By: Maddi Oliver 2 nd hour World History PAGES

Stalin Gains Power. The main Chief Contenders were Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. Trotsky- a Markist thinker, architect of the Bolshevik Revolution. Stalin joined the Bolshevik underground and changed his name from Djugshvili to Stalin which mean the man of steel. Organized most of the robberies to fund the group. 1920’s became general secretary of the group Lenin’s death set off a power struggle between the Communist powers. Trotsky believed they should start a worldwide revolution and Stalin believed in building up socialism in the home first. After Stalin won he put all of his followers in top ranks of the group and Trotsky was Stripped of his.

The Five-Year Plans. In 1928 Stalin revealed his first of many Five-Year plans. His first plan was to build big industries, improve transportation, and increase farm output. The Soviet Union Created a Command Economy. Under the command economy the government would run all businesses. Verses in capital economy all businesses would be privately owned. Between large factories, Hydroelectric power stations, and huge industrial complexes were spreading a crossed the Soviet Union. After all the changes the standard of living still remand poor. During this era the economy failed majorly.

Revolution in Agriculture. Stalin also took control of agriculture. He forced peasants to give up their land, and live on state owned farms or on collectives (a big state owned farm that many groups of peasants worked on.) They could keep personal belongings but had to turn over all farm animals and anything else related to the farm into the government. On Collectives the government provided anything need to farm that land such as: tractors, fertilizers, and better seeds. The government needed more food to supply the people working in the factories and who live in the city. peasants reacted by killing farm animals, destroying tools, and burning crops. Stalin targeted the Kulaks who were wealthy peasants< they took their lands and sent them to labor camps. In the labor camps many were executed or died from overwork. The peasants revolted by only growing enough food for themselves. The government in response to all grain and left them to starve. Millions of people died from a famine that continued from the government take all the grain.

The Great Purge. Stalin became worried of what the opposing group was planning against him. In 1934 Stalin launched the great purge. With this he and police targeted old activist supporters, army heroes, industrial managers, writers, and ordinary citizens. The people were charged with many crimes from counterrevolutionary plots to failure to reach production quotas. Studies show that 4 million people were charged with a crime and of those 800,000 were executed.

Foreign Policy. After the revolution Lenin organized a group called the Communist International or Comintern. It helped out communist groups, and to rise up against the imperialist powers. During the 1920’s the Soviet Union won back the western countries and increased their trade with them.