Changing Government in the Soviet Changing Government in the Soviet UnionUnion

Section I: Pages Section I: Pages 636-643 636-643

Changing Government in the Soviet Changing Government in the Soviet UnionUnion

Section I: Pages Section I: Pages 636-643 636-643 This section is about:This section is about: How Lenin began to How Lenin began to

transform Russia into transform Russia into the Soviet Union, the Soviet Union, focusing on focusing on government and government and economics.economics.

How Stalin took control How Stalin took control after Lenin’s death, after Lenin’s death, starting a dictatorship starting a dictatorship and a rule of terror in and a rule of terror in the Soviet Union.the Soviet Union.

We’ve already seen the man in the picture on pages 636/637.

In the caption it asks: What does this poster tell you about the type of leader Lenin was?

We should also read what’s on page 636.

Look at the names on the timeline – do any look familiar?

The Soviet Union Under The Soviet Union Under LeninLenin

Communists didn’t have it Communists didn’t have it easy when the took control.easy when the took control.

Nobles and large Nobles and large landowners hated them landowners hated them (forced to give up their (forced to give up their crops).crops).

People also were afraid of People also were afraid of the government totally the government totally controlling their lives.controlling their lives.

Remember? It was the red Remember? It was the red Bolshevik communists Bolshevik communists fighting the white fighting the white Mensheviks, who were Mensheviks, who were backed by the U.S., Great backed by the U.S., Great Britain, and France.Britain, and France.

………………………………....

In that civil warIn that civil war Hundreds of thousands Hundreds of thousands

had died.had died. Farms and factories Farms and factories

closed.closed. People didn’t have jobs.People didn’t have jobs. Millions died from Millions died from

hunger and disease.hunger and disease.

Lenin took power when Lenin took power when he promised the people he promised the people peace, land, and bread.peace, land, and bread.

After one more civil After one more civil war, war, LeninLenin built a new built a new system f government system f government and a new economyand a new economy

Forming a New GovernmentForming a New Government

Lenin set up 4 “republics”Lenin set up 4 “republics” He changed Russia’s name: He changed Russia’s name:

the Union of Soviet Socialist the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.Republics.

He organized the communist He organized the communist partyparty

He wrote a new constitution He wrote a new constitution (everyone had some rights (everyone had some rights and anyone over 18 could and anyone over 18 could vote).vote).

All political power, means of All political power, means of production, and resources production, and resources would belong to the workers would belong to the workers and peasants – but the and peasants – but the communist party kept control communist party kept control of the government.of the government.

………………………………………………

The people didn’t The people didn’t immediately accept immediately accept Lenin’s plan.Lenin’s plan.

Lenin believed Lenin believed something was wrong something was wrong with the people and he with the people and he needed to make the needed to make the people accept people accept communism.communism.

He did this in forced He did this in forced labor camps where labor camps where people were sent to do people were sent to do work for the work for the government.government.

Lenin also tried to get Lenin also tried to get other people around the other people around the world to overthrow world to overthrow capitalist and capitalist and democratic governments democratic governments (none did at the time).(none did at the time).

A New Economic PlanA New Economic Plan

Lenin’s economic plan didn’t Lenin’s economic plan didn’t work.work.

By 1921, the government By 1921, the government had the right to control large had the right to control large factories and industries – factories and industries – and also could force farmers and also could force farmers to turn over products.to turn over products.

Because of the bad working Because of the bad working conditions, and government conditions, and government interference, no-one wanted interference, no-one wanted to make anything the to make anything the government might get. government might get.

Russia even had to import Russia even had to import food.food.

…………………………....

Russia seems to “like” making Russia seems to “like” making new plans, so Lenin did.new plans, so Lenin did.

He eased up a little and He eased up a little and started the N.E.P. (New started the N.E.P. (New Economic Plan).Economic Plan).

People could start owning People could start owning some land.some land.

The government stopped The government stopped taking food from farmers.taking food from farmers.

Peasants were allowed to sell Peasants were allowed to sell products again.products again.

