How did Stalin conrtol the USSR?
How did Stalin control the USSR? During the `930s Stalin consolidated his position as the supreme dictator of the Soviet Union. Stalin's USSR developed into a brutal totalitarian state, like Hitler's Germany. A totalitarian state is one in which those in power have total control of the people. Every aspect of peoples lives in controlled and monitored. Stalin's totalitarian state of the 1930s had the following characteristics; it was a one party state, controlled through the use of terror, a secret police force (the NKVD), the gulag (forced labour camps), a cult of the leader, propaganda and censorship, control of education, control of the arts and sciences. In other words, Stalin maintained his dictatorship in the USSR by two main methods. To control by using force and terror and to control by persuasion and ideas. The 'great purges' lasted from 1934 to 1938. The meaning of the term purge is a 'drastic clear out'. The purges were the major method of control used by Stalin against anyone he believed was a threat to his dictatorship. The secret police (NKVD) were used as a means of carrying out the purges. During this period of millions of Russians were arrested and either sent to the Gulag or shot. Figures are constantly being revised in the light of new evidence. But it has been estimated that over 40million people were arrested in the USSR between 1934 and 1938 of
The New Economic Policy
The New Economic Policy (NEP) The Bolshevik revolution of October 1917 was followed by over two years of civil war in Russia between the new Communist regime (the Reds) and its enemies - the pro-tsarist and anti-Bolshevik military officers commanding the so-called White armies. The great struggle which involved the deaths of up to nine million people saw much brutality and cruelty by both sides with the peasants suffering most from extortionate requisitioning of food supplies and recruits by both sides. Through the repressive and dictatorial methods, much similar to those of the Tsarist Regime, of the Bolshevik government had alienated the countryside peasantry and industrial workers, the original loyal support of the regime. In doing so the Bolsheviks caused the mutiny of former loyal regime supporters - the sailors at the Kronstadt naval base in March 1921. Though the rebellion was mercilessly crushed, Lenin was forced to moderate regime principles. The New Economic Policy (NEP) was the solution. In many eyes the NEP meant giving in and concurring to the will of the capitalists and the free market believers however Lenin believed it was the only way to prevent anti-Bolshevik insurgencies. In February 1921 in wake of much oppression from the Bolshevik government a surge of demonstrations erupted in the main industrial cities among the working classes over the repressive
How Much Benefit was Stalin's Collectivisation Policy to Russia?
How Much Benefit was Stalin's Collectivisation Policy to Russia? Stalin's collectivisation policy was designed to help out Russia's economic situation. Stalin needed to increase his grain production for exports so as to increase vital currency influx, so that Stalin could set about his modernisation of industry. He set about with an agricultural policy to set up collective farms where a fixed percentage of produce would have to be handed over to the government. He also wanted to get rid of the Kulaks who would be very much against this idea. Before Stalin Lenin had introduced the NEP, where farms were kept private and a fixed amount of produce had to be given to the government and any surplus produced was kept by the peasants. This encouraged the farmers to work harder so as to have more for themselves. However with Russia's ever increasing population farmland had to be divided giving smaller and smaller farms. This is why Stalin chose to set up collective farms. The NEP was a success, and the grain production did increase, but did not reach total recovery from before the revolutions and war, it maintained a steady input though. As was predicted the Kulaks hated the collectivisation idea and set about slaughtering their animals rather than give them up to the collectivisation, eating as much meat as they possibly could. Between 1929 and 39 over half the countries amount of
Bloody Sunday-Industrialists POV
The Bloody Sunday-Industrialists POV December 29th Working conditions are intolerable; our situation is becoming more excruciating as the time goes by. Father Gapon has been like a ray of Gratifying light that has shone through our darkened hope and made it come to life once again. Four members of the Assembly of Russian workers were dismissed at the putilov iron works 2 days ago and father Gapon true to his word has assisted us by calling for industrial action. 10,000 workers in St Petersburg, including myself, have now gone out on strike. We now sit impatiently anxious to see what our next step of action shall be and how it may affect our life in the days yet to come. Will we fail and go back to our insufferable conditions as they were before, Will we come out on top and get given the tolerable treatment we deserve, or worse yet will we suffer such a humiliating defeat that our conditions worsen from what they once were. Sitting here I can not help but allow such thoughts to surface in my mind, after all this is a significant action by which my life can suffer a vast transformation, whether it will be for better or worse, is still yet to come. January 18th Another day has begun and yet another decision has been made Father Gapon has decided to make a personal appeal to the Tsar. He has wrote a petition asking to give us healthier working conditions, we have requested
To what extent was the First World War a cause of the Russian Revolution?
