Topic+3+Rise+and+Rule+of+Single+Party+States

Lenin practice essay:

Sophia's notes on 17.2 :

STALIN

17.2 How successful was Stalin in solving Russia’s economic problems? (P. 364) A. What were Russia’s economic problems? 1. ≈ Production from heavy industry was still surprisingly low – Stalin feared an attack from the western anti communists, and therefore wanted heavy industry ≈ It was the industrial workers who were the communists greatest allies ≈ Foreigners = unwilling to invest in communist state 2. ≈ More food would have to be produced to: o Feed ⇑ population o Provide surplus for export -> earn from foreigners ≈ Primitive agricultural system NEP ≠ resources B. What were the Five Year Plans for industry? ≈ 3 five year plans ≈ Stalin (with no experience) = dramatic changes / small time ≈ “50 to 100 years change in 10 years time” ≈ First two finished 1 year short (1928-32, 1933-37) ≈ Third 1 year short b/c of war 1st Plan = heavy industries (coal, iron, steel, oil, machines) 2nd, 3rd = consumer goods / industry ≈ By 1940: USSR = overtaken Britain / near Germany’s industry ≈ Money from within country ≈ Plans had drawbacks o Punishment for bad labor o Primitive housing conditions ≈ By mid – 1930’s = improve. In health care, education, holidays with pay ≈ Stalin = criticized is vilent = stronger than Lenin c. How was there a collectivization of agriculture? ≈ Collectivization : small farms + holdings =merged to form large collective farms 2 reasons ≈ Small farms = inefficient ≈ Afraid of kulak uprisal “We must smash the kulaks so hard that they will never rise to their feet again.” ≈ The policy was launched in earnest in 1929 BUT resistence => brutal force ≈ Kulaks destroyed cattle + crops so state doesn’t get it ≈ Over 90% land collectivized by 1937 ≈ Allowed ⇑ in mechanization By: Sophia Totten

Sergey's notes on 17.3:

17.3 POLITICS AND THE PURGES

Political Problems

- 1930 - the government’s popularity falls. - A new constitution was needed to consolidate the hold of Stalin over the whole country. - Non-Russian parts of the country wanted independence.

The Purges and the Great Terror, 1934-8

- By the end of 1933, over 800 000 dissident party members had been expelled and in the following year 340 000. Over 2 million people were in prisons and forced labour camps. - From 1936 until 1938 Stalin’s campaign intensified and became known as “the Great Terror“. - By the end of the Terror, Stalin made Yezhov responsible for the Terror. Stalin managed to keep some of his popularity. - Stalin ruled unchallenged until his death in 1953.

Consequences of the Purges and the Terror

- Ronald Suny: “the total number of lives destroyed runs from ten to eleven million”. - The power of the Bolshevik elite had been broken and eliminated. - Many of the best brains in the government & industry had disappeared – hinder of progress.

The new constitution of 1936

- Everyone was allowed to vote by secret ballot to choose members of a national assembly. - The constitution merely underlined Stalin, who acted as a dictator. - “Universal human rights” were mentioned, but in reality anybody, who criticized Stalin was “purged”.

Holding the union together

- National cultures and languages were encouraged and the republic had a certain amount of independence. - It had to be clearly understood that Moscow still had the final say in all important decisions.

Eva's notes on 17.5:


 * 12's In-class Beamer Paper from Dec. 4, 2009:**