Name:_______________________________________________________ Date:______ Period:_______
Unit 8: Rise and Decline of Communist Regimes in the 20th Century
Country How did Communists come to
power in this country?
USSR
The Communist Party came
to power in the Soviet Union
(USSR) through a
combination of political,
economic, and social factors.
The Bolsheviks, led by
Vladimir Lenin, were able to
seize power in the aftermath
of the Russian Revolution in
1917. They overthrew the
Provisional Government that
had been established after
the collapse of the Russian
monarchy and established a
socialist state.
Major Events/Leaders/Initiatives related Decline / Reform of Communism
to this Communist movement What factors led to the collapse or decline of
Communism in this country? What leader(s) inside
or outside of their society played a role in the
decline or reform of Communism in this country?
1. Russian Revolution of 1917: The Bolsheviks, led by The collapse of communism in the Soviet
Vladimir Lenin, overthrew the Provisional Government
Union can be attributed to several factors,
2.
and established a socialist state.
New Economic Policy (NEP): In 1921, Lenin introduced including economic stagnation, political
the NEP, which allowed for limited capitalism and repression, and external pressure from the
private enterprise in the Soviet Union. The NEP was a
pragmatic response to the economic crisis facing the West. Additionally, the reforms introduced
Soviet Union and helped to stabilize the economy. by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev played
3. Stalin's rise to power: After Lenin's death in 1924,
a critical role in the decline of communism
Joseph Stalin emerged as the leader of the Soviet
Union. Stalin implemented a series of policies that in the USSR.
consolidated his power, including the purging of his
political rivals and the establishment of a cult of
personality around himself.
One of the key factors that contributed to
4. Collectivization and Industrialization: In the 1930s, the collapse of communism in the USSR
Stalin implemented a series of policies aimed at was economic stagnation. The Soviet
rapidly industrializing and modernizing the Soviet
economy had been in decline for several
Union. These policies included collectivization of
agriculture, which forced peasants to work on large years, and the country was unable to
collective farms, and the Five-Year Plans, which aimed compete with the more dynamic and
to rapidly industrialize the Soviet economy.
market-driven economies of the West. The
5. World War II: The Soviet Union played a critical role in
defeating Nazi Germany during World War II. The government's rigid control over the
Soviet military suffered enormous losses during the
economy, combined with a lack of
war, but ultimately was able to defeat the German
army and liberate Eastern Europe. innovation and technological progress,
6. Nikita Khrushchev's reforms: After Stalin's death in meant that the Soviet Union was unable to
1953, Nikita Khrushchev emerged as the leader of the
keep up with the rest of the world.
Soviet Union. Khrushchev introduced a series of
reforms aimed at de-Stalinization and modernization
of the Soviet economy.
7. Brezhnev era: Leonid Brezhnev became the leader of
the Soviet Union in 1964 and presided over a period of
relative stability and economic growth. However, his
rule was also characterized by political repression and
the continued suppression of dissent.
8. Gorbachev's reforms: In the 1980s, Mikhail Gorbachev
became the leader of the Soviet Union and introduced
a series of reforms aimed at modernizing the Soviet
economy and political system. These reforms
ultimately led to the collapse of the Soviet Union in
1991.
9. Dissident movement: Throughout the history of the
Soviet Union, there were various dissident movements
that challenged the Communist regime. These
movements included intellectuals, writers, and artists
who opposed the repressive policies of the Soviet
government.
China The Communist Party of
China (CPC) came to power
in China after a long period
of political instability,
social unrest, and foreign
intervention. The rise of
communism in China can
be traced back to the early
20th century, when the
country was facing a range
of internal and external
challenges, including
political fragmentation,
economic
underdevelopment, and
foreign imperialism.
1. Long March: The Long March was a military
retreat undertaken by the Red Army of the
The decline and reform of communism in
Communist Party of China in 1934-1935. The China can be traced back to the late 1970s,
march covered over 6,000 miles and was a
critical moment in the CPC's history, allowing it
when the country's leaders began to
to regroup and establish a base in northern recognize the failures of Maoist policies
2.
China.
Mao Zedong: Mao Zedong was the founding
and the need for economic and political
father of the People's Republic of China and reform. Several factors contributed to this
the leader of the Communist Party of China
from the 1940s until his death in 1976. Mao's
shift, including:
ideology and leadership played a critical role in
shaping the course of the CPC's history, Economic stagnation
including the Great Leap Forward and the
Cultural Revolution. Political instability
3. Great Leap Forward: The Great Leap Forward International isolation:
was a campaign launched by Mao in 1958
Leadership changes
aimed at rapidly transforming China's economy
and society. The
4. campaign's policies, which included In the late 1970s, Deng Xiaoping and other
collectivization and mass mobilization, were
reformers introduced a series of economic and
disastrous, leading to widespread famine and
the deaths of millions of people. political reforms aimed at modernizing the
5. Deng Xiaoping: Deng Xiaoping was a Chinese country and opening it to the world. These
politician and leader of the Communist Party of
China from the late 1970s until his retirement reforms included the "Four Modernizations"
in 1992. Deng is widely credited with initiating (modernization of agriculture, industry, science
China's economic reforms and opening the
and technology, and defense) and the
country to the global market, leading to
significant economic growth and establishment of Special Economic Zones
modernization. (SEZs) that offered foreign investors tax breaks
6. Tiananmen Square protests: The Tiananmen
Square protests were a series of pro-democracy
and other incentives.
demonstrations held in Beijing in 1989, which
were violently suppressed by the Chinese
government. The protests were a critical
moment in China's political history, leading to
widespread international condemnation and a
crackdown on dissent within the country.
7. One Child Policy: The One Child Policy was a
population control policy introduced by the
Chinese government in 1979, aimed at limiting
population growth in the country. The policy
was controversial, leading to widespread
human rights abuses, and was officially
discontinued in 2015.
8. Belt and Road Initiative: The Belt and Road
Initiative is a global infrastructure development
strategy launched by the Chinese government
in 2013, aimed at expanding trade and
investment across Asia, Europe, and Africa. The
initiative has been criticized for its potential to
increase Chinese influence and debt in
 participating countries

