The Victory of Communism is Inevitable!

Transcription

1 The Victory of Communism is Inevitable! Nikita Khrushchev s speech to the 22nd Communist Party Congress in The most rabid imperialists, acting on the principle of after us the deluge, openly voice their desire to undertake a new war venture. The ideologists of imperialism, intimidating the peoples, try to instill a kind of philosophy of hopelessness and desperation. Hysterically they cry: Better death under capitalism than life under communism. They do not like free peoples to flourish, you see. They fear that the peoples in their countries too will take the path of socialism. Blinded by class hatred, our enemies are ready to doom all mankind to the catastrophe of war. The imperialists opportunities to carry out their aggressive designs, however, are becoming smaller and smaller. They behave like a feeble and greedy old man whose powers have been exhausted, whose physical capacity has weakened, but whose avid desires remain As long as the imperialist aggressors exist, we must be on guard, keep our powder dry, improve the defense of the socialist countries, their armed forces and the state security agencies. If, in the face of common sense, the imperialists dare attack the socialist countries and plunge mankind into the abyss of a world war of annihilation, this mad act of theirs would be their last, it would be the end of the whole system of capitalism. Our party clearly understands its tasks, its responsibility, and will do everything in its power to see to it that the world socialist system continues to grow stronger, gathers fresh strength and develops. We believe that in the competition with capitalism socialism will win. We believe that this victory will be won in peaceful competition and not by way of unleashing a war. We have stood, we stand and we will stand by the positions of peaceful competition of states with different social systems; we will do everything to strengthen world peace. The most important component of our party s foreign policy activities is the struggle for general and complete disarmament. The Soviet Union has been waging this struggle for many years now, and doing so firmly and perseveringly. We have always been resolutely opposed to the arms race, since rivalry in this sphere in the past not only saddled the peoples with a terrible burden but inevitably led to world wars. We are even more resolutely opposed to the arms race now that there has been a colossal technical revolution in the art of war and the use of today s weapons would inevitably entail the deaths of hundreds of millions of people. The stockpiling of these weapons, proceeding as it is in a setting of cold war and war hysteria, is fraught with disastrous consequences. All that has to happen is for the nerves of some fellow in uniform to crack while he is on duty at a push-button somewhere in the West, and things may happen that will bring more than a little misfortune upon the peoples of the whole world. Naturally, when we put forward a program of general and complete disarmament, we are talking not about the unilateral disarmament of socialism in the face of imperialism or vice versa, but about universal renunciation of arms as a means of solving problems at issue among states. The example of the Soviet Union inspires all progressive mankind. Never has the great vital force of Marxist-Leninist teaching been so clearly evident as in our days, now that socialism has triumphed fully and finally in the Soviet Union, the cause of socialism is winning new victories in the countries of the world socialist commonwealth, and the international Communist and workers movement and the national liberation struggle of peoples are growing and expanding tempestuously. The revolution awakened the great energy of peoples, which is transforming the world on the principles of socialism and communism. Colossal changes are taking place and will take place throughout the world under the influence of the successes of communism. The victory of communism is inevitable! The great army of Communists and of Marxist-Leninists acts as the vanguard of the peoples in the struggle for peace, for social progress and for communism, the bright future of mankind. New and ever newer millions of people will assemble and rally under the great banner of communism. The cause of progress, the cause of communism will triumph! Long live the great and heroic Soviet people, the builders of communism! Long live the indestructible unity and fraternal friendship of the peoples of the world socialist camp! Long live the heroic party of the Communists of the Soviet Union, created and tempered in struggle by the great Lenin! Long live peace the world over! Under the all-conquering banner of Marxism- Leninism, under the leadership of the Communist Party, forward to the victory of communism!

