Terrorism - Coach Yeager's History Page · L Z 1) Terrorists use fear and violence to scare people. 2) There are different kinds of terrorist groups with different aims. 3) Terrorist

The history of terrorism is as old as mankind. The oldest records about the history of terrorism date back to the first century AD. A

Jewish group, called the Sicarii, killed people who worked together with the Ancient Romans in an attempt to drive out the Romans

from Judea (the land of the Jews).

The English term of ‘terrorism’ was first used during the French

Revolution in the 19th century. The Jacobins, who ruled France

during its revolution, used violence and intimidation to make

ordinary people obey their regime. This event is known as ‘The

Reign of Terror’.

Terrorism is defined as the use (or threat) of violence for a

religious or political goal. Terrorists use fear and violence to

intimidate societies or governments. Many different kinds of

organizations have used terrorism to achieve their goals. It has

been practiced by nationalist groups, religious groups and even

ruling governments. These organizations have different aims.

Some left-winged organizations have tried to overthrow

capitalist governments, separatists want to break away from countries where they are a minority and religious groups want to

establish governments that are based on their religious law. Terrorist groups and its members don’t see themselves as terrorists. They

see themselves as freedom fighters and patriots.

Their acts are organized in a way to attract maximum attention and to

pressure governments to do or not do something. Most of the time,

terrorist organizations are small groups who fight against governments

that are more established and better-armed. However, it is very difficult

for countries to defend themselves against terrorism. These

organizations are usually very secretive and don’t have any clear target

that governments can fight against.

In recent times, terrorism has had a massive impact on society. It is

considered to be one of the greatest threats to world peace and

security. In order to respond to terrorist attacks, governments may

reduce civil liberties to catch terrorists. This also happened after the

9/11 attacks in 2001. The American government allowed security

agencies to monitor phone calls, emails and other kinds of

communication.

Terrorism INTRODUCTION

An execution by guillotine during the Reign of Terror

September 11, 2001, terrorist attack

on the New York World Trade Center

1) Terrorists use fear and violence to scare people.

2) There are different kinds of terrorist groups with different aims.

3) Terrorist groups aim to kill and intimidate minority groups.

4) Terrorists groups have larger groups and better weapons than

governments.

5) In some situations, governments reduce the freedom of its people in

order to catch terrorists.

6) Some terrorist groups fight governments because they want to

separate from a country.

7) Terrorists use violence in order to get what they want.

8) Terrorists don’t see themselves as terrorists because they believe

that they are fighting for a good cause.

Exercise 1: Are the following statements true or false?

( )

( )

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( )

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Z X H A X C D L P L S Y J

X M H L T C I B Q X T S T

H Y F G M B V F Q L S S D

R O R R E T F O N G I E R

Z I V R A E F W T R T S Y

L R T I U I Y M O T A I P

Z Y A K O F S R E D R C S

F A S V R L R K U G A A U

I H B Q C E E N C K P R X

Z W Y T T R N N X F E I J

J A C O B I N S C O S I Z

V H Q J Z E F C S E R Y N

Exercise 2: Find the words below in the word search.

Separatists Terrorist Sicarii Jacobins

Reign of Terror Violence Fear Liberty

When you hear the word terrorism, most people immediately think of ISIS or other Islamic extremists. In fact, there are many other

kinds of terrorism. Different types of terrorism require different measures to deal with them.

State Terrorism State Terrorism is the use of terror by a government to keep its population under control. This kind of terrorism is the original form. It

already happened during the French Revolution in the early 19th century. The government executed people in order to intimidate its

people. Nonetheless, rulers have possibly used this kind of terrorism for centuries to control their people.

Religious Terrorism Terrorist acts that are motivated by religious beliefs is called religious terrorism. It is

a very dangerous kind of terrorism because of the extreme fanaticism of these

terrorists. Many of these kind of terrorists are willing to sacrifice their own lives for

their cause. ISIS, Al Qaeda and Hezbollah are some examples of religious terrorist

groups.

Right Wing Terrorism Right Wing terrorist groups aim to fight liberal government and restore traditional

social orders. This kind of terrorism is often characterized by militias and gangs. In

many cases, this type of terrorism is motivated by their hate for ethnic minorities.

Some examples of this kind of right wing terrorist organizations include Neo-Fascists

and the Ku Klux Klan.

Left Wing Terrorism Left Wing Terrorism aims to overthrow capitalist governments and replace

them with socialist or communist societies. These kind of groups are often

influenced by Marxist and other communist thoughts (Karl Marx is the

founder of communism). Left wing extremists want to attack the established

system and get rid of class distinction. The FARC from Colombia is a famous

left wing terrorist group.

Separatist Terrorism Separatist Terrorism is a form of terrorism that is motivated by nationalism.

