Has There Ever Been a Good Dictator? TED‑Ed Analysis Guide

Why Teach Has There Ever Been a Good Dictator?

Historian Stephanie Honchell Smith’s TED‑Ed animation asks whether absolute rulers can ever truly serve the people and remain virtuous. This Good Dictator TED‑Ed analysis guide equips teachers with resources to unpack its timely message.

By tracing examples from ancient Rome to modern strongmen, she demonstrates how unchecked power corrodes institutions and freedoms, offering a vivid case study for democracy units.

What You Get – Analysis Guide

• Complete Teacher Guide (~9 pages, Google Doc/PDF)
• Editable Student Worksheet (15‑slide Google Slides/PPTX)
• 10 SAT‑level vocabulary tasks with context quotes
• 4 chronological short‑answer question pairs + proof table
• 5 end‑of‑talk reflection challenges
• 20‑item self‑graded Google Forms quiz & answer keys

Using this Good Dictator TED‑Ed analysis guide

Begin with a quick poll on traits of “good leadership,” then show the animation. Pause at each historical example for source‑based questioning. Students use the guide to compare dictatorships and draft civic‑action plans that defend checks and balances.

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Standards Alignment

• CCRA.R.1
• CCRA.R.2
• CCRA.R.3
• CCRA.R.4
• CCRA.R.6
• CCRA.W.1
• CCRA.W.2
• CCRA.W.3
• CCRA.SL.1
• CCRA.L.4

DISCLAIMER: This worksheet and question set for the TED‑Ed lesson “Has There Ever Been a Good Dictator?” (2022) is independently compiled for classroom use. It is not endorsed by TED‑Ed or Stephanie Honchell Smith and is provided solely under fair‑use educational guidelines.