Russian Revolution & Russian Revolution & Communist RussiaCommunist Russia

1917-1950s1917-1950s

Russia = Soviet Union = USSRRussia = Soviet Union = USSR

Thanks GSILL

Psycho!

“To choose one’s victims, to prepare one’s plan, to quench a strong desire for vengeance, and then to go to bed . . .there is nothing sweeter in the world.”

Josef Stalin

USSR ECONOMYSocialism in One Country

• According to Stalin, the duty of the USSR was to first create a strong state - must be able to defend against enemies!

“We are fifty or a hundred years behind the advanced countries. We must make good this distance in ten years. Either we do it or we shall be crushed” – Stalin

Industrialization Series of 5 year

plans to expand manufacturing

Industrial cities built with Western engineering

Rapid urbanization followed.

IndustrializationSuccess! By the 1930’s

USSR was the world’s 3rd leading industrial power.

Total government control of industry focused on military and heavy industry (not consumer goods)

AgricultureCollectivization• 1928, Soviet gov seized 25

million privately owned farms

• Established gov’t owned farms called collectives

• Food production declined, grains were taken to feed urban areas or for export

USSR Social Class ChangesWealthy upper class

(including ruling families) was removed.

The kulak class (small landowners) was destroyed.

WORKING CLASS officially the only class.

Social ClassCommunist Party Leaders

• Became the new upper class

Military Leaders

• Continued to be in the upper class

Urban workers

• Gained some status

• Gained access to new government services

Changes in Social Class and FamiliesChanges in Social Class and Families

Similar changes in the family as in the Similar changes in the family as in the industrialized nations of the west.industrialized nations of the west.• Family ties loosened, emphasis on nuclear Family ties loosened, emphasis on nuclear

families.families.• Birth rates declinedBirth rates declined• Greater emphasis on children succeedingGreater emphasis on children succeeding

USSR- Women’s StatusUSSR- Women’s Status ““Legal equality” with Legal equality” with

men.men. Women joined the Women joined the

work force in work force in industrialization and industrialization and had some political had some political roles.roles.

Women gained Women gained ground in certain ground in certain professions – such as professions – such as medicine.medicine.

What stayed the same?• Male-dominated

society – politically and economically

• Women still required to care for family and household.

• No middle-class• Elite class still in

control of the politics, economics, and society– (Stalin and communist

party replaced Tsar and boyars)

What stayed the same?• Largely rural

population and strong agricultural base.

• Consumer-based economy never developed.

• Russian economy mostly isolated from the West.