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Lesson 7.01
A New Regime In Russia

Russia had gone to war in August of 1914 against the Central powers with Tsar Nicholas II in control of his country. In March of 1917, Nicholas was forced to abdicate his throne and turn power over to the Duma, an elected parliament containing many political parties. Russia’s experience in the war was not a good one to say the least. Inefficiency and corruption were widespread. As the months went by, supplies ran short. Hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers were dying, with no end in sight. The government of Russia, either Tsarist or the Provincial Government could no longer claim the loyalty of the Russian people.

Within the Duma was a dedicated band of revolutionaries called Bolsheviks. (now known as Communists) In November of 1917, their leader, Valadimir Lenin overthrew the Duma and created the Communist country of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. From 1917 until his death in 1924, Lenin’s communist government attempted to abolish capitalism, private ownership of property, and suppressed religion. Artists, writers, and composers were expected to produce works that could serve as propaganda for the state. A large and active secret police infiltrated all of Russian society.

With Lenin’s death the leadership of the USSR fell into the hands of Josef Stalin. Stalin’s plan was to transform the USSR from an agricultural country into an industrial power in five years.

He launched a series of 5 Year Plans that saw the USSR become the world’s third largest industrial producer behind the United States and Germany. The Five-Year Plans were costly in terms of human life. It is estimated that over 5 million Russians died between 1928 and 1934 from starvation as badly needed food was allocated to urban factory workers only.
[The poster for Stalin's 70th Birthday in 1949. The text translates as: "The leader and teacher of humanity in the fight for peace, democracy and socialism."]

Assignment 7.01 - A New Regime In Russia

Click on the link below and answer the questions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/stalin_joseph.shtml

Read the Article on Josef Stalin and answer the questions. DO NOT cut and paste your answers but summarize the answers in a WORD document.

How did Stalin become the leader of Russia after the death of Lenin?
In what ways did Stalin try to change agriculture and industry in the Soviet Union?
How did Stalin try to eliminate opposition in the 1930s?