Those people always existed. The "follow my religion or we kill you" or "follow my religion or you burn in hell" are now "follow communism, accept marxism and feminism and the fact that you're racist" etc.
I think people have always been like this. The internet makes it easier to do and easier to see.
Additionally, think about what it takes to make a power grab nowadays. Find something "problematic" that somebody has said or done (pro tip everything is problematic, it's up to you to point out how) and clutch your pearls about what a bigot they are. The bar for entry is so low that it's kind of silly not to.
Those people always existed. The "follow my religion or we kill you" or "follow my religion or you burn in hell" are now "follow communism, accept marxism and feminism and the fact that you're racist" etc.
I'm no historian, so this is just my guess.
I think people have always been like this. The internet makes it easier to do and easier to see.
Additionally, think about what it takes to make a power grab nowadays. Find something "problematic" that somebody has said or done (pro tip everything is problematic, it's up to you to point out how) and clutch your pearls about what a bigot they are. The bar for entry is so low that it's kind of silly not to.