Their goals is to separate from a nation and form an independent country.

These kind of groups are often minorities with different ethnic or religious

backgrounds. They feel that their rights as a group are oppressed. ETA, PKK

and the Tamil Tigers are examples of separatist organizations.

Terrorism DIFFERENT TYPES

Al Qaeda terrorist

Karl Marx

1) State terrorism is a kind of terrorism where terrorists want

to overthrow a government.

a. true b. false

2) Which kind of terrorism is characterized by extreme

fanaticism?

a. state terrorism b. religious terrorism

c. right wing terrorism d. separatist terrorism

3) Which kind of terrorism occurred during the French

Revolution in the early 19th century?

a. state terrorism b. left wing terrorism


4) What kind of terrorist group is Al Qaeda?



Exercise 3: Choose the best answers for the questions below.

5) Which of the following types of terrorist groups want to

form their own country?



6) What kind of terrorism did Karl Marx influence?


c. right wing terrorism d. none of the above

7) Which kind of terrorism is usually carried out by ethnic

minorities?


c. separatist terrorism d. left wing terrorism

8) What kind of terrorist group is Al Qaeda?



Exercise 4: The words below are chopped in half. Find the pieces that fit together.

1) ____________________________ 4) ____________________________ 7) ____________________________

2) ____________________________ 5) ____________________________ 8) ____________________________

3) ____________________________ 6) ____________________________

Major Attacks TERRORISM

9/11 Attacks The 9/11 attacks probably do not need any introduction. It is

the deadliest attack to have ever been carried out against the

United States of America. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives

and approximately 9,000 people were injured. Its impact has

been so massive that it still has an effect on the country’s

domestic and foreign policies.

Al Qaeda claims to be

responsible for the attack.

Nineteen terrorists carried

out the assault. They

managed to kidnap four

planes and crashed two of

these planes into the World

Trade Center in New York.

The third plane crashed into

the Pentagon in Washington

DC. The fourth plane crashed

into a field in Pennsylvania. However, it is believed that the

plane was heading to Washington DC. The United States

declared the War on Terror soon after the disaster.

Yazidi Communities Bombing The Yazidi Communities Bombing occurred in 2007 near Mosul,

Iraq. It was a series of suicide attacks in Yazidi towns. Yazidis are

an ethnic group with a Kurdish culture. They practice an ancient

religion called Zoroastrianism and primarily live in Northern

Iraq. The bombs killed 500 people and left more than 1,500

people wounded making it the deadliest terrorist attack after

the 9/11 attacks. The terrorists used a petrol tanker, three cars

and two tons of explosives as bombs. Before the attacks, there

had been tensions between

the Yazidis and Sunni

Muslims. No terrorist group

has claimed responsibility

for the attacks, but it is

believed that they were

carried out by Al Qaeda.

Massacre of Sri Lankan Police Officers In 1990, the Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam (LTTE) killed

more than 600 unarmed Sri Lankan police officers. The LTTE was

a separatist organization that did not want Indian presence in

Sri Lanka. LTTE militants started the attack with an abduction of

three policemen in a police station. Soon after, 250 LTTE

members stormed the police station and demanded the

surrender of many police stations in the region. Most police

stations agreed to surrender. The LTTE took some officers to

airports and military academies, but at least 600 were driven

into the jungle. The terrorists tied up all policemen and

executed them.

Oklahoma City Bombing The Oklahoma Federal City Building

was attacked with bombs in 1995. It

is the second deadliest terrorist

attack in the United States. The

bomb destroyed the building, killed

168 people and injured 800 people.

The attack was carried out by anti-

government militant Timothy

McVeigh.

Beslan School Siege The Beslan school siege began on 1 September 2004 and lasted

three days. Islamic terrorists kidnapped 1,100 people (including

777 children). The attack was carried out by Muslim militants

who demanded independence of Chechnya. Chechnya is a part

of Russia. There are many separatist and Islamic groups in the

region. The hostage

ended when

Russian security

forces stormed the

building. At least

385 people were

killed, including 186

children.

The Grand Mosque Seizure In 1979, Islamic militants took control of the holiest place of

Islam, the Grand Mosque in Mecca. The terrorist group

kidnapped hundreds of pilgrims who were present for the

annual pilgrimage to Mecca, the Hajj. The leader of the terrorist

group claimed that he

was the “redeemer”

of Islam and that all

Muslims should obey

him. More than 250

people were killed

and 500 were left

wounded.

Madrid Train Bombings The Madrid train bombings occurred in 2004 and is one of the

deadliest attacks in Europe. The attacks consisted of a series of

bombings on a train in Madrid. It is believed that a branch of Al

Qaeda carried out the attack. Almost 200 people were killed in

these bombings.

