BDa

Joseph Stalin

Russian Propaganda Stalin's Portrait

Joseph Stalin rose to power in Russia following the death of [|Vladimir Lenin]. Despite not being in the party for as long as other members, he quickly gained the support of many of the new recruits. Following the murder of [|Leon Trotsky] Lenin was the next highest member in the government so he took power. His goal was to transform the Soviet Union from a mainly agriculture based country into a powerful Industrial state. Stalin hoped to achieve this in a [|Five Year plan]. This plan consisted in increases to both agriculture and industry. Stalin dedicated the nation’s resources into building steel mills, electric power stations, and other factories he believed were necessary for his goal to be achieved. He forced peasants to give up their newly received land in order to force them to take government factory jobs. These are just some of the actions this leader took to achieve his goal. These reforms ultimately lead to the the killing and relocation of much of the population as part of Stalin new totalitarian system of government in which the government controlled everything from the industry, and the economy, to the basic actions of the general population. Although this gave Stalin total control, the people resented him for it.

Ferdinand Magellan Ferdinand Magellan was born in 1480 in Portugal. He would first sail for Portugal twenty five years later under Francisco de Almedia a Portuguese admiral. Their goal was to conquer Melaka. Following this he received letters from a friend detailing what were than called the Spice Islands. At this time the islands were controlled by Portugal but many countries were looking for an easier rote to get their rather than using the current route of going around Africa and across the Indian Ocean. Magellan, like some other explorers, believed that you could go west and get to the spice islands faster. However when he tried to get the support of the Portuguese King, he was turned down. Instead he decided to to the Spanish King who gave him the support he wanted. Magellan left Spain in1519 and sailed across the Atlantic Ocean towards South America. Here they resupplied and sailed south looking for away through the continent. After surviving a mutiny, Magellan found a way around the Americas and sailed into the Pacific Ocean. From here, he sailed for the Spice Islands, but was caught in a war with the natives in the Philippines and was killed. The remaining of his crew continued on their voyage to the Spice Islands and eventual on to Spain. In 1522 what remained of my crew arrived back in Spain. Only 18 out of the 250 men survived and only one of the five boats made it [|the entire voyage].