1. Lenin, Stalin and a Totalitarian Government

2. Russian Civil War
After the Bolshevik Revolution, a civil war broke out in Russia between the Reds and Whites.
Reds: communists
Whites: counter revolutionists loyal to the Czar
Each side used brutal tactics.
The Whites sought aid from the Allied powers
Reds organized the Cheka, a communist secret police which would execute ordinary citizens suspected of taking action against the revolution.
Lenin pulled Russia out of WWI.
Lenin adopted a policy of War Communism: government took over the banks, mines, factories and railroads.
Peasants were forced into military service or factory work to support the military.

3. The Reign of Lenin
1922: Communists established a constitution that seemed both democratic and socialist
Set up an elected legislature, The Supreme Soviet
All citizens 18 and over could vote
All means of production, resources and power would belong to the state
Established the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
AKA The Soviet Union

4. New Economic Policy
Between not being able to industrialize, WWI and 2 civil wars, Russia’s economy was distraught
Due to this need, Lenin allows for some capitalist ventures to be made.
This is part of his New Economic Policy
Government kept control of banks, foreign trade and large industries
Small businesses were allowed to reopen for a small private profit.

5. Stalin Takes Over 1924 Lenin dies and leaves a vacuum of power.
Main contenders are Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky
Trotsky was a brilliant Marxist thinker while Stalin was a shrewd politician that often operated without remorse.
Stalin comes out on top and implements a command economy
Government make all basic economic decisions
Government owned all businesses and allocated financial and other resources

6. Russia under Stalin: A Totalitarian State
Stalin turns Russia into a totalitarian state
A one party dictatorship attempts to rule every aspect of the lives of its citizens.
Took harsh steps to insure obedience among the people:
Violent Secret Police
Purges of dissenters (executions)
Censorship
Terror
Nothing appeared in print without government approval
Critics were rounded up and sent to labor camps

7. More Aspects of a totalitarian government
Propaganda
Bombarded the public with relentless propaganda
Loudspeakers blared into villages and factories
Movies depicted the successes of communism
War on Religion
Abiding to the ideas of Marx, the Soviet Union officially declared the country an atheist: the belief that there is no god
Targeted the Russian Orthodox Church
Many church leaders were killed or died in prison camps

8. Propaganda Posters

9. Soviet Propaganda
"Long Live World October [revolution]!" A poster of the Russian Civil War, says: Long Live World October [revolution]! The workers conquered power in Russia and will conquer power in the entire world.

10. Soviet Propaganda
"The Motherland Is Calling!" A 1941 poster for the World War II

11. Soviet Propaganda

12. Assignment
Describe the common theme throughout Soviet propaganda posters.
Explain how the aspects of Lenin’s and later Stalin’s style of government necessitated propaganda.