Ask a New Question
Menu

The Rise of Totalitarianism in the 1930s

This activity will help you meet these educational goals:
You will identify the countries where totalitarianism existed, identify the territories these nations annexed during 1930s, and describe the difference between fascism and nationalism.

Directions
Read the instructions for this self-checked activity. Type in your response to each question, and check your answers. At the end of the activity, write a brief evaluation of your work.

Activity
In this activity, you’ll review your knowledge of totalitarian nations in the 1930s and distinguish between fascism and nationalism.
Part A
Question
Drag the five major countries ruled by fascist or totalitarian governments to the table.

During 1930s, many countries saw the rise of totalitarianism. Identify the five major countries ruled by fascist or totalitarian governments in 1939.

United StatesGermanyIndiaChinaJapanSoviet UnionAustraliaBritainSpainItaly
Part B
Question
Drag each tile to the correct box.
Match the regions and countries with the events they are associated with.
Tiles
Austria
Ethiopia
Manchuria
Spain
Ukraine
Pairs
region invaded by
Japan in 1931
arrowBoth
region annexed by
Germany in 1938
arrowBoth
country split by civil war
from 1936 to 1939
arrowBoth
region invaded by
Italy in 1935
arrowBoth
region afflicted by massive
famine during 1932 to
1933
arrowBoth
Part C
Question
Select the correct answer.
Which of the three fascist or totalitarian countries expanded their territories in 1930s by invading other countries?
Germany, Soviet Union, United States
Italy, Britain, United States
Germany, Italy, Japan
Japan, United States, Germany
Japan, Italy, Soviet Union
Part D
Historians describe fascism as an extreme form of nationalism. Nationalism is defined as a belief in the importance of one’s own nation and the desire to promote the overall good of that nation.

Is it possible for people to be nationalists without becoming fascists?

Space used(includes formatting): 0 / 30000
Part E
What social or political ideas may prevent the rise of fascism in nations? What social or political ideas help it?

Space used(includes formatting): 0 / 30000
Self-Evaluation
How did you do? Rate your work on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 as the highest score. Then write a brief evaluation of your work. Note what you learned and what challenged you.

1 answer

Part A

Response: The five major countries ruled by fascist or totalitarian governments in 1939 are:

  1. Germany
  2. Italy
  3. Japan
  4. Spain
  5. Soviet Union

Part B

Response:

Match the regions and countries with the events they are associated with:

  • Region invaded by Japan in 1931: Manchuria
  • Region annexed by Germany in 1938: Austria
  • Country split by civil war from 1936 to 1939: Spain
  • Region invaded by Italy in 1935: Ethiopia
  • Region afflicted by massive famine during 1932 to 1933: Ukraine

Part C

Response: The correct answer is: Germany, Italy, Japan

Part D

Response: Yes, it is possible for people to be nationalists without becoming fascists. Nationalism can manifest as a healthy sense of pride and a commitment to one’s country, which can foster unity and social cohesion. However, when nationalism becomes extreme and intolerant of other nations or groups, it may lead to fascism. In essence, while all fascists are nationalists, not all nationalists are fascists. Nationalism can exist in diverse forms, some of which promote inclusivity and cooperation rather than exclusion and aggression.

Part E

Response: Social or political ideas that may prevent the rise of fascism in nations include:

  1. Democratic values and institutions - promoting dialogue and collective decision-making.
  2. Strong civil rights protections - ensuring freedoms of speech, assembly, and press which highlight dissenting views to prevent totalitarian control.
  3. Education promoting tolerance, diversity, and critical thinking - helping individuals recognize and reject extremist ideologies.

Conversely, ideas that may help the rise of fascism include:

  1. Authoritarianism - favoring centralized control that diminishes checks and balances.
  2. Propaganda - disseminating misleading information to promote a specific nationalist agenda.
  3. Economic instability - creating an environment where individuals may turn to radical solutions for relief and security.

Self-Evaluation

Score: 5

Evaluation of Work: I feel confident about my answers and particularly enjoyed learning about the different instances of totalitarianism in the 1930s. Connecting historical events to geographical areas was interesting and helped me visualize the impact of these ideologies. The distinction between nationalism and fascism was enlightening and clarified a complex relationship. The most challenging part was matching specific events to the right regions as some details were less familiar, but overall, this exercise deepened my understanding of the rise of totalitarian regimes during this critical decade.