Unit 10Unit 10Part 2Part 2

From Lenin to StalinFrom Lenin to Stalin

Post Civil War USSRPost Civil War USSR

1920: Lenin turns his attention to governing 1920: Lenin turns his attention to governing The Soviet UnionThe Soviet Union

Government (sounded democratic and socialist)Government (sounded democratic and socialist) Set up an elected legislature (Set up an elected legislature (The Supreme The Supreme

SovietSoviet) males over 18 voted and in theory ) males over 18 voted and in theory political power rested with the workerspolitical power rested with the workers

Reality: The Communist Party used the army Reality: The Communist Party used the army and secret police (and secret police (ChekaCheka) to force their will ) to force their will on the countryon the country

Russians dominate all other ethnic groupsRussians dominate all other ethnic groups SovietsSoviets

The EconomyThe Economy

Lenin’s “War Communism” had almost Lenin’s “War Communism” had almost killed the economy (output in factories, killed the economy (output in factories, mines and farms had dropped way off)mines and farms had dropped way off) 1921: Lenin adopted the 1921: Lenin adopted the New Economic New Economic

PolicyPolicy (NEP) which allowed for limited (NEP) which allowed for limited private ownership while the government kept private ownership while the government kept control of key industriescontrol of key industries

Result: helped the economy recover (stopped Result: helped the economy recover (stopped armed resistance) but only a temporary armed resistance) but only a temporary measuremeasure

Religion: Atheism (“Opiate of the masses”)Religion: Atheism (“Opiate of the masses”)

StalinStalin

Not a Russian (Georgian)Not a Russian (Georgian) 1922 made Secretary General of the 1922 made Secretary General of the

Communist PartyCommunist Party Lenin saw Trotsky as his successorLenin saw Trotsky as his successor When Lenin dies in January of 1924 Stalin When Lenin dies in January of 1924 Stalin

was able to use alliances to gain power was able to use alliances to gain power over Trotskyover Trotsky Why? (Why? (Trotsky and “World CommunismTrotsky and “World Communism”)”) Trotsky is expelled in 1927 and murdered in Trotsky is expelled in 1927 and murdered in

Mexico in 1940Mexico in 1940

The 5 year plansThe 5 year plans

Launched in 1928: The focus was on industrial Launched in 1928: The focus was on industrial production at a huge cost to the peasantsproduction at a huge cost to the peasants All peasants forced to give up land and livestock in All peasants forced to give up land and livestock in

a process called “a process called “collectivizationcollectivization”” The plan was to export food grown on The plan was to export food grown on collective collective

farmsfarms to pay for factories to pay for factories Wealthy peasants known as Wealthy peasants known as KulaksKulaks resisted and resisted and

were deported to were deported to GulagsGulags in Siberia in Siberia The army was used to enforce the policy (10 million The army was used to enforce the policy (10 million

farmers dead) which caused a famine in the USSRfarmers dead) which caused a famine in the USSR

Effects of the 5 year planEffects of the 5 year plan

Consumer goods were sacrificed to Consumer goods were sacrificed to increase large scale productionincrease large scale production

Also: bad conditions, low pay, little food, Also: bad conditions, low pay, little food, delays, poor servicedelays, poor service

Results: Standard of living down and they Results: Standard of living down and they produced poor productsproduced poor products

Farm production also fell offFarm production also fell off Famine from 1932-1933 due to food exportsFamine from 1932-1933 due to food exports Production only doubled (2Production only doubled (2ndnd 5 year plan doubled it 5 year plan doubled it

again)again) Urban growth (25 million to the cities)Urban growth (25 million to the cities)

Political TerrorPolitical Terror

All of these achievements came at an All of these achievements came at an enormous price: enormous price: TotalitarianismTotalitarianism Had to go where you were toldHad to go where you were told Complaints against these harsh policies led Complaints against these harsh policies led

Stalin to strike back with a campaign of Stalin to strike back with a campaign of terror and propagandaterror and propaganda

Artists had to glorify the stateArtists had to glorify the state Rewrote history of the revolutionRewrote history of the revolution Murdered rivals (16 total)Murdered rivals (16 total) 1935-1940 The “1935-1940 The “Great Purge”Great Purge” killed more than killed more than

half the Generals (intellectuals and writers as well)half the Generals (intellectuals and writers as well)