Small factories and workshops Small factories and workshops were allowed to open again.were allowed to open again.

But large industries, banks, But large industries, banks, and foreign trade were still and foreign trade were still government controlled.government controlled.

This helped Russia. Lenin died This helped Russia. Lenin died in 1924, but Russia’s economy in 1924, but Russia’s economy was improving and they were was improving and they were starting to become a world starting to become a world power.power.

Lenin’s TombLenin’s Tomb

Lenin's Mausoleum still the Lenin's Mausoleum still the resting place of the embalmed resting place of the embalmed body of the founder of Soviet body of the founder of Soviet Communism since 1924, Communism since 1924, housed in a futuristic granite-housed in a futuristic granite-cube building designed by cube building designed by Shchusev that stands on Red Shchusev that stands on Red Square next to the Kremlin Square next to the Kremlin walls. Even today Lenin is still walls. Even today Lenin is still seen quite often, from the life seen quite often, from the life his like "inspiring" statues his like "inspiring" statues that are still standing, in and that are still standing, in and around Russia. Lenin's tomb is around Russia. Lenin's tomb is right in the middle of Red right in the middle of Red Square, the red granite Square, the red granite pyramid like structure with pyramid like structure with the name in Cyrillic "Lenin" on the name in Cyrillic "Lenin" on the outside. the outside.

Lenin’s TombLenin’s Tomb

Joseph Stalin Takes ControlJoseph Stalin Takes ControlWhen Lenin died, Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky struggled to When Lenin died, Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky struggled to take control. But, they had opposing views on how to rule.take control. But, they had opposing views on how to rule.

Trotsky: was a brilliant Trotsky: was a brilliant communist thinker, a communist thinker, a leader of the 1917 leader of the 1917 revolution, and he was revolution, and he was willing to use terror when willing to use terror when “necessary.”“necessary.”

Wanted worldwide Wanted worldwide revolutions against revolutions against capitalism.capitalism.

StalinStalin: was secretary-: was secretary-general of the communist general of the communist party who wanted to turn party who wanted to turn Russia into an industrial Russia into an industrial and military power.and military power.

Wanted revolutions in “one Wanted revolutions in “one country at a time” and country at a time” and wanted to build up wanted to build up communism in the USSR communism in the USSR first.first.

Lenin had doubts about Lenin had doubts about both Stalin and Trotsky.both Stalin and Trotsky.

He thought Trotsky He thought Trotsky might be too violent to might be too violent to run a country.run a country.

He thought Stalin was He thought Stalin was too rude to run a too rude to run a country.country.

Stalin outwitted Stalin outwitted Trotsky, made him look Trotsky, made him look bad, and Trotsky lost bad, and Trotsky lost most of his power.most of his power.

Trotsky was exiled out Trotsky was exiled out of Russia (to Mexico).of Russia (to Mexico).

That wasn’t enough for That wasn’t enough for Stalin though – he had Stalin though – he had Trotsky killed in Mexico Trotsky killed in Mexico City (with an axe).City (with an axe).

Command EconomyCommand Economy Stalin has his own economic plans (no NEP).Stalin has his own economic plans (no NEP). He started his “five year plans.”He started his “five year plans.” At first, most had to do with building up steel, oil, and machinery At first, most had to do with building up steel, oil, and machinery

production.production. He began a command economy: where the government makes all He began a command economy: where the government makes all

the decisions about economics.the decisions about economics. Now, the government decided what was made, how much was Now, the government decided what was made, how much was

made, and where goods would be sent to.made, and where goods would be sent to. …………………………………………

Five year plans were good Five year plans were good and bad.and bad.

He expanded Soviet He expanded Soviet industry.industry.

He built a lot of dams, He built a lot of dams, canals, railways, steel canals, railways, steel mills, mines, and factories.mills, mines, and factories.

Steel, coal, and oil Steel, coal, and oil production increased.production increased.

More machines and More machines and equipment were made equipment were made (including farm machines).(including farm machines).

But he didn’t have a good But he didn’t have a good overall plan of what to do overall plan of what to do with everything – with everything – sometimes there were sometimes there were surpluses and sometimes surpluses and sometimes there were shortages.there were shortages.

