Stalin Station

"When Lenin died, there was no one person chosen to be leader. The Soviet Union did not allow for elections. The Communist Party got to choose his successor. Trotsky and Stalin became bitter rivals for control of the Communist Party. The outcome of this struggle would determine the future course of the Soviet Union. In the course of the struggle, Stalin had Trotsky exiled to Mexico and later had him assassinated."

Using the reading above, answer the following questions: How did the Soviet Union choose somebody to lead when Lenin died? Why did they do it this way?

"Stalin brought new economic plans to the Soviet Union with a communist economy. He controlled all aspects of business and agriculture and all aspects of people’s lives. Millions of people died under Stalin's rule. These people included fellow communist members who he perceived as enemies of the state and peasants who resisted the changes he brought to the Soviet Union."

Using the reading, describe the kind of economy that Stalin set up in the Soviet Union.

"Lenin and Trotsky wanted to unite Communists around the world. Stalin, however, focused on Russian development. He coined the phrase “socialism in one country” to describe his aims of perfecting a Communist state in Russia. The Soviet Union was behind the rest of the world in terms of both agricultural and industrial production. To realize his vision, Stalin would transform the Soviet Union into a totalitarian state. The term totalitarianism describes a government that takes total, centralized state control over every aspect of a person’s of public and private life. Totalitarian leaders, such as Stalin, take advantage of the insecurities of a nation and appear to provide a sense of security and give a direction for the future. Totalitarianism relies on absolute authority of the government by one political party. Often, one dynamic leader comes forward. He helps unite the people toward a common vision and insists on unconditional loyalty and uncritical support. Leaders often justify their violent actions in the name of progress and use radios, newsreels and loudspeakers to spread their words. In a totalitarian society, the government controls businesses, family life, housing, education and religion. Their goal is to build up military weapons and will use force and intimidation to shut up their critics."

Using the reading above, describe the characteristics of a totalitarian leader.

"Under Stalin’s totalitarian regime, the government controlled every aspect of the worker’s life. Officials chose the workers, assigned the jobs and determined their working hours. Workers needed the police’s permission to move. The secret police were ready to imprison or execute those who did not contribute to the Soviet economy; these forceful means of making the Soviet Union a modern industrial nation took a great toll on people’s personal lives. Many families and marriages broke up."

Using the reading above, answer the following question: What was life like for a person living in a totalitarian country?