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Essay plans for the following questions on IB HL European History - Authoritarian States (examples from Nazi Germany, Stalin's USSR, Mussolini, Lenin):
“The conditions in which authoritarian states emerged were mainly determined by economic factors.” Discus...
“The conditions in which authoritarian states emerged were mainly determined by economic factors.” Discuss
with reference to two authoritarian states.
CLAIM COUNTERCLAIM
Hitler/Nazi The Weimar government’s inability to resolve the economic crisis Nevertheless, it could be argued that the failures of the Weimar
Germany as a result of the Great Depression provided the conditions for political system and the weak government itself, both of which
Hitler to rise to power. Hitler exploited, allowed him to form a single-party state.
- Following hyperinflation of 1923, Germans relied on US’ - ‘Rule by decree’ gave president dictatorial powers
Dawes Plan - Hitler exploited Article 48 then the Enabling Act in
- BUT after Great Depression, US calls back all their 1933, eventually allowing him to consolidate his
loans, etc = terrible impact on German economy power
- 5 major banks closed in 1931 - Proportional representation in the Reichstag made it
- 6 million unemployed by 1932 difficult for one party to remain in power
- More than 20,000 businesses closed after the Great - Unstable coalitions became the norm → 6 coalitions
Depression → middle class greatly suffered between 1924-29
- Drop in agricultural prices after Great Depression → - Germans had no more regard for democracy, making
agricultural problem worsens economy Hitler’s ideology appealing, ultimately enabling him to
- Popularity of Nazi’s in times of distress shown in votes: 12 establish authoritarian rule
votes in 1928 vs. 107 in 1930
Augmented anti-democratic sentiment + desire for an Counter: the long-term economic factors were not very significant
authoritarian leader as democracy seemed to be failing the to Hitler’s rise since he became Chancellor in 1933, and the Nazi’s
German people (since Weimar had no plans for resolving the really gained popularity after the Great Depression.
issue)
, - Economic crisis led to increase in popularity of extremism
(e.g. communism) → Hitler’s right-wing ideology became
appealing, especially business people + middle class
- Chancellor Bruning’s (Hunger Chancellor) economic
austerity policy ruthlessly cut government spending to
keep inflation under control → FAILED because salaries
reduced while tax increased
The economic situation following WW1 gave rise to an anti - The long-term economic factors were not very significant to Hitler’s
democratic and anti-Weimar sentiment, which Hitler utilized to rise since he became Chancellor in 1933, and the Nazi’s really
his benefit, illustrating the significance of economic factors in gained popularity after the Great Depression. Yet, this still
Hitler’s rise. demonstrates the importance of economic factors overall.
1923 hyperinflation
- November 1923: 1 dollar = 4.2 billion marks
- Hit middle class particularly hard → caused them to lose
trust in Weimar + democracy, which Hitler (and his
authoritarian ideology) used to their advantage
- Savings wiped out
- Wages could not rise fast enough to keep up with
inflation
- Pensioners hit especially hard → froze because
could not buy clothes, coal
Mussolini/ The short-term economic problems in Italy enabled Mussolini to Regardless, Italy’s long-term economic and political issues lay the
Italy establish a single-party rule over the nation. foundations for Mussolini to establish authoritarian control.
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