Pan Am Flight 103 The terrorist attack on

Pan Am flight 103 is also

known as the Lockerbie

Bombing. In 1988, a Pan

Am flight from London

to New York exploded.

All 259 passengers and

Crew members were killed in the explosion. The plane crashed

in Lockerbie, Scotland. It is believed that the Libyan government

ordered the attack as a retaliation for military confrontations

with the US Navy in the 1980s.

London Transport Bombing The London Transport bombing took place in 2005. Three

bombs went off on the London Underground trains across the

city and another bomb

exploded in a bus. The

attack was carried out

by Islamic extremists.

The bombs killed 52

people and over 700

more were injured.

World Trade Center Bombing Before the 9/11 attacks in New York, the World Trade Center

suffered a major terrorist attack. In 1993, a truck bomb was

detonated in the parking garage beneath the WTC. The

terrorists aimed to bring down the two towers, but their plan

failed. Nonetheless,

the explosion created

a massive hole in the

building and killed six

people. The attack

was carried out by

Islamic extremists.

Paris Attacks On 13 November 2015, Paris was hit by six shootings and three

suicide bombings. The attacks took place at well-known places

across the city. More than 350 people were injured and 139

people were killed. The day after the disaster, ISIS claimed

responsibility for the attacks.

1) What is the LTTE and what did they want?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

2) Name five terrorist attacks that were carried out by Islamic

extremists.

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

3) What was the Grand Mosque Seizure?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

4) What was the deadliest terrorist attack in Europe?

____________________________________________________

5) Who bombed the Oklahoma Federal City building in 1995?

____________________________________________________

Exercise 5: Answer the questions below.

6) Who was responsible for the crash of Pan Am flight 103?

____________________________________________________

7) Name three terrorist attacks that occurred in the United

States.

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

8) Who is responsible for the Paris attacks in 2015?

____________________________________________________

9) What do you know about the Yazidi communities bombing?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

10) Which is deadliest terrorist attack in recorded history?

____________________________________________________

Exercise 6: Complete the crossword puzzle.

Across 1) Which is the holiest place in Islam?

4) A part of Russia which is home to many

religious and separatist groups.

6) Terrorists bombed ... in the London and

Madrid attacks.

7) The LTTE killed more than 600 ... in Sri Lanka.

Down

2) Which terrorist organization was responsible

for the 9/11 attacks?

3) In which country did Pan Am flight 103 crash?

5) An ethnic group with a Kurdish culture.

Al Qaeda is a terrorist network of radical Muslims that has declared the Jihad, or holy war, on the

West. The organization is responsible for many terrorist attacks all over the world, including the

September 11 attacks in the United States. Until 2011, the group was led by Osama bin Laden. Al

Qaeda is believed to be a network of several terrorist groups, which are mainly located in the

Middle East.

Al Qaeda wants to punish Jews and Christians for all their ‘wrongdoings’ against Muslims. They

want to create a Muslim world with Islamic political leadership, which is also referred to as Sharia.

The organization was founded in Afghanistan in the 1980s when the country was fighting against the Soviet Union. Their aim was to

expel the occupying Russian forces and they were backed by the United States. After the Russian Army left Afghanistan, Al Qaeda

continued their Jihad against enemies of the Islam. Currently, Al Qaeda operates in around 50 countries around the world.

After the death of Osama Bin Laden in 2011, it is believed that Ayman al-Zawahiri is the leader of Al Qaeda. The United States has killed

many top members of the Al Qaeda group through drone strikes or by use of Special Forces. Despite this, the terrorist group still has

major operations in Somalia, Syria, Libya and Yemen.


1) Al Qaeda is ..

a. led by Osama bin Laden.

b. responsible for the September 11 attacks.

c. fighting against the Soviet Union.

d. B and C are correct.

2) Who are enemies of Al Qaeda?

a. the United States b. Israel

c. Christians d. All of above

3) Al Qaeda was..

a. formed during the Soviet Afghan War.

b. once backed by the United States.

c. founded by Muslims.

d. All of the above

Exercise 8: Match the words on the left with the definitions on the right.

A war against unbelievers

The founder of Al Qaeda

A network of Muslim militants

Islamic law based on the Qur’an

A former communist country

The country where Al Qaeda was founded

The current leader of Al Qaeda

A remote-controlled aircraft

Afghanistan

Sharia

Al-Zawahiri

Soviet Union

Jihad

Al Qaeda

Drone

Bin Laden

4) Sharia is ..

a. the wrongdoings of Christians.

b. the holy war of Muslim radicals.

c. the army of the Soviet Union.

d. a political system based on the Qur’an.

5) The United States ..

a. has eliminated Al Qaeda. b. killed several leaders of Al Qaeda.

c. use drones to fight terrorism. d. B and C are correct.

