Chapter 24- Section 1

Section 1-The rise of dictators in Europe and Asia:
Political Movements and Beliefs/Aggressive Actions

1. Joseph Stalin

• Focused on creating a model communist state.
• Agricultural and industrial growth-prime economic goals of Soviet Union.
• Replaced privately owned farms with government own farms.
• All economic activity-placed under state management.
• Responsible for 8 million to 13 million deaths because he did not spare the people who he thought threatened is power.
• Established a totalitarian government which gave individuals no rights, and the government suppressed all oppositions.
• Revolution by workers.

2. Benito Mussolini

• Established a totalitarian regime in Italy.
• Took advantage of middle and upper class demanding stronger leadership.
• Played on fear, spoke well, and won over most Italians.
• Established the Fascist Party-stressed nationalism and placed the interests of the state above those individuals.
• Marched on Rome with thousands of followers; got the name "Black Shirts".
• Mussolini was soon appointed head of the government by the Italian king.
• Later known as Il Duce, "the leader".
• Extreme nationalism.
• Militaristic expansion.
• Anticommunist.

3. Adolf Hitler

• Power similar to Mussolini's.
• Joined the "National Socialist German Workers" Party, a.k.a the Nazi Party.
• Became party's leader-great speaking abilities and organization.
• Wanted to unite all German-speaking people in a great German empire.
• Anticommunist.
• Militaristic expansion.
• Extreme nationalism and racism.
• Later appointed the prime minister.

4. Japanese Militarists

• Believed in the need for more living space for growing population.
• Launched a surprise attack and seized control of the Chinese province.

5. Francisco Franco

• Led a Spanish officer group and rebelled against the Spanish republic.
• This led to revolts, which began the Spanish Civil War.
• Supported Fascism.
• Brought German and Italian dictators close and led to the signing of a formal alliance (the Rome-Berlin Axis).
• Once again a totalitarian government in Europe.

Totalitarian-Individuals have no rights, and the government ends all resistance or hostility.

Neutrality Acts-First 2 acts outlawed arms sales or loans to nations at war. The 3rd was passed in response to the fighting in Spain. This act drew out the ban on arms sales and loans to nations involved in civil wars.