Patterning is the process of finding and/or making connections within an idea(s). These connections are repetitive and allow us to organize this information.
Unfortunately finding patterns in history is quite easy. Those patterns can be found in successes and failures. For example, we could look at the pattern that exists in discrimination and the policies that go along with it, laws are passed or actions are upheld by the Supreme Court that allows for discrimination against a particular group. Then after slowly changes are made and the majority of the population questions why those laws ever existed.
For the purposes of my topic, the Nazi buy-in, I will need to broaden my horizon a bit to the rise of leaders, in this case the rise of Hitler. So what patterns exist in leaders coming into power? The pattern of leadership has changed over time. First, the pattern was birthright, in some cases leaders got power because of violence inflicted on another group, and when democracy began to thrive leaders were elected. Within elections there are patterns. We typically have two to three different people with two to three different ideas about what direction the city, state, or country should go in. People affiliate themselves with one and the “most popular” gets chosen. It’s pretty simple these days. But I think if we look deeper at democratic elections we will see a different pattern take place.
Unfortunately finding patterns in history is quite easy. Those patterns can be found in successes and failures. For example, we could look at the pattern that exists in discrimination and the policies that go along with it, laws are passed or actions are upheld by the Supreme Court that allows for discrimination against a particular group. Then after slowly changes are made and the majority of the population questions why those laws ever existed.
For the purposes of my topic, the Nazi buy-in, I will need to broaden my horizon a bit to the rise of leaders, in this case the rise of Hitler. So what patterns exist in leaders coming into power? The pattern of leadership has changed over time. First, the pattern was birthright, in some cases leaders got power because of violence inflicted on another group, and when democracy began to thrive leaders were elected. Within elections there are patterns. We typically have two to three different people with two to three different ideas about what direction the city, state, or country should go in. People affiliate themselves with one and the “most popular” gets chosen. It’s pretty simple these days. But I think if we look deeper at democratic elections we will see a different pattern take place.
By taking a look at different elections throughout history where a major change takes place within the country, in this case the election of Adolf Hitler which ultimately led to the murder of 6 million Jews, we can find a new pattern. First, there is an event that drastically changes the country. It could be an economic downturn, a major war, a rise in tensions between different groups of people. This event creates a need for change among the people, they are looking for inspiration. In the rise of Adolf Hitler that event is World War I and the Treaty of Versailles harsh consequences on Germany. Next, a party or leader of a party begins to speak to that need, acknowledging the change that is necessary and details how they see “fixing” the problem. For Adolf Hitler, it was the Nazi party and his speeches promising a better future and a return to the glorious pre-World War I Germany. Once that party gains popularity they begin to gain seats within the legislative body, the Nazi party gained 33% of votes in the 1932 election. Due to the success of the Nazi Party, Hitler is then chosen as Chancellor, the head of Germany. He continues to preach the ideas of the Nazi party and people blindly follow, believing he is the savior to the depression they’ve been living in since World War I came to an end.
The key to this pattern is being able to compare it to other examples in history. This will help students see that the rise of Adolf Hitler to power and the support the Nazi party received is not a rare event in history. It just happened to have a much more shocking and disastrous outcome.
The key to this pattern is being able to compare it to other examples in history. This will help students see that the rise of Adolf Hitler to power and the support the Nazi party received is not a rare event in history. It just happened to have a much more shocking and disastrous outcome.