6) Which statement(s) below are true?

a. The word ‘Al Qaeda’ means holy war.

b. Al Qaeda was defeated in 2011 when Osama bin Laden was killed.

c. Al Qaeda wants to create a Muslim world.

d. Al Qaeda was formed in the Soviet Union in the 1980s.

Al Qaeda RELIGIOUS TERRORISM

Osama bin Laden

Irish Republican Army IRA

The Provisional Irish Republican Army was an organization that wanted to unite Ireland and Northern Ireland and make it a socialist

country. The group split from the Irish Republican Army in 1969. They used violence to remove Northern Ireland from the United

Kingdom. The organization officially came to an end in 1997 and over that time, they had 10,000 members.

In order to create a united Ireland, they used political persuasion, but also armed

attacks and bombings. Its main opponents were the British Army and Protestant

paramilitary groups. At first, the IRA wanted to remove the government of Northern

Ireland and use violence against the British Army. After the Bloody Sunday attack in

1972, the IRA recruited many more members. Bloody Sunday was an incident that

occurred in Northern Ireland when British soldiers killed 13 civilians who protested

against the British policy of locking up suspected Irish Nationalists.

Sinn Fein was the political side of the IRA. It was a Republican (Catholic) party that had

the same interests as the IRA, but did not carry out any attacks.

Nearly 1,800 people died in the IRA’s armed campaign. The victims of the attacks primarily

included British security forces, but also 640 civilians. The IRA itself lost approximately

300 members during its 20-year existence. In 1997, the IRA agreed to stop its attacks and

would only use political and democratic ways of achieving their goals.

1) When was the IRA established and when did they stop their

operations?

____________________________________________________

2) What did the IRA want?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

3) What were the main targets of the IRA?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

4) What kind of terrorist organization was the IRA?




5) What is Bloody Sunday?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

6) What is Sinn Fein?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

7) How many people did the IRA kill?

____________________________________________________

Old Bailey Bombing, 1973

IRA members

FARC TERRORISM IN COLOMBIA

FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) is a left wing group of guerillas in Colombia.

In English, FARC means the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The organization was formed

in the 1960s as the military part of the Colombian Communist Party. The United States, Canada

and the European Union classify FARC as a terrorist organization. However, other countries such

as Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina do not regard the FARC as a terrorist group. They see the

FARC as rebels or revolutionaries.

The group has an armed conflict with the government of Colombia. They conduct all kinds

of violent acts, such as kidnappings, extortion, bombings and shoot-outs. They usually target

wealthy landowners, foreign tourists and government officials. Their operations are funded

by the ransom from kidnappings, illegal mining and the production of drugs. The group is

present in approximately 20% of Colombia’s territory, mostly in the rainforests of the

southeast and along the Andes Mountains.

FARC’s aim is to overthrow the government of Colombia and establish a communist system.

They say that they represent the rural poor population of the country against the wealthy

elite. The rebels oppose the privatization of natural resources and large corporations.

It is estimated that FARC has around 9,000 members, though the number of members has dwindled because of government and police

attacks. In the last few years, FARC and the Colombian government have negotiated for peace.

1) FARC has religious motives for their attacks.

2) FARC wants to separate from Colombia and form

their own independent state.

3) FARC conducts attacks on ordinary citizens.

4) The conflict between FARC and the Colombian

government is ongoing.

5) The U.S. and the E.U. support the actions of FARC.

6) FARC wants to establish a communist

government in Colombia.

7) FARC has weakened in the last few years.

8) FARC produces and sells drugs in order to finance

their operations.


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Exercise 11: Unscramble the words, hints are given below.

1) uglrisela ________________ FARC is a group of communist … .

2) neoottirx ________________ A violent act that FARC conducts.

3) eoastinfrr ________________ Where do most FARC members hide?

4) mncomiusm ________________ What kind of government does FARC want to install?

5) envezueal ________________ A country that does not see FARC as a terrorist group.

FARC’s logo

FARC guerillas

Euskadi Ta Askatasuna ETA

ETA is a nationalist and separatist organization from the north of Spain and a small part in the

southwest of France. ETA stands for Euskadi ta Askatasuna, this means “Basque Fatherland and

Liberty”. The group was founded in 1959 and aims to establish an independent Basque homeland.

Basque is a province in Spain. Batasuna is political party and is considered to be the political side

of ETA. In 2003, the Supreme Court banned the party.

Since 1968, the terrorist group has been responsible for killing 829 civilians and carrying out

approximately 1,600 attacks. They undertook violent attacks such as robberies, bombings and

kidnappings in order to reach their goal. Most of ETA’s targets are government

officials. They almost killed Jose Maria Aznar with a car bomb in 1995. Aznar

later became the prime minister of Spain. During the same year, government

investigators disrupted a plot to kill the king of Spain, King Juan Carlos.

