1. Totalitarianism and Stalin

2. Objective:
Students will examine Stalin’s rise to power and demonstrate their knowledge of his totalitarian rule as measured by their Cornell notes, QWs, reading questions, discussion, and exit slip.

3. Setting the Stage
1924
Lenin dies of a stroke
Power struggle between Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky

4. Stalin becomes dictator
1922
Stalin begins his climb to power
Strategically put his supporters in key positions
Forced Trotsky into exile

5. Totalitarianism
Totalitarianism- describes a government that takes total, centralized state control over every aspect of public and private life
Key Traits
Dictatorship + one party rule
State control over all sectors of society
State control over the individual
Organized violence

6. Stalin institutes a command economy
Command economy- a system in which the government made all economic decisions
Stalin institutes a 5-year plan to help the Soviet Union industrialize + make agricultural improvements

7. Stalin’s 5 year plan High quotas (impossible to achieve)
Limited production of consumer goods
People were assigned jobs and working hours
Secret police were ready to imprison or execute those who did not contribute

8. 5 year plan = Success
Quotas were not reached, but the increase in output was astounding
Increase in steel, coal, oil, and electricity

10. QW #6 – Totalitarian Traits
What is totalitarianism? Describe a minimum of two traits. Why do you think Western Democracies would dislike totalitarianism? Think about how your life would change if you lived in a totalitarian state. Explain.
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