Soviet Union
Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924)
Vladimir Lenin was born on April 22, 1870 to a well-educated family. He was very good at school and went on to study law. At a university he was around radical thinkers who influenced him into being a member of a revolutionary group. He was expelled from the university for radical movements but he still gained his law degree.
He then moved to St. Petersburg and became a professional revolutionary. But like alot of other revolutionaries, he was exiled to Siberia but while he was there he met his wife. After he was exiled he became the leader of a group called the Bolsheviks which was part of the Russians Social Democratic Worker's Party.
Lenin wanted to overthrow the government because he believed it was time for change and planned to overthrow the tsarist party in control. He executed this through the October Revolution which lead to 3 years of civil war. At the end, the Bolsheviks were successful and took control of the nation. Lenin introduced the New Economic Policy because he wanted to improve the economy of the nation but he still had little regard for the people.
In 1918, Lenin survived an assassination attempt but it affected his long term health and in 1922 he had a stroke that started the decine. He died on January 24, 1924. His corpse was embalmed and put on display in a mausoleum on Moscow's Red Square where his body can still be viewed today.
He then moved to St. Petersburg and became a professional revolutionary. But like alot of other revolutionaries, he was exiled to Siberia but while he was there he met his wife. After he was exiled he became the leader of a group called the Bolsheviks which was part of the Russians Social Democratic Worker's Party.
Lenin wanted to overthrow the government because he believed it was time for change and planned to overthrow the tsarist party in control. He executed this through the October Revolution which lead to 3 years of civil war. At the end, the Bolsheviks were successful and took control of the nation. Lenin introduced the New Economic Policy because he wanted to improve the economy of the nation but he still had little regard for the people.
In 1918, Lenin survived an assassination attempt but it affected his long term health and in 1922 he had a stroke that started the decine. He died on January 24, 1924. His corpse was embalmed and put on display in a mausoleum on Moscow's Red Square where his body can still be viewed today.
Joseph Stalin (1879-1953)
Joseph Stalin was born on December 18, 1878 one of the most murderous dictators ever. He caused suffering and death to tens of millions of people but played an important part in defeating the Nazi's.
He studied Marxist literature and he never graduated but instead devoted his life to becoming a revolutionary against the Russian Monarchy. He was exiled to Siberia many times due to his actions against the monarchy.
In 1922, he was made general secretary of the Communist party. After Lenin's death in 1924 he started making his way to the top and by the late 1920's he was the dictator of the Soviet Union. His forced agricultural programs and lost millions of lives, but industrialization increased rapidly causing economic and productivity rates to go up. Though he caused the population to suffer more during the Great Terror that occured during the 1930s. During the Great Terror, Stalin's main goal was to cleanse the party of enemies of the people. This executed millions of people to labour camps in the gulag system. This also caused a lack of people in the Red Army which made Stalin totally unprepared for Hitlers attack in 1941.
Stalin died on March 5. 1953.
He studied Marxist literature and he never graduated but instead devoted his life to becoming a revolutionary against the Russian Monarchy. He was exiled to Siberia many times due to his actions against the monarchy.
In 1922, he was made general secretary of the Communist party. After Lenin's death in 1924 he started making his way to the top and by the late 1920's he was the dictator of the Soviet Union. His forced agricultural programs and lost millions of lives, but industrialization increased rapidly causing economic and productivity rates to go up. Though he caused the population to suffer more during the Great Terror that occured during the 1930s. During the Great Terror, Stalin's main goal was to cleanse the party of enemies of the people. This executed millions of people to labour camps in the gulag system. This also caused a lack of people in the Red Army which made Stalin totally unprepared for Hitlers attack in 1941.
Stalin died on March 5. 1953.
Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971)
Nikita Khrushchev served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He strongly believed that Communism would overcome Capitalism but he wasn't exactly right. He was also the only Soviet leader ever to be peacefully removed from office.
In 1918, he joined the Bolsheviks and through this, he was able to get a "technical" education due to the October Revolution. In 1953 after Stalin's death, he became the First Secretary of the Communist Pary of the Soviet Union. He copied many of Stalin's techniques but one difference they had was the fact that Stalin would kill the peoples he conquered. Instead, he would replace them with his own people and then send the conquered peoples to far away places such as Mongolia.
Khrushchev was one of several leaders who believed that Communism was superior to Capitalism and that it would be simple and easy to destroy Capitalism. At one time, he may have badmouthed Stalin which caused many problems with his advisors. Since he was Stalin's successor, it was unheard of to say anything bad about him. Khrushchev was trying to "thaw" out some of Stalin's ideas which didn't go so well with a few people.
Some believe that he embaressed the Soviet Union by being overly enthusiatic and dramatic all the time, especially with the way he carried out foreign affairs. This lead to him being removed but he peacefully went and was able to enjoy a long retirement.
In 1918, he joined the Bolsheviks and through this, he was able to get a "technical" education due to the October Revolution. In 1953 after Stalin's death, he became the First Secretary of the Communist Pary of the Soviet Union. He copied many of Stalin's techniques but one difference they had was the fact that Stalin would kill the peoples he conquered. Instead, he would replace them with his own people and then send the conquered peoples to far away places such as Mongolia.
Khrushchev was one of several leaders who believed that Communism was superior to Capitalism and that it would be simple and easy to destroy Capitalism. At one time, he may have badmouthed Stalin which caused many problems with his advisors. Since he was Stalin's successor, it was unheard of to say anything bad about him. Khrushchev was trying to "thaw" out some of Stalin's ideas which didn't go so well with a few people.
Some believe that he embaressed the Soviet Union by being overly enthusiatic and dramatic all the time, especially with the way he carried out foreign affairs. This lead to him being removed but he peacefully went and was able to enjoy a long retirement.
Mikhail Gorbachev (1931-present)
Mikhail Gorbachev was born on March 2, 1931. He graduated from Moscow State University with a law degree. While he was at the university he joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
His strategy at the end of the Cold War lead to the end of the Communist party. Part of the cause of this was a direct result of negotiation and foreign affairs with President Reagan. The Cold War did not end in disaster thanks to Mr. Gorbachev. His negotiations ended the cold war and his strategy was just to make peace with the U.S. so that they nuclear war would not occur. In 1985 he started advocating widespread reforms. The purpose of reform was to build up the economy but it was not meant to be a step towards Socialism although many viewed it that way. Gorbachev initiated his perestroika policy was initiated to improve economic and social progress. Gorbachev's glasnost policy gave the Soviet people more freedoms and it also freed many people who were imprisoned.
In 1990, Gorbachev was elected the first executive President of the Soviet Union. Communism was then overthrown by the abandoning of the Brezhnev document. Gorbachev resigned from office in 1991.
His strategy at the end of the Cold War lead to the end of the Communist party. Part of the cause of this was a direct result of negotiation and foreign affairs with President Reagan. The Cold War did not end in disaster thanks to Mr. Gorbachev. His negotiations ended the cold war and his strategy was just to make peace with the U.S. so that they nuclear war would not occur. In 1985 he started advocating widespread reforms. The purpose of reform was to build up the economy but it was not meant to be a step towards Socialism although many viewed it that way. Gorbachev initiated his perestroika policy was initiated to improve economic and social progress. Gorbachev's glasnost policy gave the Soviet people more freedoms and it also freed many people who were imprisoned.
In 1990, Gorbachev was elected the first executive President of the Soviet Union. Communism was then overthrown by the abandoning of the Brezhnev document. Gorbachev resigned from office in 1991.