Chapter 4
Activity One:
As Chapter 4 explains, Lenin and Stalin led a revolution in Russia that provided a model for other people seeking to break away from the European-dominated political and economic system of the early twentieth century. Even so, this appeal was limited and most nations seeking to overturn European domination developed other strategies. To analyze the strengths and limitations of the Soviet Union as an anti-imperialist model for national development, review the material at the Library of Congress Soviet Archives Exhibit. Read the introduction; then click on the arrow at the bottom of the page. On the next page, click on the arrow below “Internal Workings of the Soviet System” and then read and evaluate this essay by clicking the arrow keys at the bottom of each page until you have finished. Be sure to click on each icon and to study the primary source material.
Describe the political and economic system that Stalin created during the late 1920s and the 1930s. How did the Soviet Union manage to become the world’s third largest industrial power on the eve of World War II in Europe? What role did the Soviet government play in this development? What were the consequences of industrialization for the Soviet people; did their standard of living improve? How was Stalin able to attain dictatorial powers in the Soviet Union during this time? Why would these methods and strategies appeal to leaders outside Europe during the 1930s and 1940s? Why would they not?
Activity Two:
In Web Activity Two for Chapter 3, The Crisis of the Imperial Order, 1900-1929, you explored the impact that the devastation of World War I and the challenges of modern science to Victorian ideas about progress and reason had on Western art. The Russian Revolution and other revolts against imperialism that you have explored in this chapter also affected artistic expression around the world during the first half of the century.
One of the more famous artists of this period was the Mexican nationalist Diego Rivera, who was inspired by events in the West, Mexico, and the Soviet Union. To learn more about Rivera, go to Diego Rivera Web Museum and tour this exhibit by clicking on “Biography” on the top banner. After familiarizing yourself with his life, view the images at “Gallery” and “Murals.” You can also read Rivera’s own writing at “Magazine.” Analyze and describe how Rivera’s art reflected the growing sense of nationalism and desire for social justice in Mexico. Also explain how Rivera was influenced by developments in Western art and changes inside the Soviet Union during the first half of the twentieth century. Then choose one or two of his paintings that exemplify his political leanings and explain your choices.