Rise of Dictatorships
ICSE Class 10 · History & Civics · Chapter 17
What this chapter covers
- Dictatorship and the years after the First World War
- Fascism: meaning and origin
- Causes for the rise of Fascism in Italy: dissatisfaction with the peace settlement
- Causes for the rise of Fascism in Italy: economic crisis
- Causes for the rise of Fascism in Italy: political instability and fear of communism
- Causes for the rise of Fascism in Italy: Mussolini's leadership and the March on Rome
- Nazism: meaning and origin
- Causes for the rise of Nazism in Germany: the Treaty of Versailles
- Causes for the rise of Nazism in Germany: weakness of the Weimar Republic
- Causes for the rise of Nazism in Germany: economic crisis
- Causes for the rise of Nazism in Germany: fear of communism, Hitler's leadership and propaganda
- Similarity between the ideologies of Fascism and Nazism
Key points
- Dictatorship is rule by one person or one party with unlimited power, not answerable to the people; totalitarian dictatorships try to control every part of life.
- Mussolini founded the Fascist movement in 1919, became Prime Minister of Italy after the March on Rome in October 1922, and had made Italy a one-party state by 1926.
- Causes for the rise of Fascism in Italy: anger at the "mutilated victory" in the peace settlement, economic crisis (war debts, inflation, unemployment), weak coalition governments, fear of communism, and Mussolini's leadership and propaganda.
- Hitler led the National Socialist German Workers' Party, was appointed Chancellor on 30 January 1933 and became Führer in August 1934.
- Causes for the rise of Nazism in Germany: resentment of the Treaty of Versailles, weakness of the Weimar Republic, hyperinflation of 1923 and the Great Depression of 1929, fear of communism, Hitler's leadership, propaganda and the support of big business.
- Similarities between Fascism and Nazism: one party and one leader, glorification of the state, opposition to democracy and communism, extreme nationalism and expansion, glorification of war, totalitarian control of education and the press, and the use of terror.
- Racial ideas were far more central to Nazism than to Italian Fascism.
- The rise of these two dictatorships was one of the main causes of the Second World War.
Questions answered
What is a dictatorship? How is it different from a democracy?
A dictatorship is a form of government in which one person or one party holds unlimited power and is not answerable to the people. In a democracy, the government is chosen in free elections and is limited by a legislature, independent courts and a free press, all of which a dictatorship abolishes or controls.
Define Fascism. From which word does it get its name?
Fascism is a political ideology that glorifies the nation and the state above the individual, rejects democracy, liberalism and communism, and demands obedience to one leader backed by one party. The name comes from the Latin fasces, a bundle of rods around an axe that was a symbol of authority in ancient Rome.
Why did Italians call their gains from the First World War a "mutilated victory"?
Italy had been promised Dalmatia and other lands in the secret Treaty of London, but at the peace conference it did not get Dalmatia, Fiume or any German colonies. After losing about 650,000 soldiers, Italians felt they had won the war but been cheated of their rewards.
Give two economic reasons for the rise of Fascism in Italy.
(1) Heavy war debts and the printing of money caused severe inflation, destroying middle-class savings. (2) The closing of war industries and the return of demobilised soldiers caused widespread unemployment.
Why were the propertied classes in Italy afraid of communism after the war?
The Russian Revolution of 1917 had seized private property; in Italy the Socialists became the largest party in 1919, a Communist Party was formed in 1921, and in 1920 about half a million workers occupied factories in the north. Landlords and industrialists feared a similar revolution in Italy.
What happened as a result of the March on Rome?
King Victor Emmanuel III refused to use the army against the Fascists and invited Mussolini to form a government on 29 October 1922. Mussolini became Prime Minister and by 1926 had made Italy a one-party dictatorship.
Give three terms of the Treaty of Versailles that angered the Germans.
