Was Stalin a Great Man? :: essays research papers

According to Thoman Carlyle, a large man is one who shapes history and affects the course of the future. In the pillowcase of Joseph Stalin, dictator of the Soviet Union from 1929-1953, one can perceive that with torment and brutal force, he was able to modernize a nation and oppress his own people.One can argue that Stalin was a great leader of the 20th century. After all, he took an undeveloped country and work it into one of the worlds greatest industrial and military forces. But, this sack did not come at a small cost. Stalin was so insane that his Communist regime would be crushed by one of the peremptory Capitalist countries of the West that he became obsessed with the mass production of industrial and agricultural machinery, neglecting the production of basic goods needed to sustain human survival. In his mind, getting Russias industrial sector up to par was more(prenominal) important than producing adequate clothing and household goods. Setting completely pathetic targets for increased production in agriculture, and of coal, pig iron, oil, and steel products in his deuce-ace five-year plans did work well for Stalin, and other countries began to take notice. But, in history, very few leaders have forced their own people to make the kinds of sacrifices Stalin obligate on them.To increase agricultural production, and bring in a lavishness of food products, Stalin enforced and regulated his idea of collective agriculture political sympathies control of farm land. In turn, the kulaks felt completely oppressed and were averse to give up the small amount of land they owned. Stalin would not leap out opposition from anyone, and as a result, millions of kulaks and peasants were sent off to labor preoccupancy camps, known as gulags, or were simply eliminated.It wasnt just the working-class peoples that he wouldnt tolerate opposition from. Stalin was known for having other political figures that could possibly pose a threat to his regime elimin ated. In 1935, he began his purges. He would send out his secret police to arrest and either jail or execute those in political opposition of him.