Communism v. Fascism

Create small groups consisting of students who read both readings. Students will compare and contrast the central tenets of communism and fascism in a Venn diagram

1. Option 1 Digital: Use this Mural.co template. You will need to click the “New Mural from template” button to create your own editable mural. Students should place the sticky notes in the appropriate places on the Venn diagram. They should then create another sticky note to provide a brief justification for their placement.
2. Option 2 Manual: Attached is the list of attributes for the Venn diagram. Students will categorize them as common attributes of communism, fascism, or both. You can create the Venn diagram on a whiteboard, poster paper, or tool of your choosing. For each, students should discuss and provide a brief justification for their placement.

Optional Response: Have students examine the completed Venn diagram in their groups. Identify examples of attributes of these forms of government that run counter to democracy and other American values. Have students write a short written response: does one form of government or the other seem to present a greater threat to American values? Why do you say so? Time permitting, have a few students share out.

Note: if you are teaching this lesson in the context of a U.S. History course, this is a great time to make a connection to the interwar period.