Comparing the Societies and Systems of the Great Powers in WWII

(The Systems Chart)

 

As you know from experience, your classes and the news, there are many different societies, governments and cultures in the world.  The governments of the major nations in the 1920s and 1930s represent different styles of political, social and economic systems.  Knowing the ideas of these systems will help you in several ways.  This knowledge will help you understand the coming of WW II and will also help you recognize the voices of some people in the world and in the US today who would like to change our nation and the world.  Knowledge of these systems may make you more aware of what you think is important and of how you will vote when given the opportunity.

To discover the nature of the fascism of Germany and Italy, the communism of the USSR, and the theocratic totalitarianism of Japan, you will work with statements which represent the views of these societies, and compare them with the democratic-capitalist ideologies of the USA, Britain and France.  Then, you will make a chart so that you can visualize the similarities and differ­ences of these systems.

 

Directions: Read through all the statements carefully.  Make a tentative decision about each: does it represent the views of the US?  Germany or Italy?  the USSR?  Japan?  (You will find that some of the statements will actually be a part of the ideas of more than one nation.)  Write the name of the country or countries that the statement represents besides each statement.  We will go over this in class together.

After you place each of these statements with their corresponding country or countries, you will begin to make your systems chart.  Divide a poster into 4 boxes.  In each quarter of the poster, present the details of each of the four types of societies in WWII.  Begin with the names of the countries and the names of their systems.  Then, for each box, artistically present ALL of the information contained in the statements that go with that type of society. 

 

With pictures or words, you must represent EVERY statement on the list in the correct box on your poster.  

 

USA, Britain + France       --   Democratic Capitalism

Germany + Italy               --    Fascism

USSR                                  --     Communism

Japan                                   --     Theocratic Totalitarianism

 

    1.    People are free to worship any religion they choose as long as the religion does not violate the nation’s laws or threaten the public good.  The government is prohibited from promoting or funding any religion.

 

    2.    Our nation has a destiny to expand its way of life and its boundaries.

 

    3.    Our government is TOTALITARIAN; it controls most every aspect of the lives of the people, even using propaganda and censorship to control how the people think.

 

    4.    All people are born with certain rights, such as the freedom of speech, press, the right to assemble peacefully and a trial by jury.

 

  5.     Governments should allow free market capitalism by encouraging people to go

into business for themselves.

   

   6.     Wealthy businesspeople have strong ties to and special influence over the government.

 

    7.    There should be only one legal political party, the _________________ Party.

 

    8.    We have little immigration.  Our nation is mostly made up of only one cultural group.  This gives us unity and cooperation.

 

    9.    There are many misfits in society who need to be eliminated.  Such people as Jews, homosexuals, the mentally and physically disabled, and non-white races should be eliminated.

 

  10.    Free enterprise, or capitalism, should be allowed ONLY if and when it serves the aims of the government. 

 

  11.    We believe in social mobility.  People can be born into one class but live and be a part of different classes during their lifetime.

 

  12.    Our nation is made up of many races and cultures, but historically one racial group has dominated political and economic power.  This group often discriminates against other groups.

 

  13.    It's a good idea to allow different groups to form their own political parties and these parties should compete fairly for political power.

 

  14.    The government should run the economy to ensure that all citizens are economically equal.  Everyone must have their basic needs taken care of.  Rich landowners and businesspeople are a cancer on society and must be eliminated.

 

  15.    Our nation has always been a nation of immigrants from all over the world.  This diversity has given our nation strength and a richness of cultural traditions.  The contributions of all cultures make this nation great.

 

  16.    The only rights people have are the rights the government gives them.   Rights can be taken away at any time for any reason.

 

  17.     Our leader is special.  He is a direct descendent of the Sun God.

 

18.     It is not the government's responsibility to take care of all the people in the country.  Everyone must work hard to take care of themselves.

 

19.     We are a master race, we believe that we should rule the world.

 

20.     We believe in the absolute authority of our ruler.  His word is the law and disobeying that law should lead to death.

 

21.     In history, our nation has been cheated, wronged and held back from its rightful place as a leader of nations and the world.

 

22.     Our government should support and control industrial production and should secure sources of raw materials to ensure that our military is the most modern and industrialized in the world, even if this means conquering or dominating the poorer and weaker countries of the world.