Transcript 14.2 Totalitarianism

Totalitarianism 14.2
Pgs. 440-445
Main Idea:
Power & Authority – After Lenin died, Stalin seized
power and transformed the Soviet Union into a
totalitarian state.
Why It Matters Now:
Other dictators will use Stalin’s tactics for seizing
control over individuals and the state.
Essential Question

What is one primary way totalitarianism
differs from democratic thinking?
14.2 Totalitarianism
Setting the Stage:

Stalin works to est. total control of all aspects
of life and is determined to elevate the USSR
amongst the most powerful econ. and political
nations in the world.
Flag of the USSR
Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili
Stalin Builds a Totalitarian State

Stalin’s Totalitarian State
 A govt. that takes total centralized
control over public and private life.

Uses several tactics
1. Police Terror
2. Censorship (Media)
3. Propaganda (Biased/incomplete
info.)
4. Education Indoctrination
5. Religion Indoctrination
Police Terror/Protect and Serve?
 Police
enforce the govt.
policies
 Spy/Intimidate
 Use
Terror Tactics:
brutal force,
imprisonment, and
murder to achieve goals
Present day police terror in Russia
1937-1938 Great Purge

Used to eliminate any
threat to his (Stalin)
power.

Political Rivals

Old Bolsheviks etc.

Stood trial, executed or sent to
labor camps
Gained total control of
govt. and communist party
 8-13 million people died

KGB Badge
Propaganda and Censorship
•
Biased or incomplete information used to sway
people to accept certain beliefs or actions
Control of mass media allows this
Citizens
are surrounded with false
information (May appear to be true)
Individuals who disobey are imprisoned or
killed (Considered traitors) Accused Traitor Present Day Russia
First to Photoshop
Education Indoctrination

Government controls
education



Build Stalin’s cult of Personality
(Godlike worship)
Learn virtues of Communist
Party
Professors, students must
glorify the state



Or face imprisonment
Taught to trust educators and
authorities over parents
Every morning students said:

“Thank Comrade Stalin for this
happy life”
Religious Indoctrination

**Goal is to replace religion with
communism**
 Many churches, synagogues destroyed
 Religious leaders killed or sent to
labor camps
 League of Militant Godless
 spread propaganda attacking
religion
 Funded by govt.
 Russian Orthodox Church main
target
 Many secretly cling to religious beliefs
Stalin’s Econ. Policies

1928
Econ. and Industry 50-100
years behind other
countries
 Wants to make up ground
in 10 yrs.
 Command Econ.
 NO Private ownership
 Everything owned by the
state (communism)
 **Strong economy leads to
strong military

Stalin’s 5 Year Plan’s
1928-1938

Impossibly high goals

Increase the output of
1.
2.
3.
4.

steel
coal
oil
electricity
Govt. limits production of
“consumer goods”:
- Food, clothing, housing etc.

Fall short of goals

Resulted in severe food shortages,
housing and clothing
Agricultural Revolution 1928

(1932-1933)


*Kulaks-Wealthy
Ukrainian Peasants.
Ukrainian Terror Famine:



Resisted takeover
Burned crops, killed live
stock
Farmers rounded up,
imprisoned, starved to
death 5-10 million
peasants died (during
Agricultural
Revolution)
Agricultural Revolution



1928 government began to seize over 25 million
privately owned farms
Combined them into large, government owned
farms called *Collective Farms
Peasants actively fought government’s attempt to
take their lands *Kulaks-Wealthy Ukrainian
Peasants. 5-10 million peasants died (during
Agricultural Revolution)
Daily Life Under Stalin

People better educated (mastered
new technical skills)




Personal freedoms limited
Consumer goods in low supply
Demand for skilled workers
 Univ. and tech. training key to a
better life
Women Gain Rights (Declared equal
to men)
Join labor force
 State provides child care
 75% of doctors were female


Motherhood considered patriotic duty
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
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1.
2.
3.
Write one sentence for each term in your notebooks
Joseph Stalin
Totalitarianism
Great Purge
Command Economy
Five-Year Plan
Collective farm
Write down the Totalitarianism chart on page 441
Answer the following questions
What are the key traits of a totalitarian state?
What are some ways totalitarian rulers keep their power?
How did the Soviet economy change under the direction
of Stalin?