LIFE IN A TOTALITARIA

N STATESection 3------By: Gina

Pike

AN “IRON AGE” OF TOTALITARIAN CONTROL

Stalin turned the Soviet Union in a totalitarian state.

A Totalitarianism State: a

government in which a one party dictatorship regulated every aspect of its citizens’ life.

Stalin’s Communist party used secret police, censorship, and terror to enforce.

PROPAGANDACitizens were bombarded with propaganda through various ways including newspapers, radios, etc.

Propaganda suggested extreme nationalism

People who supported Stalin= treated as heroes

WAR ON RELIGIONAtheism became official policy of the state

Earlier, Communists had targeted the Russian Orthodox Church, which had strongly supported czars.

Many religious properties and figures/leaders were seized

Roman Catholics and the Jewish were targeted as well

Islam was also discouraged although faced fewer restrictions

CHANGED IN SOVIET SOCIETY

Destroyed old order including the social order

A few elite groups emerged

Communist party= top of society, only a small number of people were allowed to join the party

The Soviet Elite: industrial managers, military leaders, scientists, and some artists and writers…these people enjoyed many benefits

Benefits Free education was offered to allFree medical carDay care for childrenInexpensive housing Public transportation and recreation

SOCIAL BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS

Drawbacks Standard of

living was low Many people

migrated to different cities

Housing was scarce

Meat, fresh food, etc. was in short supply

Education

Many schools were built

Schools taught Communist ideas

Formed many sports programs, cultural activities, etc.

MORE CHANGES …Women… Were granted equality

under the law Gained access to

education By 1930s many women

were working in medicine, engineering, or science fields

Artists and writers were forced to adopt a style called socialist reform .

Socialist reform: “…goal was to boost socialism by showing the Soviet life in a positive light”

THE ARTS AND THE STATE

Government controlled everything including what books were published, what music was played and heard, etc.

Some writers, artist, and composers faced persecution.

Strict censorship

Massive propaganda

Terror…

These were all tools Stalin used to modernize the Soviet Union and ensure his personal power.

LOOKING AHEAD…

The Soviet Union became one of the worlds military leaders.

World leader in heavy industry, steel, and oil production.