Kristina Waller

Propaganda and Ideologies Project

Using the historical background

encompassing the emergence of the Soviet
Union (after WW I), the rise and fall of Fascist
Germany (WW II), and the development of the Cold
War (post WW II); this project will require you
to find three pieces of propaganda, analyze
them and demonstrate your
understanding of why anti-liberal perspectives
oppose liberalism.

TASK 1: Interpreting Perspectives from Propaganda

1) What is propaganda?
Propaganda is the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape the perspective
of another person or group of people.

2) Using a computer, find six propaganda videos that are from the assigned time period (WWI –
Cold War). You must have at least one sample of a communist, fascist, and liberal perspective.
For each example you’ll need to describe the sample, identify the perspective/ message on the
source, back up your analysis with information drawn from the source.
Propagan Perspectiv Evidence
da Sample Propaganda Sample e/ of the
Name: Message: Perspecti
Kristina
(Fascist, Waller
ve
Communis
t, Liberal)
#1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWeZ5SKXvj8&feature=related Liberal – it During the
“He May Be was set Cold War,
A during the Russians
Communist Cold War, (Communis
” and it’s an ts) were
instructional the enemy
video about of
how to Americans,
identify and there
Communists was an
. ongoing
fear that
Russia
would
launch a
nuclear
attack.
#2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQyWPyI_UA8 Fascist – the Ultra-
“Hitler speech nationalis
Fascist Hitler gave m is the
Propaganda shortly after defining
” becoming
point of
Chancellor.
Everything
fascism,
he says ties and this is
into Ultra- reference
nationalism. d several
times in
the
speech.
#3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yDrtNEr_5M Communist - Some of
“Soviet the song is the false
National about the claims
Anthem” ideals of were lyrics
Communism such as
and where it “Sing to
would take the
Russia. Motherland
There are a , home of
few things the free…”
in the song and
lyrics, “Victory in
however, Communis
that did not m’s
exist in deathless
Stalin’s ideals…”
USSR.
#4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsqBs8iOmvE&feature=related Modern The video
“Better Liberal – a mocked
Dead than short satire the fears of
Red!” aimed at the
illustrating Americans
the by
dramatic portraying
fear behind Communist
 Kristina Waller

3) Using specific references from the examples that you looked at, describe three elements of
good propaganda.

1. Nationalism – this serves to invoke a sense of nationalistic pride in the

person listening to the propaganda, as seen in the Soviet national
anthem with the lyrics, “Created in struggle by will of the people, united
and might our Soviet land.”

2. Charisma – Hitler’s speech is very passionate and caters to the crowd he

was speaking to. It made the crowd feel important, and after he finished
talking about how Germany would rise to power on the backs of its hard-
working citizens, everyone cheered.

3. Individual importance – “He May Be a Communist” is a good way to

make each individual feel important and like they would make a
difference to better serve their nations. It shows each person how to

TASK 2: A Propaganda Portfolio

Individually you will be responsible to create a PowerPoint or folder analyzing historical propaganda.
You will be responsible to relate how the propaganda reflects criticisms and affirmations of liberalism.
The finished project will not be orally presented; therefore it needs to be clearly stated.

1) Find three propaganda posters: (one: Nazi, Soviet/Cold War, and liberalist). You will reproduce/
print the copy to place in your folder/ PowerPoint. For EACH example you will interpret the source
by showing an awareness of the historical context of the source as well as its specific criticism or
affirmation of liberalism. Your analysis for each source should be 100-150 words.
 Kristina Waller

2) Find two songs: (one that supports liberal ideals and one that is critical of an element of
liberalism). You will reprint the words to the songs and place them in your folder or
PowerPoint. Interpret the songs by summarizing the key message, tie to the historical events the
song is referring to, and comment on its specific criticism or affirmation of liberalism. Your
analysis should be between 100-150 words.

3) Answer the following questions. Your answers should include references to course material
and include Social Studies terminology. Include the questions and your answers as the final
page or slide of your project.

Given the historical context of anti-liberal ideologies, highlight the three most significant
objections to liberalism and provide a clear rationale to support each objection.

How did liberal societies respond to the challenges by the emergence of communism and
fascism?

Evaluation

Source Questions (5 items): 25 marks

Excellent Proficient Satisfactory Limited ???

Historical Context Clear and Clear Mostly clear Somewhat Were you
of the Media Concise clear looking at the
source?
Support or Oppose Accurate Accurate Explanation is Explanation is Explanation
Liberalism explanation explanation adequate and lacking is weak and
that that demonstrates development inaccurate.
 Kristina Waller

demonstrates demonstrates an awareness and Confusion of

an insightful a clear of liberalism demonstrates liberalism is
understanding understanding a faltering evident.
of liberalism of liberalism understanding
of liberalism

Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4 Source 5

Historical Context

Support or Oppose
Liberalism

TOTAL 5 x 5 = 25 marks /25

Cumulative Questions:

Given the historical context of anti-liberal ideologies, highlight the three most significant objections to
liberalism and provide a clear rationale to support each objection.

Excellent Proficient Satisfactory Limited ???

Identification of Three Insightful and Clear An An unclear An incorrect
Objections to clear identification acceptable identification identification
Liberalism identification of objections identification
of objections. of objections.
of objections of objections.
There are Significant
Slight errors
significant errors are
are presenterrors in one present
or two throughout
objections
Supported Arguments Support, facts Support, facts Support, facts Support, facts Support, facts
(Historical facts to and and and and and
support/ explain arguments are arguments are arguments are arguments are arguments are
judgments) x2 fully covered, mostly generally attempted and few and
accurate and covered, covered, some without
clear accurate and accurate and evidence is reasonable
clear clear present connections

How did liberal societies respond to the challenges by the emergence of communism and fascism?

Excellent Proficient Satisfactory Limited ???

Defined Position Accurate Accurate Position is Position is Position is
position that position that adequate and lacking weak and
demonstrates demonstrates demonstrates development inaccurate.
an insightful a clear an awareness and Confusion of
understanding understanding of liberalism demonstrates liberalism is
of liberalism of liberalism a faltering evident.
understanding
of liberalism
 Kristina Waller

Supported Arguments Support, facts Support, facts Support, facts Support, facts Support, facts
(Historical facts to and and and and and
support/ explain arguments are arguments are arguments are arguments are arguments are
judgments) x2 fully covered, mostly generally attempted and few and
accurate and covered, covered, some without
clear accurate and accurate and evidence is reasonable
clear clear present connections

TOTAL 2 x 15 = 30 marks /30

Teacher Comments:

Total Grade:

Source Questions /25

Cumulative Questions /30

Total /55