First Draft of Outline for Term Paper

Thesis: Although Stalin protected Russia by fending off the Nazis, he was an extremely oppressive leader in Russia’s history in the sense that he killed three million Russian people and caused their suffering for many years, which is why Stalin was ultimately more harmful to Russia than beneficial.


Definitions:

• Stalinism: "The form of Marxism associated with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.Stalinism emphasizes the repression of all dissent, often by brutalmeans; a rigid adherence to government management of economiclife; and the domination of all communist movements worldwide by the Soviet Union. In holding to these beliefs, Stalin opposed Leon Trotsky." (American Heritage Dictionary)
• Trotskyism: "The doctrines of the twentieth-century Russian political leader Leon Trotsky, who believed that communism should depend on thecooperation of the proletariats of all nations rather than ondomination by the Soviet Union. Trotsky's ideas were opposed byJoseph Stalin, the Soviet premier, who sent Trotsky into exile, madehim a nonperson, and eventually had him assassinated." (American Heritage Dictionary)
• Leninism: "The form of communism as taught by Lenin,  with emphasis on the dictatorship of the proletariat." (American Heritage Dictionary)
• Communism: "An economic and social system envisioned by the nineteenth-century German scholar Karl Marx. In theory, under communism, allmeans of production are owned in common, rather than by individuals. In practice, asingle authoritarian party controls both the political and economic systems. In the twentieth century, communism was associated withthe economic and political systems of China and the Soviet Union and of the satellites of the Soviet Union." (American Heritage Dictionary)
• Anarchism: "Belief in the abolition of all government and the organization of society on a voluntary, cooperative basis without recourse to force or compulsion." (Oxford Dictionary)
• Socialism: "An economic system in which the production and distribution of goods are controlled substantially by the government rather than by private enterprise, and in which cooperation rather than competitionguides economic activity. There are many varieties of socialism.Some socialists tolerate capitalism, as long as the governmentmaintains the dominant influence over the economy; others insiston an abolition of private enterprise. All communists are socialists,but not all socialists are communists." (American Heritage Dictionary)
• Bolshevism: "The doctrines, methods, or procedure of the Bolsheviks; the principles or practices of ultra-radical socialists or political ultra-radicals generally." (Oxford Dictionary)
• Marxism: "The doctrines of Karl Marx and his associate Friedrich Engels on economics, politics, and society. They include the notion ofeconomic determinism — that political and social structures aredetermined by the economic conditions of people. Marxism calls fora classless society in which all means of production are commonly owned, a system to be reached as an inevitableresult of the struggle between the leaders of capitalism and the workers." (American Heritage Dictionary)
• Liberalism: "In the twentieth century, a viewpoint or ideology associated withfree political institutions and religious toleration, as well as supportfor a strong role of government in regulating capitalism andconstructing the welfare state." (American Heritage Dictionary)

Sources: For primary sources, so far, I have found biographies on Stalin, letters, pictures, speeches, and telegrams from the time period of his rule.  For secondary sources, so far, I have found timelines of Stalin's life as well as various articles about Stalin from the New York Times.  I also used the American Heritage and Oxford Dictionaries.

1. Background on Stalin's early life
1. Joseph Stalin was born on December 21, 1879 in Gori, Georgia.
2. He entered a seminary, but was expelled for rebellion and decided to become a Marxist.
2. Stalin's influence in Russia from 1917-1921
1. Stalin's part in the Russian Revolution
2. Stalin's part in the Russian Civil War
3. Stalin's part in the Polish-Soviet War
3. Stalin's ascension to leadership in Russia
1. Stalin's position as General Secretary of the Communist Party
2. Stalin continued to gain more and more power over time.
4. Stalin's major alterations of Soviet society
1. Increase of secret service in the Soviet Union
2. Stalin created a "cult of personality" around himself in order to make himself seem like a hero to the public.
3. Stalin executed thousands of innocent Russian people who opposed his regime.
4. Stalin deported thousands of people out of Russia greatly shifting the demographics.
5. There were huge famines during Stalin's rule.
6. All aspects of culture, such as science and art, were controlled by Stalin.
5. In 1939, Stalin entered into a pact with Hitler.
1. The treaty divided Eastern Europe into areas where German and Soviet influence was prevalent.
2. Hitler dissolved the pact in 1941.
3. German forces attack Russia, but Russia is able to push the troops back.
4. In 1945, Russian troops officially defeated the German troops.
6. Stalin was in power until 1953 when he died.
1. Stalin's ruling tactics were extremely harmful and devastating to Russian society.
2. He caused there to be much struggle in the country for many years.