A-6

= Fascism = toc

Origins
Fascism was founded by Benito Mussolini, the dictator of Italy in the 1900s. He was executed by his own people after he lost World War II. Other fascist countries at that time included Germany, Romania, Poland, and Spain. Norway, Denmark, Belgium, France briefly considered fascism, but ultimately decided against it. Britain turned down fascism as well, although there was a British fascist union that wanted otherwise. It varied from country to country, but fascism had the same key components. Each fascist government was a totalitarian state and controlled almost all aspects of life inside their countries. They also persecuted minorities and favored extreme nationalism. The persecuting was usually based on stereotypes or altogether incorrect. For instance, Hitler's ideas had many inconsistencies and flaws.

First Countries To Use It


At that time, many people lost faith in their own government after the First World War. Fascism point where the only eastern European nation still democratic was Czechoslovakia. Hitler had made Germany fascist when he came into power. Francisco Franco of Spain also made his country fascist. Adolf Hitler, the German dictator, made an alliance with Mussolini and Franco. These three countries along with the USSR and Japan formed the Axis. They were formed when Hitler decided to go to war because of his belief that Germany did not have to pay off the war debt of the First World War.



How It Spread
Life under fascism caused many challenges. In most cases, fascists came to power after an economy collapsed in a country, a huge military defeat, or any other disaster causing the country to change to fascism. To gain support of the country, fascists would try to appeal to them by agreeing to common beliefs,such as a hatred of minorities or not liking Communism. To gain control of a country, fascists may try to gain support of the public and win elections peacefully, or use force such as threats.

World Reaction
The general reaction to fascism was suprisingly positive at first. As said in an earlier paragraph, many countries considered changing their governments to fascism. Even countries that were in the allied forces like the United Kingdom and France. There were many peace agreements with dictators as well. Even after Mussolini and Hitler started to attack and annex other countries' land and even countries themselves, other countries blatantly refused to help.

How It Is Run
A fascist government is usually run by a dictator, who gains power when the fascist party gains control. Once this happens, no other political parties are allowed and no one is allowed to oppose their rules. Once that has happened, the fascist try to boost morale by showing a lot of national glory, leading to a rise in military strength, spirit/morale, and size. Soon after the government makes the military start invading other countries then occupy them.

Daily Life
People's lives are severely limited. The government limits travel to other countries. It also does not allow contact with other people in any form. If the rules are not obeyed, then there is a secret police who makes sure that any resistance is crushed. Children are forced to join youth organizations and were brainwashed into only believing fascist ways. To promote policies, propaganda was issued. Also, newspapers were controlled by the government, so that they could only print what the government wanted them to. If any one opposed at all, then they would be dealt with by imprisonment, torture, or death. Since fascists considered themselves to be superior to all other peoples, they often killed them in order to maintain superiority.

Fascism In Other Nations
Fascism was also in many other nations. In Hungary, a fascist party called the Arrow Cross gained a whole lot of support by the late 1930's. Meanwhile in Romania, a fascist organization called the Iron Guard became the strongest in the whole country. Many groups in Japan were also making fascist movements. Once Germany was defeated in 1945, all fascist movements came to a complete halt. In Spain, during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), another fascist party called the Falange Española supported Franco. After he gained rule of Spain, he ruled as a dictator. His government had slight fascism in it, but some essentials were lacking. The one main difference between most fascism and Franco's version is that women were discriminated against. In Japan, a movement similar to fascism arose. A military leader took control of Japan, as opposed to someone in the royal bloodline.

Fascism Becomes Aggressive
Major governments at this time were either Totalitarian or Democratic. Fascist nations appeared peaceful at first, but then they started seizing and annexing territories and even nations. Japan attacked Manchuria and started war with china, Italy attacked Ethiopia, and Germany, also known now as the third reich, occupied Rhineland, annexed Austria, and demanded Sudetenland from Czechlovakia. The league of nations opposed this stealing of land, but did nothing. They just stood by, and voiced opposed countries like Japan but did not back up their words. Even when nations like Ethiopia pleaded to France for help, they did not assist because they did not want another war. Hitler then began defying the Versailles and began to rebuild Germany's army. Britain stuck to the appeasement policy, or giving into aggressors to keep the peace. The United states stuck to their isolationist policy and did not get involved with any other nations as well. Acts were passed that prevented the United States from selling arms to warring nations, called the neutrality acts.