Bell Ringer 1/25/12
 Glue the page of world leaders into the next available page
in your Bell Ringer section. Then read the following
paragraph about Hitler and follow the instructions on your
sheet for him.
 ADOLF HITLER – Hitler was an Austrian
megalomaniac who founded the German Nazi Party.
Believing that the Germans were superior to the Jews
and other races, his party’s aim was to set up a race of
pure Germans. From 1939 to 1941, Hitler’s armies
overran most of Europe, but the tide turned when he
attempted to seize Russia. The combined forces of
Russia, the US, and Great Britain defeated Hitler
during WWII. In 1945 Hitler committed suicide as
Allied forces moved in on his bunker.
Bell Ringer 1/26/12
 Complete the “World Leaders” Bell Ringer for
the day on Benito Mussolini (1883-1945)
 Known as Il Duce, Mussolini became leader of
the Fascist Party. Promising to make Italy strong
and powerful, he built up a dictatorship and used
violence against his opponents. Fascists
controlled all levels of society, from unions to
politics. In 1935 Mussolini seized the country of
Ethiopia (formerly Abyssinia) in Africa and later
occupied Albania. He became Hitler’s closest ally
during WWII. The two formed the Rome-Berlin
Axis in 1936.
Bell Ringer 1/27/12
 Joseph Stalin (1875-1953)
 A communist dictator, Stalin succeeded Lenin as
leader of the Soviet Union. He pushed the USSR
to industrialize in order to compete with the rest
of the world. His five year plan outlined
production goals to be met by 1933. Stalin built
gulags, or prison camps, where people who did
not meet these goals or disagreed with him were
imprisoned. Millions died or were executed.
Stalin joined Hitler in crushing Poland but later
accepted aid from the allies after Germany
attacked Russia.
Bell Ringer 1/30/12
 Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
 Churchill had held a number of government posts,
but his war preparedness stance kept him from
gaining power. It was not until after Chamberlain
resigned in 1940 that Winston Churchill became
Prime Minister of Great Britain. Early in the war
Great Britain stood alone in its fight against Nazi
Germany, but the British refused to give in.
Churchill’s great speeches and famous V for victory
salute encouraged everyone. A brilliant statesman
and orator, he is considered to be the architect for
victory in WWII.
Bell Ringer 1/31/12
 Neville Chamberlain (1869-1940)
 This British Prime Minister began his career in
1918 as a member of the British Parliament. In
1937 he became Prime Minister. Chamberlain
supported a policy of appeasement and foolishly
believed that by giving Hitler what he wanted a
major war could be avoided. However, he as
wrong to think that Hitler would stop after
invading Czechoslovakia. Poland was next on
Hitler’s list, and Britain came to the country’s
defense in 1939. Chamberlain died shortly after
resigning in 1940.
Bell Ringer 2/1/12
 Mao Tse-tung (1893-1976)
 In 1921 the Chinese Communist Party was
founded, and Mao Tse-tung severed as one of its
founders and its first leader. Ten years later he
proclaimed a Chinese Soviet Republic but was
subsequently driven away. Mao then led his
100,000 supporters on the Long March of 6,000
miles to a safe place in Northern China. After
WWII he defeated the Nationalists and made
China into a Communist state.
Bell Ringer 2/2/12
 Francisco Franco (1892-1975)
 In 1931 King Alfonso XIII of Spain abdicated
his throne due to the people’s discontent with
the monarchy. The democratic republic
which followed was weak, and a civil war
broke out in 1936. Francisco Franco led the
attack. When his party won, Franco became
the head of state, serving as dictator from
1937 until his death in 1975.
Bell Ringer 2/3/12
 Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948)
 By the late 1890s most of India was under British
control. WWI had weakened Britain’s economy,
and it had become difficult to maintain the
country. From 1920 on, Indian lawyer Mohandas
Gandhi urged civil disobedience and nonviolent
resistance against the regime. He often fasted
for days to call attention to injustices. In 1948
India won its independence, but Gandhi was
murdered a few months later. Today, Gandhi is
called the Father of India.
Bell Ringer 2/6/12
 Today’s Bell Ringer can be done on the next
blank sheet in your BR section
 What do you think propaganda is?? (hint:
use your textbook if you’re not sure). Then,
give at least one example of propaganda
either from history or daily life.