-
The Ku klux Klan is Formed
Former Confederate generals in Tennessee wished to create a social club, where one activity was riding around the town in disguise. They discovered that this frightened former slaves, which they used to their advantage. The organization structured itself in April of 1867 and elected a leader, former Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest. Their objective was to rebel againts the laws of reconstruction after the Civil War through violence and intimidation. The Ku Klux Klan still exists today. -
The End of World War I, and the Beginning of the Rise of Fascism
World War I ends. The mass movement of fascism began at the end of the first World War. The fascist ideology involves all economic, social, and military control being given to one single leader, and rejects the ideas of Socialism, Capitalism, and Democracy. Racial and ethnic superiority are a key conponent of fascism. -
Mussolini Forms the Milan Fascio
Mussolini formed the Milan fascio in March of 1919. It supported universal sufferage, abolition of the senate, land for poor farmers, improved conditions for workers, and strong foreign policies. Mussolini and one of his associates failed in their attempts to win seats in the elections for the Chamber of Deputies. -
Hitler Makes Speech to Fascist Part
Hitler made one of his early speeches to members of his new fascist political party. Anti-semitism was a key message. This speech made Hitler popular with the German people, and raised money. Many of the party's members at the time were members of the German Workers Party -
NSDAP's Party Platform revealed
Hitler unveiled the party's 25-point political platform to over two thousand supporters at a meeting. Jewish people were the primary target of the platform, stating that they should be stripped of their civil rights. It also promoted the destruction of the Treaty of Versailles. The party's name was changed to the National Socialist German Worker's Party, and the Swastika was made their symbol. -
The National Fascist Party is Formed
The popularity of the fascist movement increased becuase the Italian people wanted a stong foreign policy and the restoration of law and order, which they believed the Fascist Party could deliver. Also, previous Italian governments failed to solve the countries econimic problems. The National Fascict Party won 35 of the seats in the government in the 1921 elections. -
March on Rome
Mussolini threatened a March on Rome if he wasn't given a postion in the cabinet, causing the Liberal Premier to resign. Wanting to avoid violence, King Victor Emmanuel made Mussolini the Prime Minister of Italy. -
French and Belgian Troops Sent to Germany
Troops from France and Belgium were sent into Germany becaue of a reparations dispute. Hitler used the opportunity to hold rallies attended by thousands of people. These rallies were used to spread more of his anti-Semitic ideologies. -
Beer Hall Putsch
Hitler proclaimed revolution against the German government. He was joined by two thousand brown shirts, General Erich Ludendorff, and the general's supporters in an attempt to overthrow the government in Munich. After taking Munich they planned to do the same in Berlin, but they were arrested and put on trial for treason. Hitler used his arrest to further promote the fascist movement. He only served eight months of his five year sentence. -
The Murder of Giacomo Matteotti
Left-wing political parties were discouraged after the murder of Italian Socialist leader Giacomo Matteotti. By 1929 Italy had become a one-party state. -
NSDAP Reestanlished
After being released from prison Hitler re-formed the NSDAP. The political party was organized using the Fuhrer principle. Hitler planned to gain power, but wanted to do so constitutionally, rather than taking it by force. -
Professors Swear Oath to Fascism
Mussolini forced university professors to swear an oath to be loyal to fascism and teach in a way that promotes the ideaology. Various Italian media outlets such as television, radio and press were censored to stop the discouragement of fascism. -
Hitler Becomes Chancellor of Germany
The Nazi party won the German election of 1932 by using propaganda and the promotion of hatred toward Jewish people. In January of 1993 Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany by President Paul von Hidenburg. -
The Nuremberg Laws are Issued
The Nazis put in place a series of laws that greatly limited the civil rights of Jewish people. They weren't allowed to marry "Aryans", be involved in politics, participate in German cultural events, and were segragated from the rest of the population. -
The Death of Corneliu Zelea Codreanu
Corneliu Zelea Codreanu was the leader of The Iron Guard, the primary fascist movement in Romania. Unlike some other Europen fascist movements, The Iron gaurd was comprised mainly of poor farmers and younger people. It did share ideaologies of other movements, such as violence and anti-Semitism. -
Kristallnacht
One night a Jewish teenager shot and killed a German official. Nazi supporters used this as an opportunity to attack and burn the stores, homes, and places of worship of Jewish people. This night became known as Kristallnacht (the night of broken glass). Three hundred thousand Jewish people were arrested and taken to concentration camps. -
Germany Invades Poland, Ghettos are Built
World War II began with Germany invading Poland. While there the Germans set up ghettos for the Jewish people of Poland (there were three million Jews in Poland). Jewish people were forced to live in these ghettos, where there was inadequate food, water, shelter, and medical care. -
Einsatzgruppen and Babi Yar
Four killing groups called Einsatzgruppen gathered Jewish people in towns across the Soviet Union, killed them, and buried them in mass graves. In the Babi Yar massacre over thirty thousand Jewish people were killed within a span of two days. -
The Wannsee Conference and the Creation of Death Camps
Several German officials met at the Wansee Conference, a meeting to plan the mass murder of Jewish people. Several months later six death camps were built: Chelmno, Belzec, Sobibor, Maidanek, and Auschwitz. Six million Jewish people were killed in these camps. -
Mussolini is Removed From Office
When allied soldiers arrived in Sicily in September of 1943 Mussolini's position as leader was taken away, and the Italian governemnt surrendered. Mussolini was arrested by the Italian Military, but was then rescued by German soldiers in Italy. -
The Execution of Mussolini
Mussolini and his mistress were executed, and their bodies hung in public. -
Death of Hitler
Not wanting to be captured and charged for the terrible crimes he comitted, Adolf Hitler committed suicide. -
Bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church
Following the success of the civil rights movement, the Klu Klux Klan bombed the Sixteenth Street Baptish Church in Birmingham, Alibama. This attack killed four young African-American girls, and injured several others. -
The Murders of Civil Rights Workers
Members of the Ku Klux Klan murdered Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman, and James Chaney, three civil rights workers. The KKK was responsible for many other attacks, beatings, and deaths during this time period. -
Morris Dees's Lawsuit
Morris Dees, head of the Southern Poverty Law Center, won seven million dollars in a lawsuit against the United Klans of American for the murder of a 19-year-old man. This lawsuit bankrupted the Klan. -
Dees Wins Another Lawsuit
The Christian Knights of the Klu Klux Klan faced a lawsuit from Morris Dees and the Souther Poverty Law Center for the buring of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Bloomville, South Carolina. They were forced to pay $37.8 million in damages
