Soviet Union – Product of Russian Revolution and WWI

Flag Symbols Hammer - Hard work needed to be done by the

factory workersSickle – Hard work done by farmers

“Welcome Comrades”

Comrades

= Friends

Vladimir Lenin

Communism• Political, social and economic idea that

promotes the establishment of a classless society based on common ownership of property

• Why might people want a communist system?

Everyone “equal,” everyone works together, everyone has a housing/job!

Bolsheviks• Communist Group that over threw the

government during the Russian Revolution

• Leader – Vladimir Lenin

Bolsheviks speaking at a meeting of workers and soldiers in Petrograd in 1917

Communism Cartoon

• What is this cartoon trying to show?

Lenin sweeping away all the rich (kings, bankers, etc)

Soviets• Governing body made up of workers who

made laws

• 15 Republics that made Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.)

Lenin dies in 1923Lenin’s preserved body in Leningrad

Joseph Stalin• Brutal Leader of Soviet Union 1924-1953

• Led U.S.S.R. to victory during WWII, and after

• Made everything communist – Example?

• St Petersburg = Leningrad

Post WWIIIron Curtain

Soviet Union kept conquered land, total

control of these countries --- Why?

Policies of Communism1. Autarky - Country tries to produce

everything it needs

Problems?

A. Efficiency, product quality fell

B. Food production fell, starvation of peasants

2. Rationing - Soviet Bread Line

3. “Equal” Housing

• Ugly empty Soviet housing blocs. Not for Soviet party leadership

4. Eliminating Freedoms• Total control of press/thought• Sent “enemies” to labor camps

called gulags• Tried to stop religion

                           

  The Russian Orthodox Cathedral, once the most dominant landmark in Baku, was demolished in the 1930s under Stalin.

Terrible Tragedy of “communism”casualties for the Stalinist period –

8 to 61 million

Downfall of Soviet UnionSoviet Environmental Policies - basically

non existent, huge areas ruined by the pollution

Nuclear Disaster• Chernobyl Disaster

April 26th 1986

Communism Cartoon

 

Cold War – Against America1. Very high Military Spending

2. Soviet Policies - People revolted against communism

1989 - The Fall of the Berlin Wall – end of communism, end of “Cold War”

Former Soviet Union TodayFrom One, Many

Positives of the Soviet Union1. Education increased = 90% literacy rate

2. Health care “free” and available

3. Guaranteed Employment