Stalin's Soviet Union

How did Stalin and the Communist Party build a modern totalitarian state?

1) Stalin consolidated his power and eliminated his enemies through political infighting. 2) Then as the ruler of the Communist Party he established the first five year plan, "the revolution from above"

What were the economic changes made during the five year plans (also known as the second revolution) ?

1) Stalin orders the Collectivization of agriculture which is the forced consolidation of individual peasant lands into large state run farms. Their tools, livestock, and produce held in common. Central planners would control their work 2) By 1938 93% of families were part of collective farms. 3) Because during the period of collectivization of farms peasants resisted they were able to get some concession: limit the families time that they worked on the state run farms and have tiny plots which provided them with much of their food. These imy plots produced 22% of all Soviet agriculture even though it was only 4% of cultivated land. 4) More than 25 million people migrated to the city during the 1930's who left their village to become laborers. Russia's industrial centers grew. 5) trade unions lost much of their power. 6) Workers were assigned anywhere int he country

What were the two political and economic plans established by Lenin and Stalin?

1) The New Economic Policy established by Lenin in 1921 2) The five year plan established by Stalin in 1928

What did Stalin do to gain supreme power in the Russia and how did he achieve it?

He was able to gain support of the Communist Party which held the power in the one party state by 1) He was able to relate Marxism to the Soviet realities of the 1920's 2) The majority of the communists in the party preferred his ideology of "socialism in one country" versus Trotsky's "permanent revolution". Trotsky believed that Russia could only succeed of socialist revolution swept throughout Europe. The communists believed that Trotsky was selling Russia short and putting them in conflict with capitalist countries. 3) Stalin was willing to break with the New Economic Policy and "build socialism" which appealed to the young militants in the party who didn't like the NEP because it appeared as if was promoting capitalism. 4) Forming alliances with Trotsky's enemies to crush hims and then crushing whoever tried to stop his rise to power including his enemies.

What was the result of the collectivization of agriculture

In the first five year plan the collectivization of agriculture barely increased the out put of grain and was unable to make substantial financial contribution to the Soviet industrial development. Millions of of people died or were deported (Kulaks ) and were never seen again.

What did the Gosplan do?

It set production goals and controlled delivery of raw and finished materials Stalin's planning favored heavy industry (such as production of steel) over production of consumer goods.

Was the New Economic policy successful ?

It was a political and economic success. The riots by peasants subsided because of the temporary compromise given to the peasants. It was an economic success because industrial production surpassed pre-war output and agricultural production was almost equal to pre-war production.

Why did Stalin push for a "second revolution"

Lenin, Stalin, and the communists wire deeply committed to Socialism and feared a gradual restoration of capitalism. Stalin and the communists were eager to abolish the NEP's private traders, independent artisans, and property owning peasants. Stalin also felt that a new socialist offensive was needed to ensure industrial and agricultural development (they wanted the growth in the five year plan and further implementation of socialism was the way to get it)

Why was the New Economic Policy established?

The New Economic Policy replaced the war communism. There were riots by workers and peasants because industrial production had broken down and farms were in ruins. There was open rebellion by former pro-bolshevik sailors.

What were the five-year plans?

The aim of Stalin's five year plans was to create a new kind of society with a strong industrial economy and a strong army. In 1928 Stalin began to implement five year plans. The first five year plan had large economic objectives why industrial output would increase by 250% and Agricultural production by 150%. 1.5 of the peasants were scheduled to give up their plots of land and join socialist collective farms.

Who were the kulaks?

The kulaks were a class of well off peasants who had economically benefited from the New Economic Policy (NEP).

What happened in the Communist Party after Lenin died in 1924?

There was an internal power struggle in the inner circle circles of the communist party. The two main contenders were Joseph Stalin and Trotsky.

What were the political changes during the second revolution?

There were repressive laws against the kulaks who Stalin said were the enemy of progress. They were stripped of their land and livestock and generally not permitted to join the collective. Many of them starved or were deported to forced labor camps for re-education. 2) The Gosplan and huge State Planning Commision was established to oversee the industrial side of the five year plan 3) The great Purge from 1936-1938 false evidence often gathered through torture was used to incriminate party administrators Red Army leaders and execute them. 4) At least 8 million people were arrested and millions of these were executed or never returned from prisons and forced labor camps. 5) New members that joined the Communist Party and they experienced rapid social advance

What were the social changes made during the five-year plans

Workers received important social benefits such as old age pensions, free medical services, free education, and day care centers for children. Rapid industrialization meant need for massive numbers of skilled workers, engineers, and plant managers. This group became part of the new upper class along with the political and artistic elites. The revolution of 1917 proclaimed equal rights for women, but when Stalin came to power he took many of those privileges away to strengthen the traditional family and build up the states population. The changes that remained were women working in factories and on collective farms. Higher education was opened to women. Medicine practically became a women's profession. By 1950 75% of all doctors were women. They were part now part of specialized jobs in industry and science. Writers and artists were used to create political propaganda that glorified socialism and demonized capitalists through newspapers, films, and radio. Party activists lectured workers and peasants on collective farms.

What did the NEP (New Economic Policy) establish?

it established limited economic freedom in attempt to build agriculture and industry. Peasant were able to sell their surplus in a free market. It was legal to have private traders and private handcraft manufacturers. Lenin new that Peasant majority would revolt against the state taking their land and turning the peasants into state workers. BUT, heavy industry, railroads, and banks remained nationalized