Totalitarianism

Franklin D Roosevelt

Totalitarianism and the Rise of the Dictators
The events leading up to WW2 included the growing power of the type of government referred to as Totalitarianism and the rise of the Dictators such as Hitler, Mussolini, Franco and Stalin. This article contains an explanation of the rise of Totalitarianism countries between WW1 and WW2 such as Germany, Italy, Spain, USSR and Japan. Find the definition of Totalitarianism, how the totalitarian governments gained control, examples, key traits and characteristics of totalitarianism. Learn about the difference between Totalitarianism and Dictatorship and the ideologies of Fascism, Nazism, Communism and Militarism and the rise of the Dictators.

Totalitarianism
Franklin Roosevelt was the 32nd American President who served in office from March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945. One of the important events during his presidency was the ascendance of the Totalitarianism political system in countries such as Germany, Italy, Russia and Japan leading up to the outbreak of WW2.

     
   

Totalitarianism Definition
Totalitarianism Definition: The "total" in totalitarianism provides the best clue to its meaning. The term 'Totalitarianism' refers to the type of government that attempts to assert absolute and total control over the public and private lives of its citizens. Totalitarianism is a form of government that puts absolute power in the hands or a group of people in a political party such as fascism or communism.  Totalitarian governments are often led by a single individual such as a dictator.

Totalitarianism: Totalitarian governments between WW1 and WW2
Totalitarian governments were able to take control in the period between WW1 and WW2 because:

● Existing governments were weak and lacked strong leadership giving rise to the opportunity for dictatorships to emerge
● Countries were subject to serious economic problems
● The terms of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles caused anger and resentment and the League of Nations failed
● The leaders and dictators of Totalitarian governments initially provided strength and a sense of security to people and gave a direction for the future

Examples of Totalitarianism Countries between WW1 and WW2
Examples of Totalitarianism countries with kinds of governments that became totalitarian between WWI and WW2 were:

The Fascist governments in Italy and Spain that included dictatorships adhering to nationalism, imperialism and and militarism
● The Nazi government of Germany, that included a dictatorship, combined fascism with racism
● The USSR Communist form of government that included dictatorship and adhered to socialism and state control
● The Military Dictatorship in Japan that combined fascism with tradition by which the Emperor of Japan remained the head of state - refer to Japanese Militarism

Totalitarianism Characteristics and Common Beliefs: What do Totalitarian Governments have in common?
Although the WW1 - WW2 totalitarianism governments adhered to different political systems, such as Fascism, Nazism, Communism and Militarism, they had many beliefs and practices in common. The key traits and characteristics of totalitarianism are as follows:

The Centralized state control of totalitarianism denied basic liberties and personal freedom and demanded absolute loyalty from the people expecting personal sacrifice for the good of the state
● Totalitarianism encompassed a highly aggressive form of nationalism by which the nation is more important than the individual
● The ideology of totalitarianism determined and glorified the goals of the state and justified government actions
Totalitarianism countries and governments enforced the will of the state by one-party rule, censorship, propaganda, indoctrination and persecution
● State control of society and culture under a totalitarianism regime was extreme and regulated the Arts, Literature, Education, Religion, Youth Groups, Business, Labor, Housing and Personal Life
Totalitarianism countries used a strong military force and secret police to enforce their policies. In a totalitarian state the police operated without the constraints of laws and regulations
● All of the countries adhered to an aggressive and expansionist foreign policy
● All of the
Totalitarianism countries withdrew, or were expelled from, the League of Nations

Totalitarianism: What is the difference between Totalitarianism and Dictatorship?
What is the difference between Totalitarianism and Dictatorship? In Totalitarianism a government takes total, centralized state control and regulates nearly all aspects of public and private life and behavior. Dictatorships are ruled by a single, dynamic individual (dictator) who seizes control over the state and individuals and governs without the consent of the people. A dictatorship is a system that does not adhere to democracy.

Totalitarianism: Totalitarian governments are those that exert total control over the people they govern
Dictatorship: Dictators govern without the consent of the people, dominate the government and have no limits to their authority
● Democracy: A Democracy is the political system by which those who govern are selected by the people

Many dictatorships are also totalitarian.

Examples of Totalitarianism Dictators (WW1 - WW2): Hitler, Mussolini, Franco and Stalin
Examples of Totalitarianism Dictators who rose to power between WW1 and WW2 were Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, General Franco and Joseph Stalin.

● Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) established himself as dictator of Italy and assumed the title of "Il Duce" meaning "The Leader". Mussolini founded the ideology of Fascism. Mussolini sought to restore the power and the glory of the Roman Empire
● Adolf Hitler (1889 – 1945) established himself as dictator of Germany and assumed the title of "Fuhrer" meaning "Leader". Hitler was the leader of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, better known as the Nazi Party. Nazism shared many features of Fascism but also featured racism. Hitler sought to restore the glory of the German Empire by establishing the "Third Reich"
General Francisco Franco (1892-1975) established himself as the Fascist dictator of Spain and assumed the title of "El Caudillo" meaning "The Leader". General Franco received support from the fascist dictatorships in Italy and Germany but generally kept out of WW2
● Joseph Stalin (1878 – 1953) established himself as the Dictator of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the Communist Party of the Soviet Union

Totalitarianism in 1984: George Orwell's Novel 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four)
The famous novel "1984" also published as "Nineteen Eighty-Four" was written by George Orwell and first published on 8 June 1949. In his famous book George Orwell describes the terrors of Totalitarianism and a Totalitarian government of the future. Orwell portrays a world in which personal freedom and privacy have vanished as television cameras survey the every move of citizens, even in their own homes "Big Brother". George Orwell illustrates the world in 1984 that is characterized by the horrors of Totalitarianism and a highly aggressive form of nationalism with censorship, manipulation, surveillance, propaganda, indoctrination and persecution. George Orwell's 1984 portrays a terrifying world that was made possible through modern technology...

Totalitarianism for kids - President Franklin Roosevelt Video
The article on the Totalitarianism provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following Franklin Roosevelt video will give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 32nd American President whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945.

Totalitarianism and Dictators

Interesting Facts about Totalitarianism for kids and schools
Examples of the Totalitarianism between WW1 and WW2
Examples of Totalitarianism countries and governments
Franklin Roosevelt Presidency from March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945
Fast, fun facts about the Totalitarianism system of government
● Examples of Totalitarianism countries & Totalitarianism governments
● Examples and Definition of
Totalitarianism countries for schools, homework, kids and children

Totalitarianism - Definition of Totalitarianism - Countries - WW1 - WW2 - Examples of Totalitarianism - Dictators - Differences - Facts - Totalitarianism Characteristics - Definition - Totalitarianism - Kids - Children - Schools - Homework - Important - Facts - Issues - Key - Main - Major - Events - History - Interesting - Totalitarianism - Info - Information - History - Facts - Historical - Totalitarianism

ⓒ 2017 Siteseen Limited First Published Cookies Policy Author
Updated 2018-01-09 Publisher Siteseen Limited Privacy Statement