The Soviet Union Under Stalin – Part II

The Soviet Union The Soviet Union Under Stalin – Part IIUnder Stalin – Part II

Chapter 13Chapter 13Section 4Section 4

Stalin Controlled People’s Stalin Controlled People’s MindsMinds

Issued propagandaIssued propaganda Censored opposing ideasCensored opposing ideas Imposed Russian culture on Imposed Russian culture on

minoritiesminorities Replaced Religion with communist Replaced Religion with communist

ideasideas

PropagandaPropaganda Stalin made himself god-likeStalin made himself god-like He constructed a “cult of personality” He constructed a “cult of personality”

about himselfabout himself Communist State engaged in frequent Communist State engaged in frequent

propagandapropaganda Propaganda is Propaganda is information, ideas, or information, ideas, or

rumors deliberately spread widely to rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.movement, institution, nation, etc.

Students learned about communist Students learned about communist principles in schoolprinciples in school

Movies began first with communist Movies began first with communist successes and criticisms of capitalismsuccesses and criticisms of capitalism

Billboards and posters around the Billboards and posters around the Soviet Union urged workers to meet Soviet Union urged workers to meet their production requirementstheir production requirements

PropagandaPropaganda

PropagandaPropaganda

Censorship and the ArtsCensorship and the Arts USSR controlled books publishedUSSR controlled books published USSR controlled music heardUSSR controlled music heard USSR controlled artUSSR controlled art

Cultural Life in RussiaCultural Life in Russia Stalin demanded that artists and writers create Stalin demanded that artists and writers create

works in a style called works in a style called socialist realismsocialist realism – – program designed to show Soviet life in a positive program designed to show Soviet life in a positive light and promote communismlight and promote communism

If artists/writers refused to conform to If artists/writers refused to conform to government expectations, they faced persecutiongovernment expectations, they faced persecution

RussificationRussification Another way Stalin controlled cultural Another way Stalin controlled cultural

life was to promote life was to promote russificationrussification Russia was the largest, most Russia was the largest, most

populous republic of the USSRpopulous republic of the USSR But the USSR had other republics But the USSR had other republics

(Ukraine, Georgia, etc.) with minority (Ukraine, Georgia, etc.) with minority ethniticies and different languagesethniticies and different languages

The goal was to force people of non-The goal was to force people of non-Russian nationalities to become more Russian nationalities to become more RussianRussian

Schools were forced to teach the Schools were forced to teach the Russian language instead of, for Russian language instead of, for example, Ukraninan.example, Ukraninan.

RussificationRussification

ReligionReligion The official Communist Party belief in The official Communist Party belief in

atheismatheism led to the cruel treatment led to the cruel treatment of religious leadersof religious leaders

AtheismAtheism = the doctrine or belief that = the doctrine or belief that there is no God.; disbelief in the there is no God.; disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or existence of a supreme being or beings.beings.

Members of the Russian Orthodox Members of the Russian Orthodox Church were specifically targeted Church were specifically targeted because they had previously because they had previously supported the tsars before the supported the tsars before the Russian Revolution (1917)Russian Revolution (1917)

Communists also targeted Jews and Communists also targeted Jews and MuslimsMuslims

Social OrderSocial Order Communists destroyed the old Communists destroyed the old

social ordersocial order Communism was supposed to be Communism was supposed to be

a classless, equal societya classless, equal society Instead of creating a society of Instead of creating a society of

equals, Communist Party equals, Communist Party members became the heads of members became the heads of societysociety

Few Soviet citizens could join the Few Soviet citizens could join the Communist PartyCommunist Party

The leaders of the Communist The leaders of the Communist Party, the elite in society, some Party, the elite in society, some military leaders and scientists military leaders and scientists had more privileges such as the had more privileges such as the best housing, best food, etc.best housing, best food, etc.

CommunismCommunism

Benefits of CommunismBenefits of Communism Still, under communism most people enjoyed free Still, under communism most people enjoyed free

medical care, day care for children, cheaper medical care, day care for children, cheaper housing, and public recreationhousing, and public recreation

Communist Party established sport, cultural Communist Party established sport, cultural activities, and political groups for young people to activities, and political groups for young people to train to become party memberstrain to become party members

Communist Party provided families with housing – Communist Party provided families with housing – but entire families might live together in one but entire families might live together in one single room!single room!

Women had equal rights by law – women became Women had equal rights by law – women became doctors, engineers, scientistsdoctors, engineers, scientists

KGB = Soviet Spy AgencyKGB = Soviet Spy Agency

Soviet Foreign PolicySoviet Foreign Policy Soviet leaders had two foreign policy goals Soviet leaders had two foreign policy goals

between 1917-1939between 1917-1939 First goal - spread Communism worldwideFirst goal - spread Communism worldwide Second goal - to ensure their nation’s security by Second goal - to ensure their nation’s security by

winning the support of other countrieswinning the support of other countries These contradictory goals caused Western powers These contradictory goals caused Western powers

to mistrust the Soviet Union for many yearsto mistrust the Soviet Union for many years

CommunismCommunism

CominternComintern Lenin formed the Communist International Lenin formed the Communist International

((Comintern) Comintern) in 1919in 1919 Purpose: encourage worldwide communist revolutionPurpose: encourage worldwide communist revolution CominternComintern support of revolution made western support of revolution made western

powers nervous and suspicious about the USSRpowers nervous and suspicious about the USSR Fear of Bolshevism, or “Red Scare” infiltrated the USAFear of Bolshevism, or “Red Scare” infiltrated the USA Despite early suspicions, western countries Despite early suspicions, western countries

eventually recognized the Soviet Union and increased eventually recognized the Soviet Union and increased trade with the USSRtrade with the USSR

Early mistrust of the USSR damaged the Soviet Early mistrust of the USSR damaged the Soviet Union’s relations and image with western countriesUnion’s relations and image with western countries

Powerpoint Questions – Part IIPowerpoint Questions – Part II(15 points)(15 points)

1. 1. How did the Communist Party spread ideas How did the Communist Party spread ideas and and teach the people about Communism? teach the people about Communism? Provide Provide examples.examples.

2. 2. What did the Communist Party do to control What did the Communist Party do to control how how much information Soviet citizens received? much information Soviet citizens received? Explain.Explain.

3. 3. What was socialist realism?What was socialist realism? 4. 4. Identify the goal behind russification. Identify the goal behind russification.

Provide an Provide an example.example. 5.5. What was the official Communist attitude What was the official Communist attitude

toward toward religion? Explain.religion? Explain.

Powerpoint Questions – Part IIPowerpoint Questions – Part II(15 points)(15 points)

6.6. In reality, why wasn’t the Communist Party a In reality, why wasn’t the Communist Party a true true classless, equal society?classless, equal society?

7.7. What benefits did most Soviet citizens enjoy What benefits did most Soviet citizens enjoy under under Communism? (4 points)Communism? (4 points)

8.8. “Women were not treated equally under “Women were not treated equally under Soviet law” Soviet law” True or False.True or False.

9.9. Identify the first goal of Soviet foreign policy.Identify the first goal of Soviet foreign policy. 10.10. Identify the second goal of Soviet foreign Identify the second goal of Soviet foreign

policy.policy. 11.11. Why did Lenin form the Comintern?Why did Lenin form the Comintern? 12.12. How did Western powers view the Soviet How did Western powers view the Soviet

Union for Union for many years?many years?

The EndThe End