United States and the United States and the Soviet Union in 1945Soviet Union in 1945

Mr. White’s US History 2Mr. White’s US History 2

Comparison of the Soviet Union Comparison of the Soviet Union and United Statesand United States

►United StatesUnited States CapitalistCapitalist

DemocraticDemocratic

Harry TrumanHarry Truman

►Soviet UnionSoviet Union CommunistCommunist

TotalitarianTotalitarian

Josef StalinJosef Stalin

Big QuestionsBig Questions

►Compare and contrast the various Compare and contrast the various positives and negatives of capitalism positives and negatives of capitalism and communism, democracy and and communism, democracy and totalitarianismtotalitarianism

►Project how we think Truman and Project how we think Truman and Stalin will do as leadersStalin will do as leaders

Compare and Contrast: Compare and Contrast: Economic SystemsEconomic Systems

►Both capitalism and communism are Both capitalism and communism are economic systems.economic systems.

►The economy of a country is the system The economy of a country is the system of human activities related to of human activities related to production, distribution, exchange, and production, distribution, exchange, and consumption of goods – how the people consumption of goods – how the people in a country get what they needin a country get what they need

►These two economic systems are very These two economic systems are very different.different.

Capitalism – The United Capitalism – The United StatesStates

► In capitalism, the means of production In capitalism, the means of production are mostly privately owned – the people are mostly privately owned – the people own factories, businesses, farms, etc.own factories, businesses, farms, etc.

►Most businesses or other things are done Most businesses or other things are done for profit, the desire to make moneyfor profit, the desire to make money

►Prices of goods and services are Prices of goods and services are determined by determined by marketmarket forcesforces – supply – supply and demandand demand

Communism – The Soviet Communism – The Soviet UnionUnion

►Means of production are supposed to be Means of production are supposed to be controlled by the people (in theory), but in controlled by the people (in theory), but in practice the government has controlled practice the government has controlled them (Soviet Union)them (Soviet Union)

► Profit is not supposed to be a driving force in Profit is not supposed to be a driving force in the economy – “from each according to their the economy – “from each according to their ability, to each according to their needsability, to each according to their needs

► Prices are controlled by the government or Prices are controlled by the government or aren’t really part of the economy – rationing aren’t really part of the economy – rationing or other regulationor other regulation

Communism – What it means Communism – What it means for people in itfor people in it

►Working harder or at a skilled job does not Working harder or at a skilled job does not necessarily win you higher pay – a factory necessarily win you higher pay – a factory worker and doctor can end up making worker and doctor can end up making similar amounts of moneysimilar amounts of money

►Government rations much of the resources – Government rations much of the resources – you can only take what the government you can only take what the government decides you can havedecides you can have

►Government must crush any disagreement Government must crush any disagreement or criticism – communism must have a or criticism – communism must have a totalitarian governmenttotalitarian government

Compare and Contrast – Compare and Contrast – Strengths and WeaknessesStrengths and Weaknesses

►What are some of the strengths of a What are some of the strengths of a capitalist economy? What are some capitalist economy? What are some problems?problems?

►What are some of the strengths of a What are some of the strengths of a communist economy? What are some communist economy? What are some problems?problems?

Democracy – The United Democracy – The United StatesStates

►Democracy – rule “by the people,” from Democracy – rule “by the people,” from the Greek words the Greek words demosdemos, meaning , meaning “people,” and “people,” and kratoskratos, meaning “rule.”, meaning “rule.”

►People either vote directly on laws or People either vote directly on laws or elect people to govern them as elect people to govern them as representativesrepresentatives

►Can include other things like Can include other things like guaranteed rights for the people, guaranteed rights for the people, equality in law, civil liberties, right to equality in law, civil liberties, right to petition the government, etc.petition the government, etc.

Totalitarianism – Soviet Totalitarianism – Soviet UnionUnion

►Government regulates nearly every Government regulates nearly every aspect of public or private behavior – aspect of public or private behavior – total controltotal control

►No voting for officials – government or No voting for officials – government or one ruling party decides who will be in one ruling party decides who will be in the governmentthe government

►Government controls media – can’t Government controls media – can’t criticize the governmentcriticize the government

►Sometimes secret police are used to Sometimes secret police are used to enforce what the government wantsenforce what the government wants

Compare and Contrast – Compare and Contrast – Strengths and WeaknessesStrengths and Weaknesses

►What are some of the strengths of a What are some of the strengths of a democratic form of government? democratic form of government? What are some weaknesses?What are some weaknesses?

►What are some of the strengths of a What are some of the strengths of a totalitarian form of government? What totalitarian form of government? What are some weaknesses?are some weaknesses?

Harry Truman – President of Harry Truman – President of the United Statesthe United States

► Was Vice President for Was Vice President for Franklin Delano RooseveltFranklin Delano Roosevelt

► Became President when Became President when Roosevelt died in 1945 of Roosevelt died in 1945 of a strokea stroke

► Seen by some as Seen by some as inexperienced; weren’t inexperienced; weren’t sure he’d make a good sure he’d make a good presidentpresident

► Since he hadn’t been Since he hadn’t been voted in as president, voted in as president, many outside US felt he many outside US felt he lacked the approval of lacked the approval of the people - mandatethe people - mandate

Josef Stalin – Soviet UnionJosef Stalin – Soviet Union

► Wasn’t Russian, was Wasn’t Russian, was actually from the Soviet actually from the Soviet country Georgiacountry Georgia

► Ruled with absolute Ruled with absolute authority – those who authority – those who even seemed to disagree even seemed to disagree were “disappeared.”were “disappeared.”

► Responsible for purging Responsible for purging the government of people the government of people who didn’t support himwho didn’t support him

► Also responsible for the Also responsible for the forced starvation of forced starvation of around 7 million people in around 7 million people in the Ukrainethe Ukraine

Harry Truman vs. Josef StalinHarry Truman vs. Josef Stalin

►How do you think Truman will do as How do you think Truman will do as President of the United States? Do President of the United States? Do you think his inexperience or his lack you think his inexperience or his lack of a “mandate” hurt him, or can he of a “mandate” hurt him, or can he overcome them?overcome them?

►How do you think Stalin will do as How do you think Stalin will do as leader of the Soviet Union?leader of the Soviet Union?

►Which of these leaders do you think Which of these leaders do you think you’d prefer to live under?you’d prefer to live under?