USSR Dictator Joseph Stalin: Contributor to the Cold War

http://www.pbs.org/redfiles/bios/all_bio_joseph_stalin.htm

Joseph Stalin was the dictator of the Soviet Union who transformed Russia into a world super power after World War II. He took the place of former dictator Vladimir Lenin after he passed away in 1924. From the very beginning Stalin was bent on changing the USSR's economy from agrarian to industrial. With his 1928 Five-Year Plans, Stalin launched a rapid start to Russia's industrialization. Stalin believed in the idea of a socialist nation. He formed a pack with Nazi Germany which Germany did not respect and invaded parts of Russia during World War II. As a result, Stalin decided to ally himself with the Allies and Russia took Berlin on May of 1945. Sequentially, by the end of the war the Soviet Union become the second most powerful country of the world.

In my opinion Joseph Stalin was not the best of leaders that history has encountered. He was too worried about making Russia a super power than the actual people in Russia at the time. A lot of Russians suffered and disappeared during the Five-Year Plan. Also, a lot of Russians were put into labor camps and forced to work for the government with little or no pay. Not to mention that millions died in the forming of the USSR's establishment as a super power. Several Red Army leaders that opposed Stalin's ideas and decisions were sent to jail, labor camps, or mysteriously disappeared. I don't think that a leader should be a dictator and definitely should take more care of the people he or she is governing.

Cesar Chavez: Mexican American Activist

A Documentary History of the Mexican Americans by Wayne Moquin. (Pgs 339-349).

This reading was about the civil rights leader for Mexican Americans named Cesar Chavez. Cesar Chavez was born on March 31 of 1927. He was born into a poor family and grew up as an american farm worker. Chavez formed the union of National Farm Workers Association which later came to be known as the United Farm Workers. Chavez was known for his charisma and excellent public speaking abilities to inspire Latino farm workers. His main goal was to unite and organize Latino farm workers in order to gain civil rights and justice towards Mexican Americans. Chavez used leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, and Zapata. As a result, he believed in aggressive, but nonviolent resistance. His dream was to achieve the riches of U.S land for Mexican Americans. Chavez is famous for his slogans and the inspiration he infused into Latinos. One of the most famous slogans he came up with was "Si se puede!" or "Yes we can!". He was a huge influential leader for the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement because of this today Cesar Chavez Day is celebrated in some states.

In my opinion Cesar Chavez was a very important and influential leader of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement. He was the one to unite Mexican American farm workers and tried to make a difference. He also organized a successful union like the United Farm Workers. In addition, he even resisted injustice in a manner like Martin Luther King Jr.'s, nonviolently. I think he was personally a great leader of the movement because of his gift of inspiring people through his speeches and slogans. For example, the "Si se puede!" slogan is still used today by Mexican American. Therefore, Cesar Chavez was a great leader.