Life In a Totalitarian State

1. Life In a Totalitarian State Section 3------By: Gina Pike

2. An “Iron Age” of Totalitarian Control • Stalin turned the Soviet Union in a totalitarian state. • A Totalitarianism State: a government in which a one party dictatorship regulated every aspect of its citizens’ life. • Stalin’s Communist party used secret police, censorship, and terror to enforce.

3. Propaganda • Citizens were bombarded with propaganda through various ways including newspapers, radios, etc. • Propaganda suggested extreme nationalism • People who supported Stalin= treated as heroes

4. War on Religion • Atheism became official policy of the state • Earlier, Communists had targeted the Russian Orthodox Church, which had strongly supported czars. • Many religious properties and figures/leaders were seized • Roman Catholics and the Jewish were targeted as well • Islam was also discouraged although faced fewer restrictions

5. Changed in Soviet Society • Destroyed old order including the social order • A few elite groups emerged • Communist party= top of society, only a small number of people were allowed to join the party • The Soviet Elite: industrial managers, military leaders, scientists, and some artists and writers…these people enjoyed many benefits

6. Social Benefits and Drawbacks Benefits • Free education was offered to all • Free medical car • Day care for children • Inexpensive housing • Public transportation and recreation Drawbacks • Standard of living was low • Many people migrated to different cities • Housing was scarce • Meat, fresh food, etc. was in short supply

7. More Changes … Education • Many schools were built • Schools taught Communist ideas • Formed many sports programs, cultural activities, etc. Women… • Were granted equality under the law • Gained access to education • By 1930s many women were working in medicine, engineering, or science fields

8. The Arts and the State • Artists and writers were forced to adopt a style called socialist reform . • Socialist reform: “…goal was to boost socialism by showing the Soviet life in a positive light” • Government controlled everything including what books were published, what music was played and heard, etc. • Some writers, artist, and composers faced persecution.

9. Looking Ahead… • Strict censorship • Massive propaganda • Terror… These were all tools Stalin used to modernize the Soviet Union and ensure his personal power. • The Soviet Union became one of the worlds military leaders. • World leader in heavy industry, steel, and oil production.