There have been numerous negotiations between ETA and the national

government of Spain to cease fire, but none of them have been successful.

However, in 2010, ETA declared a permanent ceasefire that is still in force. It

is estimated that the ETA attacks have cost the Spanish government more than

$10 billion.

1) How many people did ETA kill?

a. none b. 152 c. 829 d. 1,600

2) What does ETA want?

a. To make Spain a communist country.

b. They want the king to abdicate and form a republic.

c. They want their province to be independent from Spain.

d. None of the above.

3) Which kind of violent acts did ETA conduct?

a. robberies b. killings

c. abductions d. all of the above

4) Who did ETA target most in their attacks?

a. politicians b. civilians

c. people from Basque d. none of the above

5) When was ETA founded?

a. 1959 b. 1968 c. 1995 d. 2003

6) When did ETA stop their violent attacks?

a. 1968 b. 1995 c. 2003 d. 2010


7) What is Basque?

a. the leader of ETA b. the king of Spain

c. a province d. a terrorist group

8) What is Batasuna?

a. a political party b. the non-violent part of ETA

c. the supreme court in Spain d. A and B are correct

9) What kind of terrorist group is ETA?

a. left wing

b. separatist

c. religious

d. right wing

ETA’s symbol

Members of ETA

Hezbollah MUSLIM RADICALS

Hezbollah is an Islamic political party and a military organization which fights against

Israel and “western imperialism” in Lebanon. The United States and the European

Union considers Hezbollah to be a terrorist organization. The organization was

established in 1982, during the Lebanese Civil War. Their main goals are to establish

an Islamic government across the Arab world and to destroy the state of Israel. They

believe that Israel is occupying Muslim land and therefore has no right to exist. It

blames the United States and Israel for many problems in the Middle East. Hezbollah

was long supported by Iran who provided the group with arms and money.

The group is responsible for numerous attacks against Israel. Hezbollah has launched

thousands of rockets into Israeli territory. It was also responsible for the 1983 bombing of the

U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut. The bombing resulted in the deaths of 241 Americans. The

paramilitary wing of Hezbollah is believed to be more powerful than the Lebanese Army. For

that reason, it is often described as a “state within a state”. Hezbollah has increasingly become

involved in the Syrian civil war, where its fighters have supported the regime of Assad. It is

believed that Hezbollah has 1,000 active guerrillas and another 8,000 volunteers. The main

tactic of Hezbollah is the use of suicide bombers, shoot-outs and firing rockets and missiles.

1) What is Hezbollah?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

2) What does Hezbollah want to achieve?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________


3) From which country does Hezbollah operate?

____________________________________________________

4) Why does Hezbollah want to destroy Israel?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

5) Why is Hezbollah described as “a state within a state”?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

6) What kinds of violence does Hezbollah use?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Flag of Hezbollah

Hezbollah soldiers

Taliban MUSLIM RADICALS

The Taliban is a radical Islamic movement in Afghanistan and some parts of Pakistan.

Mohammed Omar was the commander and spiritual leader of the group until his death in 2013.

The Taliban was formed in the early 1990s. In 1996 (during Afghanistan’s civil war), they seized

power in Afghanistan and declared the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. They controlled

approximately 90% of the country and ruled until 2001.

The Taliban enforced the most extreme type of sharia (Islamic law). They brutally treated women

and killed numerous Afghan civilians. One of their most cruel acts was the killing of 130 students

and teachers in a high school in Northern Pakistan. The Taliban organized public executions for

murderers and adulterers. They would cut of people’s hands if they were found guilty of theft. All

men were required to grow beards and all women had to wear a burqa. A burqa is a piece of clothing

that covers a woman from head to foot, including the face. According to the United Nations, the

Taliban is responsible for 75% of all Afghan civilian casualties in 2010, and 80% in 2012.

One of the most controversial terrorist acts of the Taliban was the attack

on schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai. She was shot in the head by a Taliban

gunman because she went to school. Luckily, she survived the attack.

In 2001, the United States Army invaded Afghanistan and overthrew the

Taliban regime soon after. Nonetheless, the organization is still fighting

against the Afghan and Pakistani governments and it remains one of the

most deadly terrorist groups in the world.

1) Osama bin Laden was the founder and leader of

the Taliban.

2) The Taliban ruled Afghanistan until they were

defeated by the United States.

3) Sharia is a legal system that is based on Islam.

4) Malala Yousafzai was a member of the Taliban.

5) The Taliban does not carry out violent attacks

anymore.

6) The cruel acts of the Taliban between 1996 and

2001 is an example of state terrorism.

7) Mohammed Omar is the current leader of the

Taliban.


( )

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( )

( )

( )

( )

Exercise 15: Write down the definitions of the words below.