(1) The war guilt clause blamed Germany for the war. (2) Germany had to pay reparations, fixed in 1921 at 132 billion gold marks. (3) Germany lost all its colonies and about 13 per cent of its European territory, and its army was limited to 100,000 men.
What was the "stab in the back" myth?
The "stab in the back" myth was the false claim that the German army had not been defeated in battle but had been betrayed at home by socialists, Jews and democratic politicians. It turned Germans against the Weimar Republic.
Past board exam questions
ICSE 2027 sample paper · 2 marks
Mention any two ideologies of dictators.
Show answer
Any two:
1. Belief in totalitarian rule – one party, one leader; the State is supreme and the individual exists for the State.
2. Opposition to democracy – they despised democratic systems and suppressed the rights and liberties of citizens.
3. Aggressive nationalism and imperialism – war was regarded as an instrument of national glory.
4. Opposition to communism (anti-communism).
ICSE 2026 sample paper · 2 marks
Mention any two ideologies of the dictators.
Show answer
Any two:
1. Belief in totalitarian rule – the State is supreme and the individual exists for the State.
2. Opposition to democracy – one party, one leader; rights of citizens suppressed.
3. Aggressive nationalism and imperialism – war glorified as an instrument of national policy.
4. Anti-communism.
ICSE 2026 board paper · 4 marks
Look at the newspaper headline given and answer the following questions: Headline (The Evening World, War Extra): "GERMANY DECLARES WAR; ALL EUROPE IS IN ARMS" Name the two dictators who rose in Europe after this war. Mention any two common causes for the rise of dictatorship.
Show answer
The two dictators were Benito Mussolini in Italy and Adolf Hitler in Germany.
Common causes:
1. Dissatisfaction with the peace settlement (Treaty of Versailles) – Germany felt humiliated and Italy felt cheated of its promised gains.
2. Economic crisis – unemployment, inflation and the Great Depression of 1929.
(Also: weak democratic governments; fear of Communism.)
ICSE 2025 sample paper · 1 mark
The picture is a cartoon of Adolf Hitler, the Nazi leader of Germany, in military uniform with a swastika armband, hugging a huge globe of the world in both arms. Which of the given policies is NOT aligned with the ideologies of the leader seen in the picture?
- prioritising military expansion
- promoting racist policies
- hosting an anti-communist seminar
- holding pro-democracy rallies
Show answer
holding pro-democracy rallies
ICSE 2025 board paper · 1 mark
Which of the following is a common cause for the rise of dictatorship?
- Faith in Democracy
- Economic Crisis
- Freedom of Press
- Political Stability
Show answer
Economic Crisis
ICSE 2024 sample paper · 1 mark
Which of the following policies of a dictator ruling over Country X is MOST aligned with the ideologies of Mussolini during his time in power?
- prioritising military expansion
- promoting environmental sustainability
- creating a healthcare program for all citizens equally
- offering financial aid to support the education of students from poor backgrounds
Show answer
prioritising military expansion
ICSE 2024 board paper · 2 marks
Mention any two common ideologies of Fascism and Nazism.
Show answer
Any two:
1. Glorification of the State – the individual exists for the State; totalitarian rule.
2. Belief in a single party and a single leader (dictatorship); opposition to democracy.
3. Extreme nationalism and glorification of war and force.
4. Opposition to communism and socialism.
ICSE 2024 sample paper · 3 marks
This question is about Adolf Hitler, the Nazi leader of Germany. Mention any three causes for his rise to power.
Show answer
Any three:
1. The humiliating Treaty of Versailles (war guilt, reparations, loss of territory and colonies) created resentment that Hitler exploited.
2. The economic crisis: inflation and the Great Depression (1929) caused large-scale unemployment and poverty.
3. Weakness and unpopularity of the Weimar Republic, which failed to solve these problems.
4. Fear of communism among industrialists and the middle classes, who supported the Nazis.
5. Hitler's personality, oratory and propaganda (Goebbels), and the organisation of the Nazi Party with its storm troopers.