Give students a 10-sign “playbook” for authoritarianism and have them track how real countries used those tactics to dismantle democracy.
 
This activity helps students move beyond memorizing dictators and start identifying patterns. Using a structured 10-sign Authoritarian Playbook, students analyze historical case studies from the 1920s–1930s (Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, or the Soviet Union) and match real laws, events, and political actions to warning signs of authoritarian rule.
 
Two Versions for increased complexity! Students can complete a single-country deep dive or compare multiple nations to identify recurring strategies—scapegoating, media control, weakening legislatures, paramilitary violence, and consolidation of executive power.

Download a Sample 

What’s Included
Authoritarian Playbook (10 warning signs chart)
Country profiles (Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Soviet Union)
One-country worksheet version
Two-country comparison worksheet version (for increased depth)
Model answer key with evidence examples
Teacher guide

What Students Will Learn
Identify laws, events, and policies that align with authoritarian warning signs
Explain how democratic institutions were weakened over time
Compare how authoritarian systems formed across different countries
Evaluate which warning signs were most influential in shifting power
Support conclusions with specific historical evidence
 
Grades: 7–12
Duration: 1–2 Class Periods
DOK Level: 2- 3
Format: Paper