1) Mohammed Omar

________________________________________________

2) Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

3) Malala Yousafzai

________________________________________________

4) Burqa

________________________________________________

Malala Yousafzai Taliban militant

Taliban religious police

beating woman in public

Taliban logo

Rote Armee Fraktion RAF

The Rote Armee Fraktion (RAF) or Red Army Faction was a left wing terrorist group that was led by Andreas

Baader and Ulrike Meinhof. They were also known as the Baader-Meinhof Group. The organization

described themselves as a communist “urban guerilla” group. The RAF was founded in West Germany and

operated between 1970 and 1998.

RAF aimed to destroy the government of the Federal

Republic of Germany (West Germany). They believed that it

was a fascist state. Fascism is a dictatorial and nationalistic

right-wing system of government. The group was opposed

to Nazi influences in West Germany, the war in Vietnam and

capitalism. It was engaged in robberies, shoot-outs,

assassinations, kidnappings and bombings. The autumn of

1977 was the most violent time of the organization. This

time became known as the “German Autumn”.

The RAF was responsible for killing 34 people, numerous bombings, arsons and other crimes between 1970

and 1998.The group officially dissolved in 1998 when they sent a declaration to the Reuters news agency.

"Almost 28 years ago, on 14 May 1970, the RAF arose in a campaign of liberation. Today we end this

project. The urban guerrilla in the shape of the RAF is now history."

1) The Rote Armee Fraktion is also known as … .

a. RAF b. Baader-Meinhof Group

c. Red Army Faction d. all of the above

2) What kind of violent attacks did the RAF commit?

a. killings b. robberies

c. abductions d. all of the above

3) What kind of terrorist group was the RAF?

a. left wing b. separatist

c. religious d. right wing

4) What was the aim of RAF?

a. to establish a fascist state in West Germany

b. to make West Germany independent from Germany

c. to overthrow the government of West Germany

d. to defeat Nazi Germany

5) What kind of political ideology did the RAF have?

a. communism b. fascist

c. dictatorial d. capitalist


6) What is the “German Autumn”?

a. the time of the 2nd World War

b. a violent time with many RAF attacks

c. the time between the founding and the end of the RAF

d. none of the above

Andreas Baader & Ulrike Meinhof

RAF’s logo

Hanns Martin Schleyer

after being captured by

RAF militants.

RAF bomb attack, 1989

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is a group of Sunni militants. The organization self-

proclaimed a state in Iraq and Syria in the Middle East. This state is also called the caliphate, which

is an Islamic state that is led by a supreme religious and political leader (a caliph). The group has

attacked numerous military and

government targets in Iraq and Syria and

claims to have killed thousands of Iraqi

civilians. Apart from that, ISIS is also

known for carrying out mass killings by killing dozens of people at a time and

having public executions.

The group was founded in 1999 and was a branch of Al Qaeda in Iraq. In 2013,

ISIS gained a lot of support in Iraq as a result of discrimination against Sunni

Muslims in Iraq. After ISIS entered the Syrian Civil War, it established a large

presence in several Syrian regions. According to estimates, ISIS had over

30,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq in late 2014. Al Qaeda cut all ties with ISIS in 2014 because of the group’s brutality.

ISIS wants to establish an Islamic State in the Sunni regions of Iraq. However, since the group got involved in the Syrian Civil War, they

got control over the Sunni-majority areas in Syria. In June, 2014, ISIS proclaimed a worldwide caliphate with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as

the supreme leader (caliph). ISIS claims to have religious authority over all Muslims in the word and wants to control all Muslim

inhabited regions all around the world.

ISIS is extremely ruthless against minorities who live in ISIS controlled areas. Many people have

been brutally murdered. Christians, Yazidis and other minorities have fled to other areas. Even

Muslims who do not follow ISIS’ interpretation of Islam are murdered by the militants.

Many Muslims from all across the globe have criticized

the actions and the activities of this extremist group.

The United Nations and many other countries

Designated ISIS as a terrorist organization.

Moreover, despite all such stringent measures

Against the group, ISIS has recruited

many foreign fighters. It is estimated

that more than 10,000 foreign fighters have joined the Jihad (Holy War) in

Iraq and Syria. In September 2014, there were more than 100 Americans

and over 2,000 European fighters who joined ISIS. The foreign fighters

are often treated with less respect than the Arabic fighters. Most

foreign fighters lack combat skills and are often placed in suicide units.

Islamic State of Iraq & Syria ISIS

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

Flag of ISIS

Map of ISIS territory


1) ISIS wants to dominate the world.

2) Most Muslims all over the world support ISIS.

3) ISIS has control over areas in Syria and Iraq.

4) A caliphate is an Islamic state ruled by a religious

leader.

5) ISIS is tolerant towards people with different

religious ideas.

