided to appeal to many
industrialists and upper middle class socialites
4. What is the main idea of paragraph 5?
a. Hitler was not a very effective speech maker.
b. Hitler was a very effective speech maker.
c. Hitler was often entertaining.
d. Hitler was socially awkward and even viewed as an outcast by some people.
5. According to the reading, what was the strongest attributor to Hitler being elected to the Reichstag
(German congress)?
a. Hitler’s supporters forcing others to also support him.
b. Hitler’s speaking ability
c. Hitler’s conservative political beliefs
d. Hitler’s wealth and image as a hero
6. Other than the quality listed above, what other reason caused Germans to support Hitler?
a. Hitler offered something for everyone.
b. The Great Depression made most Germans desperate.
c. Hitler traveled the country meeting other citizens.
d. All the above