Life in a totalitarian state is strictly regulated and controlled by the ruling party. The party uses secret police, censorship, and terror to ensure complete obedience from citizens. Propaganda is ubiquitous, promoting communist ideals and successes while denigrating capitalism. Religion is banned and religious leaders are persecuted. A new communist elite rules by destroying the old social order. Education is universal but indoctrinates children with communist values like atheism. Women have some new rights but wages are low, so the government provides services like daycare. Art and media portray an idealized version of Soviet life under strict government censorship.
2. I. Totalitarianism
A.A. One party dictatorshipOne party dictatorship
attempts to regulate everyattempts to regulate every
aspect of the lives of itaspect of the lives of it
citizens.citizens.
B.B. To ensure obedience, theTo ensure obedience, the
leaderuses secret police,leaderuses secret police,
censorship, and terror.censorship, and terror.
C.C. Nothing appears in printNothing appears in print
without official approval.without official approval.
3. II. Propaganda
A. In movies,
theaters, and
schools citizens
heard about the
successes of
communism and
the evils of
capitalism.
B. News reports were
about communist
progress and the
discontent of the
west under the
ideas of capitalism
4. III. Religion
A. Atheism became
the official policy of
the state.
B. The party seized
religious property
C. Priests and other
religious leaders
were killed
D. Communist
ideology replaced
religious thought
and teachings.
5. IV. New Elite
A. Communists
destroyed the old
social order.
B. Tried to create a
society of equals.
Few elite groups
were left to rule.
C. Heads of society
were members of
the Communist
party.
6. V. Education
A. Built schools
everywhere and
required children
to attend.
B. Taught adults to
read and write
C. Educated workers
were needed to
build a modern
industrial state.
D. Taught
communist values
such as atheism,
collectivism, and
love of Stalin.
7. VI. Women
A. Women won equality
under the law.
B. They received an
education, and had
access to a wide range
of jobs.
C. Women’s wages were
needed within the
home because men
were paid so little.
D. Government provided
daycare for women
with children
8. VII. Social realism
A. Goal was to
boost
socialism by
showing
Soviet life in a
positive light.
B. Overall it
promoted
hope for the
Soviet future.
