Totalitarianism and the
Rise of the Dictators (1920s–1930s)
You Mean Dictators Have Multiple Ways to Control People?
Totalitarianism
A totalitarian ruler leads a government that maintains complete control over every
part of public and private life of the citizens in that country. The economic problems
that resulted from World War I and the Depression led people to question
whether democratic government could improve their lives. Totalitarian
governments appeared to provide a sense of security and offered a
strong direction for the future.
Both Communism and Fascism used aspects of totalitarianism
as part of their governments. In general, both used dictators, only
allowed one political party, and denied many individual rights.
Police terror was used for control and to get rid of any opposition.
Controlling media sources (newspapers, television, radio etc.)
with propaganda and limiting what was reported helped influence
what people thought. However, Fascism believed in an extreme form
of nationalism and pride in the country, while Communism focused on
the spread of their beliefs worldwide. Communism did not allow private
property and eliminated social classes. Fascism believed that each class
had a role to play in society and supported private property. During the 1920s
and 1930s, four major totalitarian governments developed – one was Communist,
The Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin
After Vladimir Lenin’s death, Joseph Stalin took power. He wanted to strengthen his power and the Communist state. He used
his secret police to stop any riots and arrest or kill anyone who spoke out against him. In 1933, he began the Great Purge to
Characteristics of Fascism
Source: https://splashmans.wikispaces.com/Unit+6+-+The+Interwar+Period
Soviet Propaganda Poster
Source: http://christiewaf.weebly.com/
propaganda.html
the other three were Fascist.
eliminate his political rivals in the Communist Party and the government. He knew that in order to
compete with other modern countries, the U.S.S.R. (Soviet Union) needed to fix its economy. He
began a series of Five Year Plans to improve the Soviet Union’s industries. Production of steel,
coal, and oil increased dramatically, but Stalin set impossibly high production rates. Stalin took
control of all privately owned farms and began a program of collectivization. Hundreds of families
worked the collective farms to produce food for the country. Many landowners and peasants
resisted by destroying fields and killing their cattle and sheep. Millions died as a result of famine
from the damages and also attacks by the secret police to stop the rebellions. By the mid-1930s
Stalin changed the Soviet Union into a totalitarian state and made it into an industrial power.
Italy under Benito Mussolini
In the early 1920s, Italy was struggling economically and politically. Benito Mussolini’s Fascist
Party fought with the Communists for political power and won. Mussolini promised to restore the
power and glory of the Roman Empire. One way to do this was to expand Italy’s empire. In 1935, Mussolini invaded Ethiopia in
East Africa. Italy continued to expand by invading Albania in 1939. These invasions elevated Mussolini’s popularity and control.
Japan under Emperor Hirohito and Hideki Tojo
When the Great Depression hit Japan, many Japanese blamed the government for the economic problems. Military leaders
gained public support and won control of the government. Because the military kept Emperor Hirohito as the symbolic leader,
Totalitarianism and Rise of the Dictators (cont.) WHII 11
FCPS HS Social Studies © 2014
Connection to Today
Can you think of any other leaders in the world today that are
totalitarian dictators? Explain your answer.
Resources
ABC-CLIO
● Totalitarianism:
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/311210?terms=totalitarian
● Fascism
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/310453?terms=fascist
Key Vocabulary
Totalitarianism: a government where the
state has complete control over every part of
public and private life
Communism: a society with no classes or
private property and all businesses are run
by the government
Anti-Semitism: prejudice against Jews
Fascism: a political belief that focuses on
extreme nationalism and a dictatorship of one
leader with only one party
Propaganda: information or material that is
spread to make people feel a certain way
Great Purge: time period in the Soviet Union
when Stalin tried to get rid of all opposition to
his leadership
Five-Year Plans: plan by Stalin to improve
industrialization in the Soviet Union
Collectivization: large government controlled
farms made up of smaller farms, usually found
in a Communist society
Reparations: the compensation for war
damage paid by a defeated state
Explanation:
