Skip to main content
site header image

CPHS_APIB SS - Dictators: Assignment Overview

Guidelines

Section 1: Identification and evaluation of sources (500 word limit)

·         Provide an introduction to the topic (context)

·         Clearly state the research question and thesis with at least 3 groups

·         Evaluate 2 sources used for research by briefly explaining the nature of the two sources and their values and limitations to your research (not including the packet)

Section 2: Investigation (1100 word limit)

·         This section is the body paragraphs and conclusion

·         Provide topic and conclusion sentences for each paragraph as well as cited evidence from various sources, and an analysis that supports thesis

·         Use at least 3 secondary sources (one can be the textbook) and at least one primary source:

·         End this section with a conclusion that answers the research question based on the evidence cited.

Section 3: Small Group Reflection Discussion (not included in essay)

Bibliography

·An alphabetized bibliography (use APA).  

Word limit

·         1500-2000 words, Bibliography & references not included in word count.

Castro

Fidel Castro (Cuba 1959-2006) 

30. Evaluate the circumstances that allowed Fidel Castro to rise to power.

31. Evaluate the methods Castro used to consolidate power.

32. Evaluate the impact of Castro’s rule and policies on women and Afro Cubans  

33. To what extent did Castro achieve a totalitarian state?

34. Evaluate the ideology of Castro. 

Castro Sources:

Lynch, Michael. (2013). “Cuba under Fidel Castro”, Origins and
    Development of Authoritarian and Single-Party States, Hodder Education. 

Access to History for the IB Diploma (PDF Starter Source Links Below)

SZULC, Tad. (1986). Fidel: a Critical Portrait. William Morrow.  

(available for checkout S.S. Resource)

Netflix. (2017). The Cuba Libre Story. Episode 4-8 . Retrieved from

     https://www.netflix.com 

Ataturk

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (Turkey 1920-1938) 

Research Questions/Topics: 

  1. What were the most significant actions taken by Ataturk (Turkey) that allowed him to rise to power?
  2. To what extent did Ataturk’s nationalist and populist platforms’ achieve his goal of a uniform national identity?
  3. To what extent did Ataturk accomplish his goal of secularization?

Ataturk Sources:

Habibi, Mariam. (2010). “Chapter 4: Ataturk & the Turkish Republic.” History of Europe and the Middle East: Course Companion, Oxford University Press. (PDF Link)

Cleveland, William L., and Martin P. Bunton. (2017). “Chapter 10: Authoritarian Reform in Turkey & Iran” A History of the Modern Middle East, Westview Press. (PDF link)

Other Turkey Articles

Turkey's long history of attacks on the press. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/12/turkeys-long-history-of-attacks-on-the-press.html

http://www.mfa.gov.tr/turkish-foreign-policy-during-ataturks-era.en.mfa

Turkish Women Article

Ataturk speech to officer club

His name meant “father turk” article

Random Ataturk article

 

Turkish Constitution of 1924

Hitler

Adolf Hitler (Germany 1933-1945) 

Research Questions/Topics: 

  1. To what extent was propaganda responsible for Hitler’s totalitarian control?
  2. How effective were the opposition groups who attempted to challenge Hitler?
  3. How did Hitler’s domestic policies after 1933 impact women and minorities?
  4. How successful were Hitler’s domestic economic recovery policies from 1933 - 1939?
  5. What were Hitler’s educational policies and how effectively did they impact German nationalism after 1933.

Hitler Sources

Lynch, Michael. (2013). “Chapter 3: Germany Under Adolf Hitler, 1933-1945 .” Origins and Development  of Authoritarian and Single-Party States, Hodder Education. Access to History for the IB Diploma (PDF Starter Source Links Below)

Spielvogel, J. J., & Redles, D. (2016). Hitler and Nazi Germany: A history. Routledge, an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group. (available for checkout in SS Resource)

Todd, Allan. (2003). “Chapter 7: Weimar Germany and the Rise of Nazism, 1919-1933.” The European Dictatorships: Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Cambridge University Press. (PDF)

Todd, Allan. (2003). “Chapter 8: The Nazi Revolution: 1933-39.” The European Dictatorships: Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Cambridge University Press. Cambridge Perspectives in History (See PDF Links Below). 

Todd, Allan. (2003) “Chapter 9: Consolidating and Maintaining the Nazi Dictatorship, 1933-39.” The European Dictatorships: Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Cambridge University Press. (PDF)

 

Euro Textbook 

Spielvogel, J. J. (2009). Western civilization: Seventh Edition. Wadsworth.

Mussolini

Benito Mussolini (Italy 1922-1943)

Research Questions/Topics:

  1. Evaluate the circumstances that allowed Mussolini’s rise to power from 1919-1927
  2. Evaluate the methods Mussolini used to consolidate power from 1924-1944
  3. Evaluate the foreign policy factors that led to the decline of Mussolini.
  4. Evaluate how effectively Mussolini accomplished his domestic economic goals 1919-1939
  5. To what extent did Mussolini achieve a totalitarian state 1919-1944?
  6. Evaluate the success opposition groups had against Mussolini.

