Name:
Class Date:
:
The West Between the Wars: Guided Reading: The Rise of Dictatorial Regimes
Guided Reading Activity
The West Between the Wars
Lesson 2 The Rise of Dictatorial Regimes
Review Questions
DIRECTIONS: Read the lesson and complete the outline below. Refer to your textbook to fill in the blanks. (When
answering online, separate multiple responses with a comma and one space.)
I. The Rise of Dictators
1. The only major European democracies left by 1939 were _______________ and _______________;
some states fell to _______________ regimes, which wanted total control of their citizens.
2. Benito Mussolini’s political philosophy of _______________ glorifies the _______________ above the
_______________ and emphasizes the need for a strong central government.
3. To control the Italian people, Mussolini gave the secret _______________ unrestricted authority and
used _______________ to spread propaganda.
II. From Russia to the USSR
4. After the Communist program was undermined by shortages caused by food hoarding and a severe
_______________, Lenin abandoned war communism in favor of his _______________.
5. In 1922, Lenin and the Communist party formally created a state known as the _______________ or by
the initials _______________.
6. After Lenin died, a struggle began among the seven members of the _______________, with
_______________ advocating for rapid industrialization and the end of the NEP.
7. Communist Party general secretary _______________ removed the _______________ from power,
ended the NEP, and launched the first of several _______________ for industrialization.
III. Authoritarian States in the West
8. Among the many regimes that arose in Eastern Europe after World War I, only _______________,
which had a large middle class, a liberal tradition, and a strong industrial base, maintained its political
_______________.
9. In Spain, _______________ led a revolt against the democratic government and created a military
_______________ that favored large landowners, businesspeople, and the Catholic clergy.
10. Franco's regime is an example of _______________ rule rather than _______________, because it
did not attempt to control the everyday lives of its people.
Powered by Cognero Page 1
Name: Class Date:
:
The West Between the Wars: Guided Reading: The Rise of Dictatorial Regimes
Indicate whether the statement is true or false. If it is false, change the identified
word(s) to make the statement true.
1. A totalitarian state subordinates individual freedom to government control.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2. Fascism is a philosophy that values the individual over the state.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
3. The Politburo is the most important policymaking committee in the Spanish government.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
4. Russian peasants showed their unhappiness with Stalin’s agricultural policies by hoarding food and
killing livestock.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
5. Italy and Germany helped Franco win the Spanish Civil War.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
6. Mussolini’s Fascist government attempted to control its citizens through
a. mass propaganda.
b. mandatory military service in Facist youth groups.
c. untraditional roles for women.
d. rewards and honors.
7. Why was Mussolini’s movement appealing to the Italian middle class?
a. They thought Mussolini would protect them from Nazi Germany.
b. They thought Mussolini would support their standard of living.
c. They thought Mussolini would not go to war.
d. They thought a strong central government would prevent socialism and communism.
8. Stalin’s Five-Year Plans were intended to transform the Soviet Union into
a. an agricultural society.
b. an industrial society.
c. a democracy.
d. a monarchy.
9. Stalin gained control over the Communist Party by
a. purging people he thought were a threat.
Powered by Cognero Page 2
Name: Class Date:
:
The West Between the Wars: Guided Reading: The Rise of Dictatorial Regimes
b. preventing elections within the party.
c. making promises of rewards and titles to people.
d. using the popular vote of the people.
10. Parliamentary systems failed in most Eastern European states, in part, because
a. they all had large middle classes.
b. their citizens were too well-educated.
c. their systems were weakened by repayments.
d. these states had little democratic tradition.
Powered by Cognero Page 3
