Totalitarianism in Totalitarianism in Russia with Stalin Russia with Stalin

as their “fearless as their “fearless

leader”leader” Chap 14.2Chap 14.2

Russian Revolution Russian Revolution Lesson Group Lesson Group

ProjectProject

Trotsky v. StalinTrotsky v. Stalin

Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin were Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin were the two rivals competing for the top the two rivals competing for the top position.position.

The winner in this struggle was The winner in this struggle was Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin

Stalin turned the Soviet Union in Stalin turned the Soviet Union in to a to a totalitariantotalitarian state state

What’s Totalitarianism?

TotalitarianismTotalitarianism

Government takes complete, central Government takes complete, central control over every aspect of public control over every aspect of public and private lifeand private life

It challenges the values of democratic It challenges the values of democratic states of states of the Enlightenmentthe Enlightenment reason, freedom, human dignity, and the reason, freedom, human dignity, and the

worth of the individualworth of the individual

(Please refer to page 396 for a chart on (Please refer to page 396 for a chart on Totalitarianism)Totalitarianism)

Police StatePolice State Not even the slightest bit of dissent was Not even the slightest bit of dissent was

allowed, before the secret police allowed, before the secret police arrested youarrested you

If there was even the slightest suspicion If there was even the slightest suspicion you were planning to overthrow the you were planning to overthrow the government or failed to meet your government or failed to meet your quota…Bye, Bye!quota…Bye, Bye!

Stalin became more powerful than any Stalin became more powerful than any of the previous Russia czarsof the previous Russia czars

Religious PersecutionReligious Persecution

State encouraged (no…demanded) State encouraged (no…demanded) atheismatheism

Police destroyed churches and Police destroyed churches and synagoguessynagogues

Persecuted religious leadersPersecuted religious leaders But people still clung to their faithsBut people still clung to their faiths

Great PurgeGreat Purge

Stalin arrested many Bolsheviks who Stalin arrested many Bolsheviks who participated in the revolution & participated in the revolution & almost every leader in Stalin’s almost every leader in Stalin’s government for “crimes against the government for “crimes against the Soviet state”Soviet state”

These killings were called the These killings were called the Great Great PurgePurge

8 to 13 million deaths occurred8 to 13 million deaths occurred

Command EconomyCommand Economy

Stalin changed Lenin’s NEP to an Stalin changed Lenin’s NEP to an economy controlled by the economy controlled by the governmentgovernment

Wanted to catch up to Great Wanted to catch up to Great Britain and Germany, as well as Britain and Germany, as well as the rest of Europe, in the rest of Europe, in industrializationindustrialization

First Five Year Plan and First Five Year Plan and Worker’s LivesWorker’s Lives

1928: Stalin outlined Five-Year Plan1928: Stalin outlined Five-Year Plan The government take drastic steps to promote The government take drastic steps to promote

rapid industrial growth and strengthen rapid industrial growth and strengthen military defenses (remember just lost WWI)military defenses (remember just lost WWI)

Set impossibly high quotas for the output of Set impossibly high quotas for the output of steel, coal, oil, and electricitysteel, coal, oil, and electricity

To reach goals, Russia limited the production To reach goals, Russia limited the production of consumer goods – thus hurting the of consumer goods – thus hurting the populationpopulation

Government controlled every aspect of a Government controlled every aspect of a worker’s life-who, where and when they workworker’s life-who, where and when they work

The Agriculture The Agriculture RevolutionRevolution

The Agriculture Revolution was very The Agriculture Revolution was very successful, but far more brutalsuccessful, but far more brutal

In 1928, Stalin began to seize 25 In 1928, Stalin began to seize 25 million private farms and combine million private farms and combine them into huge them into huge collective farmscollective farms. . Peasants worked on these farms.Peasants worked on these farms.

The Agriculture RevolutionThe Agriculture Revolution

The Peasants were angry-they revolted The Peasants were angry-they revolted by destroying crops and livestockby destroying crops and livestock

Stalin struck back with the secret Stalin struck back with the secret police, sending peasants to work at the police, sending peasants to work at the threat of deaththreat of death

Between 5-10 million peasants were Between 5-10 million peasants were killed with millions more sent to Siberia.killed with millions more sent to Siberia.

The The kulakskulaks, wealthy peasants, revolted , wealthy peasants, revolted and their entire class was sent to death and their entire class was sent to death or work campsor work camps

Success!Success!

In 10 years:In 10 years: Wheat production was doubled due Wheat production was doubled due

to collective farmingto collective farming Electricity production was up 800%Electricity production was up 800% Steel production increased from 4 to Steel production increased from 4 to

18 million metric tons18 million metric tons The USSR was becoming a major The USSR was becoming a major

industrial powerindustrial power

In the Long RunIn the Long Run

Stalin responsible for Russia’s Stalin responsible for Russia’s industrializationindustrialization

Russia was able to stand up to Russia was able to stand up to Germany in WWIIGermany in WWII

Stalin changed Russia from an Stalin changed Russia from an agricultural backwater into a world-agricultural backwater into a world-power industrial giantpower industrial giant

But the people paid the price for these But the people paid the price for these gains gains