Questions

I have always wondered about the leader of the Soviet Union known as Joseph Stalin and what kind of person he was. I feel like I know nothing of him and just consider him a bad person since I know nothing good came out of the Soviet Union and it seemed all he caused was turmoil and discomfort.

"Joseph Stalin was born poor on December 21st 1879 in Gori, Georgia. His father was a shoemaker who died during Joseph’s childhood. Joseph’s mother was a religious woman and knew that the only future hope for her son was for him to become a priest."(Hopkinson) Becoming a priest was a convential occupation at the time that could help a person get out of poverty. Stalin was also very bright at a young age being able to write and speak very well which influenced him to join Russian socialist parties. Soon, Stalin was exiled from Russia into Serbia until he escaped and joined another socialist party led by Vladimir Lenin who gave Stalin a high rank. As World War I continued during this time, Russia was going under and in need of help and supplies, so Lenin stepped up along with Stalin. Soon, Stalin was getting higher and higher in power and had his men get rid of his once friends until he was in control of all of the U.S.S.R. "Stalin forced 'his' people to set up collective farms that were owned by the government. 5 million farmers were exiled because they were too wealthy, objected, or refused to farm collectively."(Simkin) Even though Stalin might of felt like he was doing good for his country, he was actually making it worse.

The Communist sense is that everyone helps everyone and there's no different economic standings. Raised as a poor peasant, Stalin must have hated the rich and desired all to be equal. Communism appeals to this and a desire for wealth and control pushed him to power. "Stalin did much to help Russia and the world in WWII but killed millions in pursuit of his ideas and dictatorship. To his calloused heart, "A single death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic.""(Simmonds)

Hopkinson, Christina. The Usborne History of ‘The Twentieth Century’, ed. Jane Chisholm. Tusla: EDC Publishing, 1993. Selected readings.

Simkin, John. “Joseph Stalin” Spartacus Educational. Accessed October 9, 2003

Simmonds, George W. “Joseph Stalin” Scholastic. Accessed October 9, 2003