Totalitarianism in Russia with Stalin as their “fearless leader” Chap 14.2 Russian Revolution Lesson Group Project

Trotsky v. Stalin Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin were the two rivals competing for the top position. Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin were the two rivals competing for the top position. The winner in this struggle was Joseph Stalin The winner in this struggle was Joseph Stalin Stalin turned the Soviet Union in to a totalitarian state Stalin turned the Soviet Union in to a totalitarian state What’s Totalitarianism?

Totalitarianism Government takes complete, central control over every aspect of public and private life Government takes complete, central control over every aspect of public and private life It challenges the values of democratic states of the Enlightenment It challenges the values of democratic states of the Enlightenment reason, freedom, human dignity, and the worth of the individual reason, freedom, human dignity, and the worth of the individual (Please refer to page 396 for a chart on Totalitarianism)

Police State Not even the slightest bit of dissent was allowed, before the secret police arrested you Not even the slightest bit of dissent was allowed, before the secret police arrested you If there was even the slightest suspicion you were planning to overthrow the government or failed to meet your quota…Bye, Bye! If there was even the slightest suspicion you were planning to overthrow the government or failed to meet your quota…Bye, Bye! Stalin became more powerful than any of the previous Russia czars Stalin became more powerful than any of the previous Russia czars

Religious Persecution State encouraged (no…demanded) atheism State encouraged (no…demanded) atheism Police destroyed churches and synagogues Police destroyed churches and synagogues Persecuted religious leaders Persecuted religious leaders But people still clung to their faiths But people still clung to their faiths

Great Purge Stalin arrested many Bolsheviks who participated in the revolution & almost every leader in Stalin’s government for “crimes against the Soviet state” Stalin arrested many Bolsheviks who participated in the revolution & almost every leader in Stalin’s government for “crimes against the Soviet state” These killings were called the Great Purge These killings were called the Great Purge 8 to 13 million deaths occurred 8 to 13 million deaths occurred

Command Economy Stalin changed Lenin’s NEP to an economy controlled by the government Stalin changed Lenin’s NEP to an economy controlled by the government Wanted to catch up to Great Britain and Germany, as well as the rest of Europe, in industrialization Wanted to catch up to Great Britain and Germany, as well as the rest of Europe, in industrialization

First Five Year Plan and Worker’s Lives 1928: Stalin outlined Five-Year Plan 1928: Stalin outlined Five-Year Plan The government take drastic steps to promote rapid industrial growth and strengthen military defenses (remember just lost WWI) The government take drastic steps to promote rapid industrial growth and strengthen military defenses (remember just lost WWI) Set impossibly high quotas for the output of steel, coal, oil, and electricity Set impossibly high quotas for the output of steel, coal, oil, and electricity To reach goals, Russia limited the production of consumer goods – thus hurting the population To reach goals, Russia limited the production of consumer goods – thus hurting the population Government controlled every aspect of a worker’s life- who, where and when they work Government controlled every aspect of a worker’s life- who, where and when they work

The Agriculture Revolution The Agriculture Revolution was very successful, but far more brutal The Agriculture Revolution was very successful, but far more brutal In 1928, Stalin began to seize 25 million private farms and combine them into huge collective farms. Peasants worked on these farms. In 1928, Stalin began to seize 25 million private farms and combine them into huge collective farms. Peasants worked on these farms.

The Agriculture Revolution The Peasants were angry-they revolted by destroying crops and livestock The Peasants were angry-they revolted by destroying crops and livestock Stalin struck back with the secret police, sending peasants to work at the threat of death Stalin struck back with the secret police, sending peasants to work at the threat of death Between 5-10 million peasants were killed with millions more sent to Siberia. Between 5-10 million peasants were killed with millions more sent to Siberia. The kulaks, wealthy peasants, revolted and their entire class was sent to death or work camps The kulaks, wealthy peasants, revolted and their entire class was sent to death or work camps

Success! In 10 years: In 10 years: Wheat production was doubled due to collective farming Wheat production was doubled due to collective farming Electricity production was up 800% Electricity production was up 800% Steel production increased from 4 to 18 million metric tons Steel production increased from 4 to 18 million metric tons The USSR was becoming a major industrial power The USSR was becoming a major industrial power

In the Long Run Stalin responsible for Russia’s industrialization Stalin responsible for Russia’s industrialization Russia was able to stand up to Germany in WWII Russia was able to stand up to Germany in WWII Stalin changed Russia from an agricultural backwater into a world-power industrial giant Stalin changed Russia from an agricultural backwater into a world-power industrial giant But the people paid the price for these gains But the people paid the price for these gains