It Can’t Happen Here Terms

The “Corpos” are Windrip’s supporters and government officials. Their nickname comes from the name of Windrip’s American Corporate State and Patriotic Party, which advocates for Corporatism—an economic system in which worker representatives and business… read analysis of Corpos

Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian political philosophy that advocates for the government to organize everything in society for the sake of economic and military expansion. Usually, fascists believe that the people of their nation are… read analysis of Fascism

“The Great War” is another common term for World War I. read analysis of Great War

Liberalism is a political philosophy that supports democracy, equality before the law, and universal civil rights and freedoms. Whereas authoritarians (including fascists and most communists) generally believe that a minority ought to impose the best… read analysis of Liberalism

The New Underground is the clandestine resistance movement, led by Walt Trowbridge, that tries to fight Buzz Windrip’s fascist dictatorship by spying on the Corpos and Minute Men, helping political dissidents escape… read analysis of New Underground

Rotary Clubs are the local chapters of the service organization Rotary International. Sinclair Lewis viewed Rotarians as naïve, middle-class conformists who tried to earn social status by talking like humanitarians, without actually doing anything. read analysis of Rotary Club

Trianon is a concentration camp that the Windrip government builds on the site of a former girls’ school near Fort Beulah. It is named for the Grand Trianon, an extravagant palace built for Louis XIV… read analysis of Trianon