Communist USSR - Economy and Social Changes

1. Russian Revolution &Russian Revolution &
Communist RussiaCommunist Russia
1917-1950s1917-1950s
Russia = Soviet Union = USSRRussia = Soviet Union = USSR
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2. 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

3. USSR ECONOMY
Socialism in OneCountry
• 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

4. Industrialization
 Series of 5 year
plans to expand
manufacturing
 Industrial cities
built with Western
engineering
 Rapid urbanization
followed.

5. Industrialization
Success! 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)

6. Agriculture
Collectivization
• 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

7. USSR Social ClassChanges
Wealthy upper class
(including ruling families)
was removed.
The kulak class (small
landowners) was
destroyed.
WORKING CLASS
officially the only class.

8. Social Class
Communist Party Leaders
• Became the new upper
class
Military Leaders
• Continued to be in the
upper class
Urban workers
• Gained some status
• Gained access to new
government services

9. Changes in Social Class and FamiliesChanges in Social Class and Families
 Similar changes in the family as in theSimilar changes in the family as in the
industrialized nations of the west.industrialized nations of the west.
• Family ties loosened, emphasis on nuclearFamily ties loosened, emphasis on nuclear
families.families.
• Birth rates declinedBirth rates declined
• Greater emphasis on children succeedingGreater emphasis on children succeeding

10. USSR- Women’s StatusUSSR- Women’s Status
 ““Legal equality” withLegal equality” with
men.men.
 Women joined theWomen joined the
work force inwork force in
industrialization andindustrialization and
had some politicalhad some political
roles.roles.
 Women gainedWomen gained
ground in certainground in certain
professions – such asprofessions – such as
medicine.medicine.

11. What stayed thesame?
• 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

12. What stayed thesame?
• Largely rural
population and strong
agricultural base.
• Consumer-based
economy never
developed.
• Russian economy
mostly isolated from
the West.