NEW ERA IN THE SOVIET UNION

1. NEW ERA IN THE SOVIET UNION Chapter 9, Section 2

2. New Era in the Soviet Union • 1920’s millions died in Russia during a great famine caused by a drought. • Industry was reduced to 20% of that of 1913. • The Russian country and government were near collapse • 1921, Lenin created the New Economic Policy (NEP) – a system of modified capitalism. • Peasants could sell produce, small businesses could be privately owned BUT the government controlled heavy industries and banking.

3. Russian famine

4. Soviet Union • 1922, Communists create the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) aka Soviet Union. • The NEP saved the Soviet Union from economic ruin, but the Communists only saw it as a temporary measure

5. Soviet Union • 1924, Lenin dies • Bitter struggle for power in the Politburo - a committee that controlled the policies of the Communist party. • Leon Trotsky led one faction and wanted to • End the NEP at the expense of the peasants • Spread communism to other countries • Another faction rejected worldwide communism & wanted to continue the NEP & build a socialist state

6. Lenin Trotsky

7. Rise of Stalin • Trotsky & Stalin were personal rivals • Stalin used his power to gain complete control over the Communist party , removed all the Bolsheviks from power and became a powerful dictator. • Trotsky was expelled, went to Mexico where he was killed probably on Stalin’s orders • The Stalin Era began a time of radical change in the Soviet Union

8. Five Year Plans • Set economic goals for 5 year periods. • Emphasized industrialization & production of capital goods • Greatly increased the output of heavy machinery and production of oil & steel • This plan took a heavy toll on the Russian people • Urban housing was terrible • Wages declined • Government dealt with this by using propaganda to boost morale

9. Collectivization • Collectivization – system in which the government took over ownership of private farms and had the peasants work for them. • Many resisted by hoarding food & killing livestock • Stalin responded by increasing the number of farms in the program • 1930s, millions of Russians starved to death due to food shortages from collectivism.

10. Collectivization • Resistors were sent to Siberian forced labor camps • Old Bolsheviks & others were purged, many executed or sent to Siberia. • No parts of society were spared • Social legislation suffered including rights of women • divorce rights • ability to work outside the home

11. What was the purpose of Stalin’s Five-Year Plans? • To increase by enormous amounts the output of capital goods, such as heavy machinery, steel and oil production

12. Uneasy Peace, Uncertain Security Ch 9, Sec 1 pg. 464

14. League of Nations • After WWI many border disputes left Germany determined to change the terms of the Treaty of Versailles • US Pres. Wilson hoped the League of Nations could solve many conflicts • The League of Nations was not able to maintain peace. • The US never ratified the Treaty of Versailles and could not be a member of the League (U.S. did not want to be involved in European affairs) • The League could not use military force, only economic sanctions to stop aggression

15. Treaty of Versailles • French demand Treaty of Versailles be strictly enforced • Germans could not pay the $33 billion reparations due to economic problems. • France occupied the Ruhr Valley and planned to take the reparations by operating German industries there. • German workers strike • German currency is devalued – inflation • German mark is completely worthless 4 trillion marks = 1 US dollar

16. Economic problems in Germany • People suffered terribly • Economic problems led to political unrest in Germany, other countries stepped into help • The Dawes Plan – reduced reparation payments and coordinated German’s repayment with what the nation could repay. • Germany loaned $200 million = heavy US investment from 1924 - 1929

17. How did the Dawes Plan help to create an era of cooperation in Europe? • Germany was in a terrible economic state, which led to widespread suffering and political unrest. This plan enabled the Germans to make an economic recovery which then led to a more cooperative spirit between Germany and France.

18. European peace? • As Germany recovered France and Germany became more cooperative • Treaty of Locarno (1925) guaranteed Germany’s western borders • MAYBE A LASTING PEACE??? 1926 Germany joins the League of Nations 1928, 63 nations sign the Kellogg-Briand pact, pledging to renounce war as an instrument of national policy Germany forced to reduce its military; no other nations willing to follow this step. Trust of European nations for each other did not go that far.

19. The Great Depression • Depression – very low economic activity and high unemployment • Two main causes of the Great Depression • 1. Downturn in the economies of nations during second half of 1920s • 2. Collapse of US stock market in 1929 • Since 1924 Germany had borrowed $ from US banks for reparation payments. After stock market crash US pulled their $ out of Germany. • This weakened banks in Germany and other European countries

20. As trade and industrial production slowed huge number of people lost their jobs. • Unemployed and homeless filled the streets of many countries

22. Government responses • Governments did not know what to do. • Many tried lowering wages and raising tariffs = worse situation. • Communism became more popular in many places • Many people followed leaders who proposed simple solutions in return for complete power. • Democratic governments were challenged everywhere.