6) ISIS is a branch of Al Qaeda.

7) ISIS consists of Sunni and Shia Muslims.

8) The Syrian Civil war played an important role

in the expansion of ISIS’ territory.

9) Some people from western countries go to

Iraq and Syria to join ISIS.

10) The United States considers ISIS to be a

terrorist organization.

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

Exercise 18: The words below are chopped in half. Find the pieces that fit together.

1) ____________________________

2) ____________________________

3) ____________________________

4) ____________________________

5) ____________________________

6) ____________________________

ISIS leader teaches recruits in Boot-Camp

The Kurdistan Worker’s Party is a militant group that is based in Turkey and Iraq. Since 1984, the PKK has

been involved in a violent struggle with the government of Turkey. The group wants cultural and political

rights for their people. The Kurds are an ethnic group consisting of around 25 million people. They have

their own language, called Kurdish. Throughout their history, they have always wanted their own country,

but only managed to do so between 1920 and 1923. They have been struggling for an independent nation

ever since. Most Kurds live in a region called Kurdistan which covers parts of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Georgia

and Syria.

The PKK started off as a movement which wanted the creation of an

independent socialist and Kurdish state. However, since their leader

(Abdullah Öcalan) was captured and imprisoned

in 1999, the KPP has abandoned the idea of

socialism and communism. The

organization has given up

on the idea of an independent

Kurdish state. Instead, they

want more autonomy for

their people.

Since the violent struggles with the Turkish government began, more than 40,000 people have

died. Hundreds of Kurdish activists have been prosecuted and many more were imprisoned.

Members of the group are still conducting terrorist attacks against civilians, military and other

government targets in Turkey.

Kurdistan Worker’s Party PKK

1) What kind of terrorist organization is the PKK?

____________________________________________________

2) What does the PKK want to achieve?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

3) Who are the Kurds?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________


4) How many people have died in violent acts of the PKK?

____________________________________________________

5) What are the main targets of the PKK?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

6) In which countries do most Kurdish people live?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Kurdish PKK Guerilla

Flag of Kurdistan

Workers Party

Map of Kurdistan

Ku Klux Klan KKK

The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is a right wing movement in the United States. The group was founded in 1866

and soon after extended to most southern states in the U.S. The Ku Klux Klan have immense hatred

towards the African-Americans, Catholics, Jews, immigrants and gays. They want a society with

"white supremacy". White supremacy means that people who are white (European origins) are

better than other racial groups and therefore must rule the other groups. Historically, the group has

conducted violent acts such as bombings, torture and murder against mainly the African-Americans.

It is believed that the KKK has killed more than 3,500 people. Most violence occurred during the early

stage of the organization.

The history of the KKK can be divided into three parts. The first part

flourished between 1866 and the early 1870s. During this time, the Ku Klux

Klan wanted to overthrow Republican governments in the southern states

during the Reconstruction Era. The Reconstruction Era took place after the

Civil War when the government, society, infrastructure and economy of

the southern states had to be rebuilt. During that time, the organization

had members throughout the South. Around 1871, the federal

government started to suppress the group. KKK members began making

their own robes and hats with the sole purpose of hiding their identities

and terrifying their opponents.

The second era of the Ku Klux Klan emerged in 1915. By the mid-1920s, the

organization flourished nationwide. At its peak, the Ku Klux Klan had

approximately six million members. Their main focus was on Catholics,

Jews and African-Americans. They adopted a standard white costume

and added cross burnings and mass parades.

The third and current part of the KKK was formed after 1950. They

formed small, local and unconnected groups that used the name of

the Ku Klux Klan. They mainly opposed to the Civil Right Movement.

The Civil Rights Movement was a popular movement for equal

rights for African-Americans and opportunities for U.S. citizenship.

The KKK often used violence and even murder to oppress the civil

right activists.

It is believed that the current Ku Klux Klan has 150 Klan chapters

with between 5,000 and 8,000 members.

Emblem of the Ku Klux Klan

KKK night rally in Chicago, 1920

Members of the Ku Klux Klan

1) What kind of terrorist organization is the Ku Klux Klan?

a. left wing b. separatist

c. religious d. right wing

2) Which kind of people does the Ku Klux Klan hate?

a. African Americans b. Jews

c. gay people d. all of the above

3) When was the KKK founded?

a. 1866 b. 1871 c. 1915 d. 1950

4) What was the Reconstruction Era?

a. a violent time with many KKK attacks

b. the Civil War

c. the first era of the Ku Klux Klan

d. none of the above

5) What is the Civil Rights Movement?

a. a group that fought for equal rights

b. a terrorist organization

c. another name of the Ku Klux Klan

d. all of the above


6) What does the Ku Klux Klan want?

a. to overthrow the government in Washington D.C.

b. a country with only “white people”

c. to install a left wing government

d. a society with more rights for “white” people

7) Which kind of violent acts did the KKK commit?

a. kidnappings b. robberies

c. killings d. all of the above

8) Why do members of the KKK wear robes and hats?

a. to scare their enemies b. to stay anonymous

c. none of the above d. all of the above

9) During which time was the KKK most popular?

a. during their initial phases b. in the 1920s

c. during the Reconstruction Era d. after 1950

10) During which period was the KKK most violent?

a. first b. second

c. third d. all of the above


1) ewurhspetiamyc ____________________

The belief that white people are superior to those of all other races.

