Joseph Stalin and Totalitarianism

Totalitarianism is defined as absolute control by the state or a governing branch of a highly centralized institution. In much simpler terms it is a government that keeps its control by telling its citizens what to think and punishing them if they think otherwise. With totalitarianism there are constant surveillance, government controlling the media, secret police, and harsh punishment. When Vladimir Lenin died he left his reign to an evil man named Joseph Stalin. He used harsh methods and easily disposed of his competition. Joseph Stalin felt they were 100 years behind so he made what was called the Five Year Plan. With this they would become a major industrial country within just 5 years. With them trying to increase their agriculture and coal output workers were first to work for 16- 18 hours a day. The great purges was when Stalin became extremely paranoid and decided to pretty much kill off all his past supporters and helpers. Many members of the government were killed or sent to labor camps. Some had even signed confessions. Joseph Stalin was a harsh and cruel dictator.

Film Lesson: Doctor Zhivago

The movie started out before the revolution with Russians marching for change. When the people were getting closer to the czars house he ordered to have them killed. The people were starving and the czar was treating them all unfairly. The peaceful protest lead to many wounded and killed. This was called Bloody Sunday. Another cause for the revolution was WWI. The Russians didn't want to be part of the war. Later on in the movie the Russian soldiers decided to just leave their trenches and with the they got the new incoming soldiers to rebel against the czar. Thus the Revolution was set. In Doctor Zhivago a man was explaining how with communism there would be no czar and that only the workers would rule. The Doctor had a large wealthy house before the revolution but when he came back his large house was being shared with 13 other families. The government owned all the property and gave it to the people equally. Doctor Zhivago even spoke about it being just. But even with everything being shared the people were still poor and hungry. There wasnt enough heat or food to go around to everyone. And since no one can be rich in communism the governent was taking Doctor Zhivagos expensive plates and putting them in storage. Which is basically the government stealing to share with everyone.

Causes of WWI

There were many things that contributed to world war one. One of the reasons for WWI were Nationalism. Before war all of the countries were building up with pride. Nationalism gave the countries a feeling of superiority which cause bother hatred and racism. Suddenly people from one country simply started disliking people from another country simply as a duty to their own country. Another reason was militarism. As the countries began to work harder on their military the others got suspicious. Over the years before WWI all the countries started putting more money into their army and navy. Each one was as suspicious as the next and making secret alliances with one another. At that point all the countries started preparing for a war and were ready for it at any moment. At last another major conflict was the countries alliance systems. The alliances pretty much made the teams up for war. There was the Triple Alliance which was Italy, Germany, and Austria- Hungary. Also there was the Triple Entente which was made up of Great Britain, France, and Russia.