Mussolini Sources:

Todd, Allan. (2003). “Chapter 5: The Rise of Italian Fascism, 1918-1924.” The European Dictatorships: Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Cambridge University Press. Cambridge Perspectives in History. (PDF Links-see below)

Iran

Reza Khan (Iran 1924-1941): First Pahlavi King, father of “the Shah” as those in America referred to the second Pahlavi Shah or king of Iran. 

  1. To what extent did Reza Khan of Iran consolidate political power under authoritarian rule from 1925-1941?
  2. Where was the most significant impacts on Iranian women during the Pahlavi Dynasties from 1924-1979 change?  *both Reza Shah, and later, his son Mohammad Reza Shah
  3. Combo Question: How can domestic policies or reforms of Ataturk of Turkey (1923-1938)  and Reza Shah of Iran (1924-1979) be compared? 

Cleveland, William L., and Martin P. Bunton. (2017). “Chapter 10: Authoritarian Reform in Turkey & Iran” A History of the Modern Middle East, Westview Press.

Reza Kahn Sources:

Habibi, Mariam. “Iran and Reza Khan” History of Europe and the

     Middle East: Course Companion, Oxford University Press, 2010.  

Iran through the Looking Glass: History, Reform, and Revolution pp. 12-15. Watson Institute

     for International Studies, Brown University, 2012. 

 Cleveland, William L., and Martin P. Bunton. (2017). “Chapter 10: Authoritarian Reform in Turkey

     & Iran” A History of the Modern Middle East, Westview Press.

(Iran section linked here)


 

Mohammad Reza Shah: The Shah (Iran 1953-1979)

  1. What were the most significant causes and effects of of British and American sponsored Iranian coup in 1953? 
  2. To what extent did the policies and actions of Mohammad Reza Shah of Iran from 1953-1979 lead to revolution? 
  3. To what extend did Mohammad Reza Shah’s rule become authoritarian in Iran after 1953? 

Mohammad Reza Shah Sources:

Iran through the Looking Glass: History, Reform, and Revolution (2012). pp. 16-28. Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University. Retrieved from: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8EqtYZiTqJfYUpXaWxZQlk5bXM/view?usp=sharing

 

Habibi, Mariam. (2010). Iran’s government after 1953. History of Europe and the Middle East: Course Companion, Oxford University Press. Retrieved from:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8EqtYZiTqJfTzdIbXJjRWN3WXM/view?usp=sharing

CrashCourse. “Iran's Revolutions: Crash Course World History 226.” YouTube, YouTube, 26

     Feb. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w4Ku6l7OEI.

 **Cleveland, William L., and Martin P. Bunton. (2017). “Chapter 10: Authoritarian Reform in Turkey

     & Iran.” A History of the Modern Middle East. Westview Press.

(Mohammad Reza Shah section linked here)

 

Combination Questions

Combination Questions:

  1. Which dictator, Mussolini or Stalin, used propaganda more effectively during their respective reigns?
  2. Which dictator, Hitler or Stalin, used propaganda more effectively during their respective reigns?
  3. Which dictator, Hitler or Mussolini, used propaganda more effectively during their respective reigns?
  4. How can the policies directed towards women by Hitler and Stalin during their respective reigns be compared? 
  5. How can state based education and youth organization/programs during the respective reigns of Hitler & Stalin be compared?  

Nasser

Gamal Nasser (Egypt 1952-1970)

Research Questions/Topics: 

21. Evaluate the circumstances that allowed Nassar to rise to power.

22. Evaluate the methods Nassar used to consolidate power.

23. Evaluate the foreign policy factors that led to the decline of Nassar.

24. Evaluate how effectively Nassar accomplished his domestic economic goals.

25. To what extent did Nasser achieve a totalitarian state?

26. Evaluate the success opposition groups had against Nassar.

 

Nasser Sources:

Lynch, Michael. (2013). “Chapter 6: Egypt under Gamal Nasser 1952-1970.” Origins and

     Development  of Authoritarian and Single-Party States, Hodder Education.

     Access to History for the IB Diploma (Starter Source PDF-see links below)

Cleveland, William L., and Martin P. Bunton. (2017). “Chapter 15: The Middle East in the Age of 

Nasser-The Egyptian Base .” A History of the Modern Middle East. Westview Press.

Habibi, Mariam. (2010). “Egypt.” History of Europe and the Middle East: Course Companion, Oxford University Press, pp. 314–325. (PDF link)

Thompson, Jason. (2011). “Chapter 18: Nasser .” A History of Egypt From Earliest Times to the Present, The American University in Cairo Press. (PDF)

Nasser Film Industry

Nasser Propaganda war

Propaganda and Mass Persuasion: A Historical Encyclopedia, 1500 to the Present

By Nicholas John Cull, David Holbrook Culbert, David Welch

Stalin

Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union Late 1920’s-1953)

Research Questions/Topics:

  1. What were the most important circumstances that allowed Stalin to rise to power 1917-1933?
  2. How effective were each of the methods Stalin used to consolidate power 1927-1953?
  3. Compare and contrast the methods and goals of the early purges 1931-1935, the Great Terror 1936-1940 and later purges 1941-1953.
  4. How effectively did Stalin accomplished his domestic economic goals 1928-1941?
  5. To what extent did Stalin achieve a totalitarian state 1928-1953?

