Download - Communist USSR - Economy and Social Changes
Russian Revolution Russian Revolution & Communist & Communist
RussiaRussia1917-1950s1917-1950s
Russia = Soviet Union = USSRRussia = Soviet Union = USSR
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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 Changes
Wealthy 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
classMilitary Leaders• Continued to be in the
upper classUrban 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.