20th Century History: Fascism, Communism, and Economic Crisis
1. The Crisis of Democracy
1.1 Are Political Regimes Enemies of Democracy?
Dictatorship
1.2 What Characterizes Fascism?
Being the opposite of democracy
1.3 What is Nationalism?
It consists of the idea that the nation is all that one should be devoted to. A nationalist citizen is obliged to defend their nation above all else.
1.4 Where Was Fascism First Implemented?
In Italy
2. The USSR Communist System
2.1 Socialists vs. Communists in Early 20th Century Europe
Socialists defended freedom and did not accept the communist system of the USSR. The communists supported the USSR and preferred communism to freedom.
2.2 What Was Russia Called After the Revolution?
USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)
2.3 Who Succeeded Trotsky and What Happened?
Stalin succeeded Trotsky and had him killed.
2.4 What is Socialist Planning?
Under socialist planning, land was collectivized, and farmers only received a portion of their production to survive. The rest was delivered to the state for industry and infrastructure. Everyone worked, and all work was provided by the state.
2.5 Defining Stalinism
Stalinism can be defined as a dictatorship characterized by an absence of freedom and pervasive fear.
2.6 What Were the Purges?
The purges were political repressions and executions.
3. Italian Fascism
3.1 Founder of the Fascist Party
Benito Mussolini
3.2 Title of the Fascist Party Leader
Duce
3.3 Who Were the Blackshirts?
The militants of the Fascist Party
3.4 Who Were the Fascists Against?
Anti-socialist and labor union members
3.5 How Did the Fascists Come to Power?
By force, with the march on Rome and the complicity of King Victor Emmanuel III.
3.6 Characteristics of Mussolini’s Dictatorship
- Absolute Power
- Removal of unions and strikes
- Ideological manipulation of the population
4. The Economic Crisis of 1929
4.1 Causes of the Crisis
Overproduction led to a situation where goods could not be consumed at a sustainable rate.
4.2 The Folly of Stock Market Investors
Investors continued to invest even when they ran out of money, resorting to borrowing on credit.
4.3 The Folly of Injecting Money into the Economy
The economy consumed more than it could handle and relied heavily on borrowed money.
4.4 The Stock Market Crash of 1929
Numerous publicly traded companies showed signs of decline, and the bullish stock market began to reverse, leading to a crash.
4.5 The Great Depression
The stock market crash triggered a banking crisis, which in turn caused an industrial crisis. This crisis spread to Europe and the rest of the world.
4.6 U.S. President Who Addressed the Great Depression
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
4.7 Policy to Solve the Great Depression
New Deal
4.8 Economic Theory Behind the New Deal
The New Deal’s emphasis on government intervention in the economy was based on the theories of economist John Maynard Keynes.
5. Nazism
5.1 Who Did the Germans Blame for Their Suffering?
The democratic system
5.2 Title of Hitler’s Book
Mein Kampf (My Struggle, 1925)
5.3 The Problem in the German Parliament During Hitler’s Time
There were many parties in parliament, and none had a majority to form a government.
5.4 Did Hitler Come to Power Democratically?
Yes, the Nazi Party was the largest party in 1932 but did not have a majority. Hitler was appointed Chancellor through a series of political maneuvers.
5.5 What Positions Did the Nazis Hold in Their First Government?
Chancellor and two ministers: Interior and Propaganda
5.6 Nazi Symbols
The swastika, the red flag with the swastika, and the use of specific terminology and slogans.
5.1 Hitler in Power
5.1.1 Event That Triggered the Nazis’ Rise to Power
The Reichstag fire
5.1.2 Key Nazi Figures and Organizations
- SA (Brownshirts): The Nazi party’s private army.
- SS: Hitler’s personal guards.
- Gestapo: Secret Police
- Goebbels: Minister of Propaganda and Information
- Third Reich: Hitler’s proclaimed empire
5.1.3 When Did Hitler Gain Absolute Majority?
March 5, 1933
5.1.4 What Did”Living Spac” Mean to the Nazis?
The need for Germany to conquer new territories.
5.1.5 The Night of the Long Knives
The night when Hitler eliminated his opponents within his own party.
5.1.6 Goebbels’ Motto
“If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it.”
5.1.7 The Night of Broken Glass
The persecution of Jews in 1938.
5.1.8 The “Final Solution”
The extermination of the Jewish race.
5.1.9 Who Was Imprisoned in Places Like Auschwitz?
Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, socialists, communists, and political prisoners.
5.1.10 The Aryan Race
The Nazi ideology promoted the idea of an Aryan race, which they considered superior. This concept was based on racist and pseudoscientific beliefs.
6. Spanish Literature Before 1932
6.1 Ramón del Valle-Inclán’s “Luces de Bohemia” (Bohemian Lights)
This play follows Max Estrella, a blind poet, through the streets of Madrid. He encounters various characters and situations that reflect the decadence and injustice of Spain at the time. The play is a critique of society and the plight of artists.
6.2 Federico García Lorca
6.2.1 “Blood Wedding”
This play explores themes of love, passion, and revenge. Set against the backdrop of a family rivalry, it tells the story of a bride torn between her duty and her love for another man. The play culminates in a tragic end, highlighting the destructive nature of unchecked emotions.
6.2.2 “The House of Bernarda Alba”
This play centers around Bernarda Alba, a domineering matriarch who imposes strict rules on her five daughters after the death of her husband. The play explores themes of repression, desire, and the struggle for freedom within a patriarchal society. The arrival of a suitor sets off a chain of events that leads to tragedy, highlighting the consequences of Bernarda’s oppressive rule.