Stalin Sources:

Lynch, Michael. (2013). “Chapter 2: The USSR under Joseph Stalin, 1924-1953.” Origins and
    Development of Authoritarian and Single-Party States, Hodder Education. 

Access to History for the IB Diploma (PDF Starter Source Links Below)

Dziewanowski, M. K. (2002). Russia in the Twentieth Century. 6th ed., Pearson. 

(Russian History text available for checkout)

Conquest, Robert. (1992). Stalin: Breaker of Nations. Penguin Group.

(biography available for checkout)

Todd, Allan. (2003). “Chapter 2: From Leninism to Stalinism, 1918-1928.” The European

     Dictatorships: Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Cambridge University Press.

     Cambridge Perspectives in History. (PDF)

Todd, Allan. (2003). “Chapter 3: Stalin’s Revolution from Above.” The European Dictatorships: Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Cambridge University Press. Cambridge Perspectives in History. 

 

Todd, Allan. (2003). “Chapter 4: The Stalinist state, 1929-1939.” The European Dictatorships: Hitler,

Stalin, Mussolini, Cambridge University Press. Cambridge Perspectives in

History.

 

Euro Textbook 

Spielvogel, J. J. (2009). Western civilization: Seventh Edition. Wadsworth.

Tito

Josip Broz Tito (Yugoslavia 1945-1980)  

Research Questions/Topics:

  1. Evaluate the circumstances or  methods that allowed Tito to rise to power. 1929-1954

  2. Evaluate the effectiveness and methods of Tito’s domestic policies 1945-1980

  3. Evaluate the goals and methods of Tito’s foreign policies 1939-1980

  4. To what extent did Tito achieve a totalitarian state 1945-1980

 

Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OSrPnPwxm75sfbA-nq1fFQTdljClY0hcu6k_q2XVYH4/edit?usp=sharing

Tito Book:  One handout per paper.

Tito Book:  One book per class period​

Nyerere

Julius Nyerere (Tanzania 1961-1985) 

35. What factors and circumstances allowed Nyerere to come to power? 

36. In what ways and with what results did Nyerere suppress opposition? 

37. In what ways did Nyerere’s involvement in foreign affairs assist his domestic authority and power?

38. In what ways did Nyerere impact Tanzanian politics from 1931-1985?

39.  To what extent were Nyerere’s economic policies a success for the Tanzanian people? 

40.  How did Nyerere’s rule impact women and minorities in Tanzania?

41.  How did Nyerere’s rule impact media and propaganda in Tanzania?

42.  To what extent were Nyerere's policies achievements for the Tanzanian people?  

Nyerere Sources

Lynch, Michael. (2013). “Tanzania under Nyerere”, Origins and Development of Authoritarian and Single-Party States, Hodder Education. Access to History for the IB Diploma (PDF Starter Source Links Below)

To what extent were Nyerere’s policies achievements for the Tanzanian people?

  1. See page -318-320 from “Impact of Rule” reading

Peron

Juan Peron (Argentina 1946-1974)

43. What circumstances allowed Peron to come to power in Argentina by 1946??

44. What ideologies and factors influenced Peron’s political philosophy? 

45.  What impact did Eva Peron have on the presidency of Juan Peron and the Argentine people from 1946-1952? 

46.  How did Peron establish his authority in Argentina from 1946-1955?

47.  What was the nature of opposition to Peron and it what ways was this opposition dealt with?

48.  To what extent did Peron achieve a totalitarian state in Argentina by 1974?

49. How did Peron’s domestic policies impact the Argentine people from 1946-1974? 

50.  To what extent was Peron’s rule represent a liberal or socialist agenda? 

Peron Sources

Lynch, Michael. (2013). “Argentina under Juan Peron”, Origins and Development of Authoritarian and Single-Party States. Hodder Education. Access to History for the IB Diploma (PDF Starter Source Links Below)

South Africa

South African Apartheid 

59.  What the origins and characteristics of Apartheid policies on the people of South Africa from 1948-1964? 

60. What were the circumstances and results of non-violent and violent protests against Apartheid from 1948-1964? 

South African Apartheid Sources

Rogers, Mark. (2015) Oxford IB Diploma Program: Rights and Protests.  Oxford University Press.  Retrieved from: 

Rwanda

1994 Rwandan Genocide 

  1. What were the most significant causes of the Rwandan Genocide in 1994?

Rwanda Sources

Cannon, Martin. (2015) Oxford IB Diploma Program: Conflict & Intervention.  Oxford University Press.  

  1. European Imperialism
  2. Colonial Rwanda 1884-1962
  3. Rwanda from Independence to Civil War 1962-1990
  4. The Last Years of the Habyarimana Regime: Civil War-1990-1994
  5. The Assasination of Presidents 1994
  6. Course & Interventions of Genocide 
  7. International Response
  8. Impact