Soviet Union – Product of Russian Revolution and WWI Flag Symbols Hammer - Hard work needed to be done by the factory workers Sickle – Hard work done by farmers
“Welcome Comrades” Comrades = Friends Vladimir Lenin
Communism Political, social and economic idea that promotes the establishment of a classless society based on common ownership of property Why might people want a communist system? Everyone “equal,” everyone works together, everyone has a housing/job!
Bolsheviks Communist Group that over threw the government during the Russian Revolution Leader – Vladimir Lenin Bolsheviks speaking at a meeting of workers and soldiers in Petrograd in 1917
Communism Cartoon What is this cartoon trying to show? Lenin sweeping away all the rich (kings, bankers, etc)
Soviets Governing body made up of workers who made laws 15 Republics that made Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.)
Lenin dies in 1923 Lenin’s preserved body in Leningrad
Joseph Stalin Brutal Leader of Soviet Union Led U.S.S.R. to victory during WWII, and after Made everything communist – Example? St Petersburg = Leningrad
Post WWII Iron Curtain Soviet Union kept conquered land, total control of these countries --- Why?
Policies of Communism 1. Autarky - Country tries to produce everything it needs Problems? A. Efficiency, product quality fell B. Food production fell, starvation of peasants
2. Rationing - Soviet Bread Line
3. “Equal” Housing Ugly empty Soviet housing blocs. Not for Soviet party leadership
4. Eliminating Freedoms Total control of press/thought Sent “enemies” to labor camps called gulags Tried to stop religion The Russian Orthodox Cathedral, once the most dominant landmark in Baku, was demolished in the 1930s under Stalin.
Terrible Tragedy of “communism” casualties for the Stalinist period – 8 to 61 million
Downfall of Soviet Union Soviet Environmental Policies - basically non existent, huge areas ruined by the pollution
Nuclear Disaster Chernobyl Disaster April 26 th 1986
Communism Cartoon
Cold War – Against America 1. Very high Military Spending
2. Soviet Policies - People revolted against communism The Fall of the Berlin Wall – end of communism, end of “Cold War”
Former Soviet Union Today From One, Many
Positives of the Soviet Union 1. Education increased = 90% literacy rate 2. Health care “free” and available 3. Guaranteed Employment