Week 3: The Rise of the Demagogues

Hi Everyone!

This week we covered the Axis leaders, especially the big three -- Germany, Italy, & Japan.  We were all surprised by how many other countries were on the side of the Axis powers:  Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Finland, Thailand, Iraq, Iran, San Marino, and numerous puppet states.

We discussed the difference between a demagogue and a true leader.  I had to look up the definition of demagogue, so here's the definition in case you needed to look it up too.  :-)

demagogue -- a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.

In learning about the rise of these demagogues before WWII, we learned some interesting facts and trivia about Hitler, Mussolini, and Emperor Hirohito.

HITLER:

• Born in AUSTRIA, not even a German citizen until after WWI
• High School drop out
• He spent a year in prison for trying to overthrow the German government in 1923.
• He was an artist.  He supported himself for a time in Munich by painting and selling his artwork.  Below is a watercolor he painted in 1914 called "The Alter Hof in Munich."

MUSSOLINI:

• Founder of Fascism
• Expelled from the socialist party for supporting WWI
• Was a journalist and writer.  He even published a novel in 1910.
• Was imitated BY Hitler in several things -- staging a coup (Mussolini was successful, Hitler was not).  Hitler copied Mussolini's Fascism and gave it his own flavor. Mussolini had "blackshirts",  Hitler had "brownshirts."  Both the blackshirts and the brownshirts performed the same functions for their respective leaders.  The color came from the color of their uniforms.

EMPEROR HIROHITO:

• 3rd largest navy in the world before WWII
• Personally authorized the use of chemical weapons during WWII
• Was not indicted of war crimes and allowed to keep his position as Emperor of Japan
• Has published several scientific papers in the field of Marine Biology

Our Journal Prompt this week was:  Make a short list of leaders that you admire.  Choose one and make a list of his/her most defining character traits.

HOMEWORK:

• Writing Assignment:  What makes a true leader?
• Reading:  Keep working on Flags of our Fathers -- due on 2/19
• Personal Hero Project:  You should have 2-3 heroes done by class on Thursday.
• Come prepared to sign up for your presentation dates:  One date for your oral presentation on the biography you chose to read.  The other two dates to share one of the heroes you're doing in your personal hero project.  (these second two dates are just short little presentations to help keep you on track. 1-3 minutes)
• Keep spreading the word and/or find a couple of people you can interview for your requirements.  We're practicing interviews on Thursday and you'll want to get started ASAP after that.

NEXT WEEK:  The Germans' Invasions

~General Lisa & General Paige