Evaluate the extent to which Communist movements impacted women’s rights / feminism in China and Russia.

The impact of communist movements on women's rights and feminism in China and Russia has been complex and multifaceted, with both
positive and negative outcomes.

In China, the Communist Party under Mao Zedong promoted gender equality and women's liberation as part of its ideology, viewing women as
a crucial force for social and economic development. Women were encouraged to participate in the workforce, and the government provided
support for childcare and maternity leave. Women were also encouraged to enter politics, and Mao famously declared that "women hold up
half the sky." While there were some gains in women's rights under Mao's leadership, there were also significant limitations and setbacks.
Women were often still subject to patriarchal attitudes and traditional gender roles, and the government's focus on economic development
often came at the expense of women's rights and well-being. For example, the One Child Policy, which was in effect for several decades, had
significant negative impacts on women's reproductive rights and gender imbalances in the population.

In post-Mao China, women's rights have continued to evolve, with some gains in areas such as education, employment, and political
representation. However, there are ongoing challenges related to gender inequality, including discrimination in the workforce, domestic
violence, and limited reproductive rights.

Evaluate the extent to which the process of economic reform in the Soviet Union and China were similar in the 1950 to 1992 time period.

While there were some similarities in the economic reforms implemented in the Soviet Union and China during the 1950 to 1992 time period,
there were also significant differences due to their unique historical, political, and cultural contexts.

In the Soviet Union, economic reform began in the 1950s under the leadership of Nikita Khrushchev, who introduced a series of policies aimed
at modernizing the Soviet economy and improving the standard of living for Soviet citizens. These policies included increasing agricultural
production through mechanization and expanding consumer goods production.

However, these reforms were limited in scope and faced resistance from conservative elements within the Soviet leadership. In the 1980s, under
the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev, more significant economic reforms were introduced, including decentralizing economic decision-making
and introducing market-oriented policies. However, these reforms were met with resistance and ultimately contributed to the collapse of the
Soviet Union in 1991.

In China, economic reform began in the late 1970s under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, who introduced a series of policies aimed at
modernizing the Chinese economy and opening it to the world. These policies included the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs)
that offered foreign investors tax breaks and other incentives, and the "Four Modernizations" aimed at modernizing agriculture, industry,
science and technology, and defense.