Joseph Stalin and Totalitarianism

Joseph Stalin was a Russian man who used totalitarianism to take control of the soviet union. Totalitarianism means a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator and not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition. Joseph Stalin rose through the ranks of the party. He was made general secretary of the communist party. Later he promoted himself political heir and the in the 1920s he was made dictator of the soviet union.

Joseph Stalins five year plans was two goals. They were rapid the growth of heavy industry and increased farm production through collectivization of agriculture.He poured the nation's resources into building steel mills, electric power stations, and other industries needed in a strong modern state. He also forced millions of peasants to give away their land and work on collective farms, large, government-run enterprises. The great purge was about getting rid of communist party of all the people who had brought him to power.

Film Lesson:Doctor Zhivago

In the movie Dr. Zhivago said that the russian revolution was something good because soon Russia would be free from the masters. The reason for the revolution was because the russian people wanted some things to be changed. The people wanted Russia to be a communist country. In the movie it showed that communism was a bad thing because a lot of people were starving because every person got the same amount of food as every one else. Some families had to share the same house.

When Dr. Zhivago came back home to Moscow he saw that communism changed things like his house he had to share his big house with 13 other families. He saw that a lot of people were suffering from starvation. He also saw that he had to give away a lot of his things so everyone could have equal stuff.