This document discusses characteristics of totalitarian governments, including that they are ruled by dictators who use propaganda and widespread terror to control people. It provides examples of totalitarian leaders from history, noting that Stalin ruled the Soviet Union cruelly and purged many people through collectivization, while Hitler took over as chancellor of Germany and became dictator after the Reichstag building was burned, developing the SS to intimidate citizens and consolidate his power.

1. Totalitarianism:
Is It in You?
Bo Campbell
Period 5
3-6-12

2. Characteristics
Totalitarian governments can beCommunist or Fascist.
Is ruled by a dictator.
Involves propaganda to show fear.
Widespread terror.

3. Fascism
Is a type of totalitarian government believing in a capitalist
mentality.
It is different than communism because they believe in
capitalism allowing individual ownership.

4. Communism
Stalin was a cruel leader. Killing many of his people during
the Great Purge using collectivization so many people
starved. He claimed some need to die for others to be
successful. He came up with the 5 Year Plan to fix the
economy and satisfy the peoples needs. He ended up exiling
Leon Trotsky from his country because he was gaining to
much power.

5. Hitler
Hitler gained his power at the Beer Hall Putsch because he
rebelled against the Weimar Republic and was arrested.
While in prison he Wrote Mein Kampf meaning “My
Struggle.”
He was then elected chancellor but as the Reichstag building
was burned down so the President let him take over
temporarily but he died. So Hitler became dictator and
developed the SS or his intimidators to keep people in fear.