Global Studies II

Unit II Russia

Name ______________________________
Date ____________

Totalitarianism under Stalin

1. Define the term totalitarianism A government that takes control of everything. The government
controls the state and public and private life.

2. While reading the excerpt, create a list of methods of control used by Soviet leaders and examples

Methods

police terror

indoctrination

Examples
Police spy on the citizens to enforce the
government rules. They also intimidate
the citizens to scare them.

When the government has total control

over the education. They start with
younger kids by putting them into certain
youth groups and with their schooling.

When the government makes enemies of

state or someone to blame. Usually
someone in religious or ethnic groups.

Religious and Ethnic Persecution

Of all the methods of control, which allows the MOST long-term control?
The police terror one would make the most long lasting control. This is because the government can
keep the secret police for as long as they want also the citizens would always think that they would have
secret police around so they would always try to be following the laws of the government.
3. Stalins methods of control.
a. What was the Great Purge? How would Stalins use of this action increase his power?
The great purge was when Stalin turned against the communist group in 1934. During this period he put
Bolsheviks on trial for helping with the revolution. During this time period stalin also either executed the
Bolsheviks or they were sent to camps. In 1934-1938 8 to 13 million people died. After the great purge
Stalin had totally control over the government.

b. What was Pravda? How did Stalin explain the purpose of art in the USSR?
In the USSR Stalin had complete control over propaganda and censorship. Meaning he controlled all
newspapers, motion movies, radio, ect. And Pravada was a newspaper where Stalin said that art is
Literature the cinema, the arts are levers in the hands of the proletariat which must be used to show the
masses positive models of initiative and heroic labors

c. What is an atheism? How did Stalin use atheism to influence his control over his citizens?
Atheism is when you dont believe in god. And Stalin wanted the people of the USSR to believe in
communist. The people still clanged to their faiths though.

4. Stalins control over the economy.

a. What is a command economy?
b. Stalins Five Year Plans
1. Purpose

2. Results?

c. What methods did Stalin use to bring agriculture under state control?

d. Kulaks - Who were they?

Wealthy peasants who resisted the collective farms and protested against the government.

1. How did they create a problem for Stalin?

2. How did he solve the problem?