III. Soviet UnionIII. Soviet UnionIII. Soviet UnionIII. Soviet Union

A. East Against West• After WWII, Eastern Europe opposed

Western Europe and the U.S.A.• Iron Curtain – Boundary separating

the Communist nations of Eastern Europe from the democratic nations of Western Europe

Iron Curtain

B. Rise of the Soviet Union

• After the fall of Germany, the Soviet Union became the strongest country in Europe

• Union of Soviet Socialist Republics – USSR

• Made up of 15 current counties • Largest country was Russia

C. Rise of Communism • All goods and services were shared

equally• No classes would exist in society • Private property would cease to

exist • Each person would contribute what

they could and receive what they need

D. The Soviet Era • 1914 – Russia fights in World War I • Russia suffers many defeats and food

shortages that the people blamed on the czar (Russian Emperor)

• 1917 – Russian Revolution overthrew the czar and created communism

Russian Czar Nicholas II and his Family

Founders of Communism

Vladimir Lenin & Joseph Stalin

Vladimir Lenin•Led Russian Revolution that

resulted in Communism •1922 – Russian leaders

founded the USSR

Joseph Stalin • Took power after Lenin’s death • Very harsh ruler • Anyone who disagreed with his

policies were killed or sent to labor camps in Siberia

• Killed as many as 10,000,000

Abandoned Labor Camp

in Siberia

E. Cold War• Cold War – Political tension

between the U.S. and Soviet Union from 1949-1991

• No actual war was fought directly between the Soviet Union and the United States