AP European History Flashcards: Fascism and Totalitarianism
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 14 cards to help you master important concepts.
Define the ideology of Fascism.
Fascism is an ideology that rejects democratic institutions, promotes charismatic leaders, and glorifies war and nationalism to attract the disillusioned.
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Define the ideology of Fascism.
Fascism is an ideology that rejects democratic institutions, promotes charismatic leaders, and glorifies war and nationalism to attract the disillusioned.
What was the ultimate outcome of Stalin's totalitarian rule on the Soviet political system?
Stalin's rule, including his economic policies and purges, resulted in the creation of a deeply oppressive political system.
Who were the kulaks?
The kulaks were a class of wealthier peasants in the Soviet Union who were targeted for elimination ('liquidation') during Stalin's campaign of collectivization.
What tools did fascist dictatorships use to appeal to the public and consolidate power?
They used modern technology and propaganda that rejected democratic institutions, promoted charismatic leaders, and glorified war and nationalism.
Explain the connection between Stalin's economic policies and the famine in Ukraine.
Stalin's forced collectivization of agriculture disrupted food production and was met with resistance, leading to grain confiscations that caused a devastating, man-made famine.
What was Stalin's primary economic goal for the Soviet Union after Lenin's death?
Stalin undertook a centralized program of rapid economic modernization to quickly industrialize the Soviet Union.
Why were the 'uncertain transitions to democracy' after WWI vulnerable to fascist movements?
These new, fledgling democracies were often weak and unstable, proving unable to solve deep economic problems, which allowed charismatic dictators to manipulate the system and seize power.
What two key societal problems did fascist leaders exploit to gain followers?
Fascist leaders exploited the widespread postwar bitterness and severe economic instability that plagued many European nations.
What were the Five-Year Plans?
The Five-Year Plans were Stalin's centralized programs aimed at achieving rapid economic modernization in the Soviet Union.
What four conditions in the post-WWI era created a fertile ground for fascism?
Fascism gained popularity in an environment of postwar bitterness, the rise of communism, uncertain transitions to democracy, and economic instability.
What was collectivization in the Soviet Union?
Collectivization was a policy under Stalin that forced individual peasant households into large, state-controlled collective farms as part of his economic modernization program.
How did the existence of communism help the rise of fascism?
The rise of communism created fear among property owners and the middle class, making fascism appear to be a strong bulwark against a potential communist revolution.
How did Mussolini and Hitler specifically rise to power?
They rose to power by exploiting postwar bitterness and economic instability, in addition to using terror and manipulating their nations' fledgling democracies.
What were the severe repercussions of Stalin's economic modernization policies?
The high price of his policies included the liquidation of the kulaks, a devastating famine in Ukraine, political purges, and the creation of an oppressive political system.