For workers: still not too For workers: still not too good – low wages, bad good – low wages, bad housing, work was long housing, work was long hours and hard work.hours and hard work.

AgricultureAgriculture

The NEP tried to make farming The NEP tried to make farming more efficient.more efficient.

Stalin took the land back again, Stalin took the land back again, and formed and formed collectivescollectives (state (state owned farms).owned farms).

The state supplied the equipment The state supplied the equipment and the people had to work and the people had to work together to meet the together to meet the governments governments quotasquotas (with (with amounts and prices set by the amounts and prices set by the government).government).

No-one like this (especially in the No-one like this (especially in the good farmland of the Ukraine), good farmland of the Ukraine), so...so...

People would burn crops, People would burn crops, slaughter farm animals, destroy slaughter farm animals, destroy tools and machine, begin tools and machine, begin uprisings against the government uprisings against the government (who often responded with (who often responded with brutality).brutality).

Stalin wanted to go after the Stalin wanted to go after the KulaksKulaks (wealthy peasants). (wealthy peasants).

He ordered millions of them He ordered millions of them killed or put in prison.killed or put in prison.

He took their land and food He took their land and food from them. His soldiers shot from them. His soldiers shot many of them – and left many of them – and left many others to starve to many others to starve to death.death.

Others were forced into the Others were forced into the labor camps.labor camps.

Stalin forced the Ukraine to Stalin forced the Ukraine to give almost all their grain up give almost all their grain up for export (and then, about 8 for export (and then, about 8 million Ukrainians died of million Ukrainians died of starvation).starvation).

None of this helped increase None of this helped increase farm production.farm production.

It did increase the It did increase the communist control of the communist control of the country, and made peasants country, and made peasants unable to do anything to unable to do anything to improve their lives.improve their lives.

Rule of TerrorRule of Terror Stalin turned the Soviet Union Stalin turned the Soviet Union

into a place that attempted to into a place that attempted to control every part of its control every part of its people’s lives.people’s lives.

He used terror and propaganda He used terror and propaganda to keep control over the people.to keep control over the people.

By the 1930’s, he had absolute By the 1930’s, he had absolute power within the Communist power within the Communist Party.Party.

He used force and terror to He used force and terror to “silence” anyone who criticized “silence” anyone who criticized or questioned his actions or or questioned his actions or ideas.ideas.

Police monitored the citizens Police monitored the citizens behavior, following people, behavior, following people, reading private letters, listening reading private letters, listening to private conversations, and to private conversations, and used spies to get information used spies to get information about people.about people.

………………………………………………..

In 1934, Stalin began In 1934, Stalin began the Great the Great PurgesPurges to get to get rid ofrid of anyone who might anyone who might be disloyal to him.be disloyal to him.

The police arrested The police arrested many, including some many, including some who had been with the who had been with the communist party since communist party since its’ beginnings (even its’ beginnings (even war heroes and ordinary war heroes and ordinary citizens).citizens).

Punishments: swift and Punishments: swift and severe.severe.

Police might use Police might use torture. Some people torture. Some people were convicted without were convicted without trials.trials.

Others were sent to Others were sent to labor camps (Siberia)labor camps (Siberia)

The Communist Party The Communist Party controlled everything printed controlled everything printed or broadcast.or broadcast.

Censors had the job to Censors had the job to eliminate anything not okay eliminate anything not okay with Stalin.with Stalin.

The evils of capitalism were The evils of capitalism were announced everywhere.announced everywhere.

People were told they were People were told they were much better off than anyone much better off than anyone in a capitalist country.in a capitalist country.

People heard about how wise People heard about how wise and wonderful Stalin was.and wonderful Stalin was.

Students were taught all this Students were taught all this in school.in school.

People heard it on the radio People heard it on the radio and over loudspeakers in and over loudspeakers in town.town.

They saw it on posters and in They saw it on posters and in newspapers (including Pravda newspapers (including Pravda – the truth)– the truth)