2) urscbongnsir ____________________

A practice that is associated with the KKK.

3) uttoerr ____________________

A violent act that the KKK committed.

4) cbiunaerpl ____________________

During the first part of the KKK, the group wanted to overthrow the … governments

5) ivgclihrsit ____________________ During the third era of the KKK, they were mainly opposed to the … Movement.

6) ilawvicr ____________________ The Reconstruction Era took place after the … .

Boko Haram MUSLIM RADICALS

Boko Haram is a group of Islamic extremists based in northeastern Nigeria. They ruled

parts of Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon. The group was founded in 2002.

Previously, Boko Haram was linked to Al Qaeda, but in March 2015 it declared its

allegiance to ISIS. Boko Haram wants to turn Nigeria into an Islamic state. They forbid

the people to wear shirts and pants, voting and receiving normal education. The group

is also opposed to the ‘westernization’ of the Nigerian society and the distribution of

wealth among the elite of the country.

The Nigerian branch of ISIS is conducting bombings,

assassinations and abductions in order to get what they want. In

April 2014, Boko Haram kidnapped 276 schoolgirls. They said they

would treat the girls as slaves and force them to have arranged

marriages. The group is responsible for more than 20,000 deaths

and has displaced around 2.3

million people from their

homes.

By March 2015, Boko Haram had

lost most of its territory. They

were defeated by troops from Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Many Boko Haram fighters have

been killed and their weapons have been seized by government forces. Nonetheless, experts believe it

is too early to write off the Islamic group, since the region has a history of militant Islamic groups. It is

estimated that Boko Haram currently has 9,000 members.


1) Boko Haram is a terrorist group from Africa.

2) Boko Haram is the group who is responsible for

the abduction of 276 schoolgirls in 2014.

3) Abubakar Shekau is the leader of Boko Haram.

4) Boko Haram is a branch of Al Qaeda.

5) Boko Haram is a separatist organization who

wants to form their own state within Nigeria.

6) Boko Haram is a religious terrorist organization.

7) In the last few years, Boko Haram has lost much

of its territory.

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

Exercise 23: The words below are chopped in half. Find the

pieces that fit together.

NIGE QAEDA LAM KID

BOM TANT IS NAP

AL RIA BING MILI

1) ______________________ 4) ______________________

2) ______________________ 5) ______________________

3) ______________________ 6) ______________________

Boko Haram leader

Abubakar Shekau

Boko Haram militants

Logo of Boko Haram

• • • • • • •

Exercise 25: Match the terrorist groups with the logos and the type of terrorism.

FARC Taliban ISIS Boko Haram PKK Hezbollah KKK

Exercise 24: What are the aims of the different types of terrorist organizations?

Left Wing Terrorism _________________________________________________________________________

Right Wing Terrorism _________________________________________________________________________

State Terrorism _________________________________________________________________________

Religious Terrorism _________________________________________________________________________

Separatist Terrorism _________________________________________________________________________

Reflection

Left Wing Right Wing State Religious Separatist

• • • • •

Exercise 26: Match the terrorist groups with the countries and locate them on the map.

PKK

RAF

Taliban

FARC

ETA

IRA

Boko Haram

( ) Nigeria

( ) Germany

( ) Spain

( ) Colombia

( ) Northern Ireland

( ) Turkey

( ) Afghanistan

•

•

•

•

4

1

3

2

6 5

7

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•


1) ovliceen ___________________ Terrorists use fear and … to achieve their goals.

2) isiocmlas ___________________ Left wing terrorism is opposed to capitalism and supports … .

3) canrfe ___________________ In which country did the Reign of Terror take place?

4) aeiarpstst ___________________ … terrorists want create an independent country.

5) aiprs ___________________ ISIS was responsible for the attacks in … in 2015.

6) imasaobldnnae ___________________ Who was the leader of Al Qaeda?

7) dyoubdoylnsa ___________________ An incident in Northern Ireland in 1972 where 13 people were killed by British soldiers.

Documents

Terrorism - Coach Yeager's History Page · L Z 1) Terrorists use fear and violence to scare people. 2) There are different kinds of terrorist groups with different aims. 3) Terrorist