Below is a comparative checklist of how Hitler dismantled democracy and how similar actions could be applied in the U.S. context in 2025.
Show checklist
| Step | How Hitler Did It | Same Action In U.S. Context | Happened Yet? |
| Consolidate Power | Appointed as Chancellor with minority support, then co-opted allies. | Exploit divisions in Congress and secure control of a major party. |  |
| Called for new elections after obstruction in Reichstag. | Push for electoral reforms or use midterms to consolidate legislative power. | ||
| Control Legislative Process | Passed the Enabling Act to legislate without Reichstag approval. | Push for emergency powers to bypass Congress during crises. | |
| Fill Government with Loyalists | Purged officials and replaced them with loyalists. | Appoint loyalists to courts, DOJ, and federal agencies. | |
| Appointed Göring to control Prussian police. | Politicize federal law enforcement and create “task forces” led by allies. | ||
| Neutralize Opposition Parties | Banned Communist Party after Reichstag fire. | Label opposition as a “national security threat” or use surveillance/laws to ban or hinder. | |
| Imprisoned and intimidated Social Democrats. | Arrest, surveil, or intimidate critics using expanded domestic laws. | ||
| Control Media | Shut down leftist newspapers and used propaganda extensively. | Discredit media as “fake news” while promoting state-aligned outlets. | |
| Appointed Joseph Goebbels as Propaganda Minister. | Encourage social media amplification of propaganda and censor opposition. | | |
| Exploit Crises | Blamed Communists for the Reichstag fire to justify emergency decree. | Use terrorism, cyberattacks, or unrest to justify curtailing civil rights. | |
| Declared a state of emergency suspending civil liberties. | Invoke executive orders to restrict protests, speech, and movement. | ||
| Militarize and Empower Loyal Forces | Deputized Nazi Stormtroopers as auxiliary police (Hilfspolizei). | Support armed militias and deputize private groups under federal authority. | |
| Authorized police to shoot with impunity. | Pass laws granting immunity for police and military actions. | ||
| Erode Voting Rights | Intimidated voters and suppressed Communist turnout. | Implement voter ID laws, close polling places, and discredit mail-in voting. | |
| Leveraged high turnout to claim “mandate” despite minority control. | Manipulate turnout with targeted suppression and gerrymandering. | | |
| Undermine Federalism | Centralized power by eroding state autonomy. | Use federal mandates to override state laws and assert national control. | |
| Control Courts | Ignored judicial independence; courts could not intervene. | Pack courts with partisans who uphold executive actions over checks. | |
| Legalize Repression | Passed laws making detention without cause legal (“protective custody”). | Pass laws broadening surveillance and restricting due process rights. | |
| Criminalized opposition as traitors. | Label dissenters as domestic terrorists to justify legal actions. | ||
| Normalize Authoritarianism | Held rallies, used symbolism, and emphasized national unity. | Host rallies and use patriotic language to frame actions as “saving democracy.” | |
| Secure Long-Term Power | Extended powers indefinitely via emergency laws. | Extend presidential powers or delay elections under the guise of crises. | |
| Remove Democratic Safeguards | Dissolved state rights and decentralized authorities. | Nationalize police forces or override state elections via federal rulings. | |
| Suppress Dissent | Opened concentration camps for political prisoners. | Use detention centers or expanded surveillance against “radicals.” |
Visa Solutions Hub
Explore visa options and resources for your journey beyond the U.S.
Empowering Global Mobility
American Exiles is dedicated to providing essential visa information, comprehensive regional guides, and resources for individuals seeking new opportunities outside the U.S.
Visa Guidance Services
Explore visa options, regional insights, and personalized assessments for relocating abroad with ease.
Visa Insights Blog
-
Understanding Visas: A Pathway Out of the U.S.
>Exploring Visa Options For many individuals looking to leave the U.S., understanding the complex landscape of visas is crucial. Different…
-
Understanding Visa Options for Moving Out of the U.S.
>Welcome to Your Visa Resource Are you considering moving out of the U.S. and exploring new opportunities abroad? This site…
Explore Visa Options
Discover pathways to relocate from the U.S. with our comprehensive guides and tools for visa applications and immigration.