The Soviet Union Under Stalin – Part II Chapter 13 Section 4

Stalin Controlled People’s Minds Issued propaganda Censored opposing ideas Imposed Russian culture on minorities Replaced Religion with communist ideas

Propaganda Stalin made himself god-like He constructed a “cult of personality” about himself Communist State engaged in frequent propaganda Propaganda is information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc. Students learned about communist principles in school Movies began first with communist successes and criticisms of capitalism Billboards and posters around the Soviet Union urged workers to meet their production requirements

Propaganda

Propaganda

Censorship and the Arts USSR controlled books published USSR controlled music heard USSR controlled art

Cultural Life in Russia Stalin demanded that artists and writers create works in a style called socialist realism – program designed to show Soviet life in a positive light and promote communism If artists/writers refused to conform to government expectations, they faced persecution

Russification Another way Stalin controlled cultural life was to promote russification Russia was the largest, most populous republic of the USSR But the USSR had other republics (Ukraine, Georgia, etc.) with minority ethniticies and different languages The goal was to force people of non-Russian nationalities to become more Russian Schools were forced to teach the Russian language instead of, for example, Ukraninan.

Russification

Religion The official Communist Party belief in atheism led to the cruel treatment of religious leaders Atheism = the doctrine or belief that there is no God.; disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings. Members of the Russian Orthodox Church were specifically targeted because they had previously supported the tsars before the Russian Revolution (1917) Communists also targeted Jews and Muslims

Social Order Communists destroyed the old social order Communism was supposed to be a classless, equal society Instead of creating a society of equals, Communist Party members became the heads of society Few Soviet citizens could join the Communist Party The leaders of the Communist Party, the elite in society, some military leaders and scientists had more privileges such as the best housing, best food, etc.

Communism

Benefits of Communism Still, under communism most people enjoyed free medical care, day care for children, cheaper housing, and public recreation Communist Party established sport, cultural activities, and political groups for young people to train to become party members Communist Party provided families with housing – but entire families might live together in one single room! Women had equal rights by law – women became doctors, engineers, scientists

KGB = Soviet Spy Agency

Soviet Foreign Policy Soviet leaders had two foreign policy goals between 1917-1939 First goal - spread Communism worldwide Second goal - to ensure their nation’s security by winning the support of other countries These contradictory goals caused Western powers to mistrust the Soviet Union for many years

Communism

Comintern Lenin formed the Communist International (Comintern) in 1919 Purpose: encourage worldwide communist revolution Comintern support of revolution made western powers nervous and suspicious about the USSR Fear of Bolshevism, or “Red Scare” infiltrated the USA Despite early suspicions, western countries eventually recognized the Soviet Union and increased trade with the USSR Early mistrust of the USSR damaged the Soviet Union’s relations and image with western countries

The End