Totalitarian governments used terror as a tool to instill fear and obedience among their populations. Through methods such as secret police, surveillance, and propaganda, they created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, discouraging dissent and resistance. The threat of violence and punishment kept citizens in line, leading to self-censorship and compliance with the regime's demands. The constant presence of terror made it difficult for individuals to organize and challenge the government, ultimately consolidating the regime's power and control over the population.
