Totalitarianism

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/totalitarianism

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the ideological foundation?Driven by a utopian or revolutionary ideology aiming to transform society completely
2. What is the scope of control?Encompasses political, economic, social, cultural, and personal spheres of life
3. How does a totalitarian government keep control?They use propaganda, censorship, and sometimes terror to make people follow their ideas and stop others from speaking out.
4. Why did totalitarianism become common in the 20th century?After World War I, many people were unhappy with money problems and chaos, so strong leaders promised order and used new technology like radio and film to spread their messages.

Totalitarian State: A state that recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life.
State Terror: The use of violence and intimidation by the state to achieve political goals.
Monolithic Party: A single political party that holds all power and tolerates no opposition.