To what extent was the First World War a cause of the Russian Revolution? BY KATIE NEWELL A diverse group of factors sparked the fire of the Russian Revolution. Each of these problems gradually over time built up and caused what would be a major event in Russia's history. The First World War was a substantial failure for Russia which massively lowered the Tsar's popularity and authority. The Russian people began to question themselves whether or not they could put their trust in the Tsar. Furthermore, as well as the appalling conditions at the front line, some levels of the Russian society were already dissatisfied with the poor conditions back at home. They were being harshly treated and affected by mass food shortages which also showed just how much the Tsar could not cope under such circumstances like the First World War. The following factors will show how they worked together to bring about the fall of the Russian Monarchy. The First World War affected everyone in Russia including the Army, workers, middle classes and the aristocracy. The army were made up of the peasantry and probably hit the most due to the fact that they were poorly supported by the industries. They weren't producing enough rifles, ammunition, artillery shells or boots and if they were, the basic rail network could not support the deliveries to the front line. At the end of 1914, there were
"Tsar of All the Russias" cartoon. Document Analysis & Bloody Sunday Historiography
The Tsar of All the Russias - SAC Practice Questions a) Identify two symbols of the Tsar's autocratic power in the representation - His jewelled crown - The Romanov double-headed eagle image b) Identify two features (not listed in response a) above) shown in the representation which symbolise the Bloody Sunday massacre in January 1905. - The worker lying dead - The petition in his hands c) Using your knowledge, explain what this portrayal of the Tsar suggests about the events of January 1905. On the 22nd of January 1905 a huge crowd of 100,000 - 150,000 Russians attempted to peacefully march to the Winter Palace to present the Tsar with a petition that 135,000 workers had signed. This petition asked for their selves and all other Russians in their situation to be granted basic human rights and given the right to elect their own leader to represent them politically. This march resulted in approximately 200 marchers' deaths and the wounding of 800 others. This caricature shows the Tsar as having an attitude of death towards his people, represented by his skeleton body, still clutching his sceptre and wearing his royal garb. The artist has also drawn the petition the marchers aimed to present to the Tsar abnormally large, suggesting it was of great importance. The event of Bloody Sunday was important because it was a turning point in the relationship the Tsar had with the
Letter to Tsar Nicholas II about Russia's problems
Dear noble Tsar, I am writing to you with great displeasure to inform you of an unfortunate issue which must be faced immediately. I will not try to divert the topic- Russia is in need of adjustment. I am sure that, because you are a very busy, hard-working Tsar you have not seen all of the problems that your great country faces. I, on the other hand, have lived in Moscow, our great St. Petersburg, and a large number of poor (and well-established) villages. I believe that there is a lot of great change in store for Russia, and I am sincerely hoping that you will consider my points and take my advice on this. I am very gland that, over the last decade, the industrial revolution has allowed Russia to keep up with the Western countries, and that we are able to keep up with modern industrial advancements. It was an important decision, and I am very glad you accepted the terms. There is one thing, however, that Russia has not improved, and that is working and living conditions for working class men and women. I understand, of course, that these peoples are not worth a very large sum, and that our dept situation will make it extremely difficult to improve this problem, but I greatly suggest that you attempt to convince our foreign investors to fund in more for not only the quality of life for them, but allow them to receive a greater wage. There are many reasons why this shall
Explain Rasputin's contribution to the collapse of Tsarism
GCSE Coursework - Russian Revolution By James Windsor 10L Explain Rasputin's contribution to the collapse of Tsarism Nowadays Rasputin is quite often considered evil, but did he actually contribute to the collapse of Tsarism? Most people in our modern day society believe Rasputin was an evil person without knowing too many of the facts, or the story behind him and his background they see him as a drunken evil man, and he's often described as the mad monk when he was neither mad nor a monk however he built up a bad reputation to the modern day world Rasputin started life off as a peasant in the lowest cast, an untouchable and he used to take things from people to sell for drink. He was the lowest of the low and therefore it would have been hard to influence the tsar's decisions as he was of no importance he was just a peasant wasn't he?. But he was a spiritual man and spent hours a day in prayer he once said "The peasant is great in god's eyes", he left his family in search of enlightenment. He often walked up to 30 miles a day from town to town. He became involved with the Khlysts which was a cult in Russia. Rasputin believed that sinning then repenting was the way to god and he sinned through sex. Rasputin was an instant hit with the upper class ladies as they believed that he could give them the true path to god. There were a few other "holy peasants" but Rasputin was
'Explain How Marxism contributed to the Bolshevik Revolution'
'Explain How Marxism contributed to the Bolshevik Revolution' Marxism was a big factor in the Bolshevik Revolution, Infact without Marxism, the Bolsheviks would not have been set up. Marxism is a theory created by Karl Marx in the 19th Century as an idea of equality through all areas of a country. This would mean people would be paid the same wage, whatever their job, there would be no classes, no hierarchy. This theory was made as a potential system to run a country, one which suited the present proletariats, the workers, of society. Marx's idea was that there would be two revolutions. The first would be the middle-class taking control from the monarchy and aristocracy. The second revolution would be the proletariats taking control from the middle-class. Then a temporary government structure would oversee the Communism settle into society. There were other causes which led to the second Bolshevik revolution, Marxism was the final consequence of a rulers system riddled with faults. The Provisional Government in February 1917 promised elections which were to be held in December of the same year. To many starving Russians, 10 months isn't even a foreseeable future, let alone would they even have the care to think about the provisional government while they had to concentrate on surviving. What made things worse for the Provisional Government's reputation, was that they had
History: Russia
Explain Trotsky's contribution to the success of the Bolsheviks up to 1922. Trotsky's contribution to the Bolsheviks up to 1922 was significant as he gave great speeches and was very influential in making the Bolsheviks a strong force. In April 1917, support for Lenin grew dramatically as his followers gradually accepted the April These. Support also came from Trotsky, a Menshevik. Trotsky was sure that Lenin's plan was the right one and he won support for Lenin with his effective speeches to soldiers and workers. He soon joined the Bolsheviks party to help Lenin. In September 1917, the Bolsheviks won an overall majority in the election to the Petrograd soviet and Trotsky, a recent recruit to the Bolsheviks, was elected chairman. Trotsky was a great influencer of decisions due to his captivating speeches. He was a immense asset to the Bolsheviks. Trotsky was the leader of the Red Army. Kerensky needed this army to defeat Kornilov. The Bolsheviks had become an armed force led by Trotsky. Kerensky supplied the Red Army with riffles. These weren't returned once Kornilov had been defeated, this was part of Trotsky's game plan. In October 1917, Lenin's view was that the Bolsheviks should act to try to take power immediately. The planning for the revolt was led by a small group of me on the Petrograd Soviet which was led by Trotsky. Trotsky was a big supporter of Lenin. On the
