Thw Soviet Union
The Soviet Union had its roots in the Russian
Revolution of 1917, which deposed the imperial autocracy. The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, then overthrew the Provisional Government. The Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic was
established and the Russian Civil War began. The Red
Army entered several territories of the former Russian Empire and helped local communists seize
power. In 1922, the Bolsheviks were victorious, forming the Soviet Union with
the unification of the Russian, Transcaucasian, Ukrainian and Byelorussian republics.
Following Lenin's death in 1924, a troika collective leadership and a brief power struggle,
Joseph Stalin came to power in the mid-1920s.
Stalin committed the state ideology to Marxism–Leninism and initiated a centrally planned economy. As a result, the country
underwent a period of rapid industrialisation and collectivisation which laid the basis for its
later war effort and dominance after World War II.[4]
However, Stalin repressed both Communist Party members and elements of the
population through his authoritarian rule.During the first phase of World War II, Soviet Union used the opportunity to acquire territories in Eastern Europe adjacent to Nazi Germany,its satellites and their accuipded territories.
Revolution of 1917, which deposed the imperial autocracy. The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, then overthrew the Provisional Government. The Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic was
established and the Russian Civil War began. The Red
Army entered several territories of the former Russian Empire and helped local communists seize
power. In 1922, the Bolsheviks were victorious, forming the Soviet Union with
the unification of the Russian, Transcaucasian, Ukrainian and Byelorussian republics.
Following Lenin's death in 1924, a troika collective leadership and a brief power struggle,
Joseph Stalin came to power in the mid-1920s.
Stalin committed the state ideology to Marxism–Leninism and initiated a centrally planned economy. As a result, the country
underwent a period of rapid industrialisation and collectivisation which laid the basis for its
later war effort and dominance after World War II.[4]
However, Stalin repressed both Communist Party members and elements of the
population through his authoritarian rule.During the first phase of World War II, Soviet Union used the opportunity to acquire territories in Eastern Europe adjacent to Nazi Germany,its satellites and their accuipded territories.
Golas of the Soviet Union
Stalin's big deal during the Cold War was to match the United States.However, 'matching' for stalin actually translated into one-upping. Thus, we have: the arms race competition for nuclear and military superiority, draining each nation of funds and creating intense paranoia.*The space race- when the USSR launched sputnik in '57, the fear was so great in
America that large education reforms were passed almost immediately (after an
article was published comparing an American school child's day to a Soviet
child)
*The spread of communism- prompting the Marshall Plan's containment
doctrine that governed American
foreign policy for decades
Leran More
America that large education reforms were passed almost immediately (after an
article was published comparing an American school child's day to a Soviet
child)
*The spread of communism- prompting the Marshall Plan's containment
doctrine that governed American
foreign policy for decades
Leran More