Totalitarianism and Stalin

Objective: Students will examine Stalin’s rise to power and demonstrate their knowledge of his totalitarian rule as measured by their Cornell notes, QWs, reading questions, discussion, and exit slip.

Setting the Stage 1924 Lenin dies of a stroke Power struggle between Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky

Stalin becomes dictator 1922 Stalin begins his climb to power Strategically put his supporters in key positions Forced Trotsky into exile

Totalitarianism Totalitarianism- describes a government that takes total, centralized state control over every aspect of public and private life Key Traits Dictatorship + one party rule State control over all sectors of society State control over the individual Organized violence

Stalin institutes a command economy Command economy- a system in which the government made all economic decisions Stalin institutes a 5-year plan to help the Soviet Union industrialize + make agricultural improvements

Stalin’s 5 year plan High quotas (impossible to achieve) Limited production of consumer goods People were assigned jobs and working hours Secret police were ready to imprison or execute those who did not contribute

5 year plan = Success Quotas were not reached, but the increase in output was astounding Increase in steel, coal, oil, and electricity

QW #6 – Totalitarian Traits What is totalitarianism? Describe a minimum of two traits. Why do you think Western Democracies would dislike totalitarianism? Think about how your life would change if you lived in a totalitarian state. Explain. 1 paragraph Pg. 441