23. Democratic States After the War • 1919, most European countries have democratic government. • Women were granted the vote everywhere but Italy, Spain, France and Switzerland

24. Germany and the Great Depression • Weimar Republic created in 1918, • Paul von Hindenburg, president, not strong leader • Runaway inflation = many lose incomes and savings • 1929 Great Depression= millions without jobs

25. France and the Great Depression • After WWI France is strongest on European continent • Depression does not begin until 1932 • only suffer with economic instability but with political chaos as well • 1936 Socialists, Communists & Radicals form the Popular Front Government. They call for: • 1. collective bargaining the right for workers to negotiate w/ employers • 2. minimum wage • 3. 40 hours work week • This did not solve the larger problems during the Depression.

26. What were three benefits for French workers that the Popular Front government instituted in 1936? • The right to negotiate with employers, a minimum wage and a 40 hours work week.

27. Great Britain and the Great Depression • 1920’s severe unemployment • Rebound of economy from 1925-1929 • During the economic problems the gov’t changes from the Labour Party to the Conservatives

28. Great Britain and the Great Depression • John Maynard Keynes, 1936 • Argues that unemployment comes from a decline in demand. • People return to work • Demand increases • Proposed the government finance projects to create jobs • Many don’t agree • Deficit spending - governments should finance projects even if they go into debt

29. US and the Great Depression • US terribly affected • Industry fell 50% from 1929 – 1932. • 1933, 15 million people out of work.

30. US and the Great Depression • 1932 Franklin Delano Roosevelt elected president • Roosevelt proposes the New Deal • Government creates jobs by funding public works programs • Pushed through Social Security Act (old-age pension) • Unemployment insurance The New Deal prevented a social revolution but did not solve the unemployment problems. Americans did not regain employment until WWII.

32. The Rise of Dictators Ch 9, Sec 2 pg 471

33. Totalitarian State • Many countries in Europe, except France and Great Britain had adopted some form of dictatorial government • Totalitarian state – a new form of dictatorship that aimed to control all aspects of their citizens’ lives

34. Tolalitarian State • Control the hearts and minds of everyone • Used mass propaganda and modern communication to achieve this • A single leader & a single party led the new totalitarian states. • No individual freedoms or limits to government powers • Individuals were considered subservient to the will of the masses • The state demanded that its citizens support any of its goals

35. Fascism in Italy • Italy - Benito Mussolini, established the 1st European Fascist gov’t in early 1920’s • Fascism glorifies the state above the individual • A strong central gov’t and a single dictator run the state • Italy suffered economically after WWI. • Italians were afraid of a Communist takeover and Mussolini’s movement gained support • Mussolini formed groups of armed Fascists aka Blackshirts, who attacked socialists, strikers & anyone opposed to the Fascists

36. Mussolini

37. Mussolini • Mussolini appealed to national pride & demanded Italy gain more land from peace treaties after WWI. • Mussolini had enough power to force the Italian king to name him prime minister. As prime minister he created a Fascist dictatorship. • Powers included passing laws by decree and the police were given authority to arrest anyone. • 1926, Fascists outlaw all opposition, set up secret police to control people. Mass media spread pro-Fascist propaganda, youth groups focused on military activities • Il Duce – Mussolini – the only ruler of Italy

38. Italian Fascist hoped to create a fit, disciplined and war-loving nation; they still maintained traditional values regarding the importance of women and families in society. • Mussolini never achieved the control that Hitler or Stalin had. • He still recognized the independence of the Vatican and Catholicism as the state religion • Throughout Italy there was a large gap between Fascist policies and actual practice.

39. How did the Communist takeover in Russia play a role in the rise of Fascism in Italy? • There were many Italians, particularly in the middle classes, who were afraid of a Communist government in Italy. They thought that the social unrest in the country had to be stopped and saw Fascism as a way to do it.

40. Authoritarian States in the West • Similar to totalitarian states • Concerned w/ preserving a social order • Did not try to create a new mass society that had complete control over people • Authoritarian Governments replaced parliamentary governments. Parliamentary gov’ts failed because there was no tradition of democracy and most peasants were illiterate • Landowners & churches feared democracy would lead to revolution. They supported authoritarian gov’ts to keep order

41. Czechoslovakia • only country to keep democratic gov’t • Spain • 1936, General Francisco Franco revolted w/ military force against the democratic gov’t in Spain • Civil war broke out • Germany & Italy supported Franco • Soviet Union & volunteers from other countries supported the republican gov’t • 1939, Franco won the civil war after he captured Madrid • Authoritarian dictatorship started that lasts for many decades.

43. Stalin’s Totalitarianism • Total state control of country • 5 year plans: industrialization • Collectivized agriculture • Terrorized political enemies • “Great Purges” • 10 million dead & missing

44. Gulag • Forced Labor Camps • Political prisoners • Also included petty theft, unexcused absences from work, and anti-government jokes • Half were sent without trial

45. Indoctrination & Propaganda • Instruction in government’s beliefs • Information to sway people • Socialist realism • Government programs & policies • Censorship • Rewriting the history books

47. Change in China • The last emperor overthrown • Sun Yixian (YatSen) & Kuomintang • 3 principles of the people • Nationalism • People’s rights • People’s livelihood

50. The May 4th Movement • Mao Zedong leads communist movement for new government • Accepted aid from USSR • Challenged by Chiang Kai-shek • Civil war ensues