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The Soviet Union Under Stalin – Part II. Chapter 13 Section 4. Stalin Controlled People’s Minds. Issued propaganda Censored opposing ideas Imposed Russian culture on minorities Replaced Religion with communist ideas. Propaganda. Stalin made himself god-like
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The Soviet Union Under Stalin – Part II Chapter 13 Section 4
Stalin Controlled People’s Minds • Issued propaganda • Censored opposing ideas • Imposed Russian culture on minorities • Replaced Religion with communist ideas
Propaganda • Stalin made himself god-like • He constructed a “cult of personality” about himself • Communist State engaged in frequent propaganda • Propaganda is information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc. • Students learned about communist principles in school • Movies began first with communist successes and criticisms of capitalism • Billboards and posters around the Soviet Union urged workers to meet their production requirements
Censorship and the Arts • USSR controlled books published • USSR controlled music heard • USSR controlled art
Cultural Life in Russia • Stalin demanded that artists and writers create works in a style called socialist realism – program designed to show Soviet life in a positive light and promote communism • If artists/writers refused to conform to government expectations, they faced persecution
Russification • Another way Stalin controlled cultural life was to promote russification • Russia was the largest, most populous republic of the USSR • But the USSR had other republics (Ukraine, Georgia, etc.) with minority ethniticies and different languages • The goal was to force people of non-Russian nationalities to become more Russian • Schools were forced to teach the Russian language instead of, for example, Ukraninan.
Religion • The official Communist Party belief in atheism led to the cruel treatment of religious leaders • Atheism = the doctrine or belief that there is no God.; disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings. • Members of the Russian Orthodox Church were specifically targeted because they had previously supported the tsars before the Russian Revolution (1917) • Communists also targeted Jews and Muslims
Social Order • Communists destroyed the old social order • Communism was supposed to be a classless, equal society • Instead of creating a society of equals, Communist Party members became the heads of society • Few Soviet citizens could join the Communist Party • The leaders of the Communist Party, the elite in society, some military leaders and scientists had more privileges such as the best housing, best food, etc.
Benefits of Communism • Still, under communism most people enjoyed free medical care, day care for children, cheaper housing, and public recreation • Communist Party established sport, cultural activities, and political groups for young people to train to become party members • Communist Party provided families with housing – but entire families might live together in one single room! • Women had equal rights by law – women became doctors, engineers, scientists
Soviet Foreign Policy • Soviet leaders had two foreign policy goals between 1917-1939 • First goal - spread Communism worldwide • Second goal - to ensure their nation’s security by winning the support of other countries • These contradictory goals caused Western powers to mistrust the Soviet Union for many years
Comintern • Lenin formed the Communist International (Comintern) in 1919 • Purpose: encourage worldwide communist revolution • Comintern support of revolution made western powers nervous and suspicious about the USSR • Fear of Bolshevism, or “Red Scare” infiltrated the USA • Despite early suspicions, western countries eventually recognized the Soviet Union and increased trade with the USSR • Early mistrust of the USSR damaged the Soviet Union’s relations and image with western countries
Powerpoint Questions – Part II(15 points) • 1. How did the Communist Party spread ideas and teach the people about Communism? Provide examples. • 2. What did the Communist Party do to control how much information Soviet citizens received? Explain. • 3. What was socialist realism? • 4. Identify the goal behind russification. Provide an example. • 5. What was the official Communist attitude toward religion? Explain.
Powerpoint Questions – Part II(15 points) • 6. In reality, why wasn’t the Communist Party a true classless, equal society? • 7. What benefits did most Soviet citizens enjoy under Communism? (4 points) • 8. “Women were not treated equally under Soviet law” True or False. • 9. Identify the first goal of Soviet foreign policy. • 10. Identify the second goal of Soviet foreign policy. • 11. Why did Lenin form the Comintern? • 12. How did Western powers view the Soviet Union for many years?