Chapter 16 Section 4 - The Soviet Union Under Stalin

socialist realism

Artistic style whose goal was to promote socialism by showing Soviet life in a positive light. Stalin required artists and writers to create their works in this style.

atheism

Belief that there is no god. This belief was in accordance with the ideas of Marx. Atheism became an official state policy.

Comintern

Communist International, international association of communist parties led by the Soviet Union for the purpose of encouraging worldwide communist revolution. In 1919, Lenin formed the Communist International.

How did Stalin transform the Soviet Union into a totalitarian state?

Stalin transformed the Soviet Union into a totalitarian state by bringing all economic activity under government control. He also used various terror tactics the transform the Soviet Union.

How did the command economy under Stalin differ from a capitalist economy?

The command economy under Stalin differed from a capitalist economy because in a command economy, the government controls the economy. In a capitalist economy, free market controls most economic decisions, not the government.

What were the goals and results of Stalins five-year plans? How did the effects differ between industry and agriculture?

The goals of Stalins five-year plans were aimed at building up and improving industry and agriculture. Stalins five-year plans resulted in progress in industry but it fails to increase agricultural output. The effects differed between industry and agriculture because peasant resisted collectivisation.

What methods did Stalin use to create a totalitarian state?

To create a totalitarian state, Stalin used the methods of tightening control and using force to punish opposition and protest. Stalin also used violent purges, terror, censorship, and the help of the secret police.

Gulags

in the Soviet Union, a system of forced labor camps in which millions of criminals and political prisoners were held under Stalin. Grumblers and critics were rounded up and sent to the Gulag.

collectives

large farms owned and operated by peasants as a group. Stalin wanted all peasants to farm on either state-owned farms or collectives. On collectives, the government would provide tractors, fertilisers, and better seed, and peasants would learn modern farm methods.

russification

making a nationality's culture more ethnically Russian. Stalin controlled the cultural life of the Soviet Union was by promoting a policy of russification.

commend economy

system in which governments officials make all basic economic decisions. The Soviet Union developed a command economy.

kulaks

wealthy peasant in the Soviet Union in the 1930s. Stalin believed that the kulaks were behind the resistance of collectivisation by killing farm animals, destroying tools, and burning crops.