TOTALITARIANISM Stalinist Russia After Lenin died, there was a power struggle for control of the Communist Party

Who takes Power Next?

Who would you pick?? Brains OR Brawn

Leon Trotsky Leader of the Red Army Played major role in communist take-over of power Believed he was Lenin’s pick for successor

Josef Stalin Propagandist under Lenin Excelled in everyday operations of the Party like calling meetings, organizing strikes, publishing leaflets Lenin saw him as too rude and coarse to become leader of the Soviet Union Eventually through political trickiness, Stalin gained power and Trotsky was killed

BUILDING A TOTALITARIAN STATE Stalin Focuses on Perfecting Communism in Russia Totalitarianism – a government that takes total control over every aspect of public and private life. This form of government goes against the democratic values of freedom, human dignity, and the worth of the individual. Stalin transformed the Soviet Union into a totalitarian state to realize his vision.

COMMAND ECONOMY Stalin Seizes Control of the Economy Stalin’s economic policies involved total state control…ONE LEADER IN CHARGE Command Economy – a system in which the government makes all economic decisions. Under this system, political leaders identify the country’s economic needs and determine how to fulfill them.

LARGE NEED FOR CHANGE Stalin announced, “We are fifty or a hundred years behind the advanced countries. We must make good this distance in ten years. Either we do it or we shall be crushed.” Country would take drastic steps to promote rapid industrial growth and to strengthen national defense.

INDUSTRIAL POLICIES Stalin created the FIVE YEAR PLAN = giving Russia 5 years to become economically strong. Strength in industry is priority. He set impossibly high quotas, or numerical goals, to increase the output of steel, coal, oil, and electricity. The government limited the production of consumer goods. severe shortages of housing, food, clothing, and other necessary goods. The government chose the workers, assigned them jobs, and determined their working hours…govt had complete control Needed police permission to move

AGRICULTURAL POLICIES In 1928, the government seized over 25 million privately owned farms in the Soviet Union. It created collective farms – large government owned farms that each had hundreds of workers producing food for the state. Stalin used terror and violence to force peasants to work on the collective farms (between 5 to 10 million peasants were killed because they resisted or even killed livestock and destroyed crops in protest).

ART/RELGION ART RELIGION Art became a method of propaganda used to rally the workers. Social realism was an artistic style that praised Soviet Life and Communist values. RELIGION Communists aimed to replace religious teachings with the ideals of communism. The police destroyed churches and synagogues; also killed leaders of all faiths or sent them to labor camps. Government = God

EDUCATION Under Stalin, the government controlled all education – nursery to university. University and technical training were the key to a better life. Students learned the virtues of communism and evils of capitalism Professors and students who questioned Communist Leaders interpretation of history were threatened or arrested.

CONTROL METHODS Police Terror –monitored telephone lines, read mail, planted spies, and arrested/executed millions of traitors The Great Purge (a campaign of terror) It was directed at eliminating anyone who threatened Stalin’s power. Estimate – killed 8 to 13 million people Censorship -Stalin would not tolerate individual creativity; wanted conformity and obedience of citizens. -Government controlled all media (newspapers, movies, etc.)

PROPAGANDA Totalitarian states rely on indoctrination or brainwashing. Propaganda is biased or incomplete information used to sway people to accept certain beliefs or actions. Stalin used lots of propaganda! Soviet newspapers and radio broadcasts glorified the achievements of communism, Stalin, and his programs.

What was it like under Stalin and communism? Stalin Declassified with video notes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhaMNe6NxOo (44:55min)