2 Name The Victory of Communism is Inevitable! Directions: After reading the excerpt from Nikita Khrushchev s speech to the 22nd Communist Party Congress in 1962, answer the following questions in complete sentences. 1. How does Khrushchev characterize the US government? As long as the imperialist aggressors exist, we must be on guard, keep our powder dry 2. What do you believe Khrushchev means by this quote? 3. What is Khrushchev s stance toward war? Why do you think that is? 4. What does Khrushchev believe could be the consequences of the arms race? 5. Which country America or the USSR do you think was more threatening to peace in the Cold War period? Explain your answer.

3 Name Answer Key / Teacher s Guide The Victory of Communism is Inevitable! Directions: After reading the excerpt from Nikita Khrushchev s speech to the 22nd Communist Party Congress in 1962, answer the following questions in complete sentences. 1. How does Khrushchev characterize the US government? He characterizes the US as rabid imperialists who intimidate the American people into a hopelessness that death is better than socialism. He likens the US to an old man who has lost his strength but continues to try and fight. As long as the imperialist aggressors exist, we must be on guard, keep our powder dry 2. What do you believe Khrushchev means by this quote? To keep our powder dry means to be ready at any moment to strike powder being gun powder and a reference to, Trust in God and keep your powder dry a maxim attributed to Oliver Cromwell. 3. What is Khrushchev s stance toward war? Why do you think that is? Khrushchev claims to be against war and that he wants socialism to defeat capitalism through a peaceful competition among states. 4. What does Khrushchev believe could be the consequences of the arms race? He states that the arms race is fraught with disastrous consequences. All that has to happen is for the nerves of some fellow in uniform to crack while he is on duty at a push-button somewhere in the West, and things may happen that will bring more than a little misfortune upon the peoples of the whole world. 5. Which country America or the USSR do you think was more threatening to peace in the Cold War period? Explain your answer. Open to various student responses provided they explain their answer fully based on their knowledge of the Cold War era. Points of discussion could be missiles in Cuba and the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Berlin Wall, American missiles in Turkey, etc. Students of History -

4 Cold War Primary Source Analysis President John F. Kennedy met with Nikita Khrushchev at the Vienna Summit on June 4, 1961, in Austria. The leaders of the two superpowers of the Cold War era discussed numerous issues in the relationship between their countries. The top secret telegram above details CIA and NSA information about Khrushchev s impressions after the meeting.

5 Name Cold War Primary Source Analysis Directions: After analyzing the telegram, answer the following questions in complete sentences. 1. What was Khrushchev s initial impression of President Kennedy? 2. How did his impression change over the course of the meeting? 3. Why do you think Khrushchev stated, He is not an easy man to talk to? HE IS VERY TOUGH, VERY FORTHRIGHT AND EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT. 4. What is the best definition of forthright as it is used here? a. Sneaky and calculating b. Straightforward and honest c. Innocent and naïve d. Awkward and crude 5. The Cuban Missile Crisis would take place in How do you think this meeting affected it?

6 Name Answer Key / Teacher s Guide Cold War Primary Source Analysis Directions: After analyzing the telegram, answer the following questions in complete sentences. 1. What was Khrushchev s initial impression of President Kennedy? His initial impression was that Kennedy was very young, like a recent college graduate and that he could not possibly hold his own in international affairs. 2. How did his impression change over the course of the meeting? His impression changed such that by the end he saw that Kennedy was very tough, forthright, and intelligent. 3. Why do you think Khrushchev stated, He is not an easy man to talk to? Open to various student opinions. They could speculate that Kennedy was tough on Khrushchev whereas he expected to be able to intimidate him. Another response could be the language difficulties or just that Kennedy was a introspective man and did not share all his thoughts with Khrushchev. HE IS VERY TOUGH, VERY FORTHRIGHT AND EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT. 4. What is the best definition of forthright as it is used here? a. Sneaky and calculating b. Straightforward and honest c. Innocent and naïve d. Awkward and crude 5. The Cuban Missile Crisis would take place in How do you think this meeting affected it? Open to various student opinions. They should note that the Cuban Missile Crisis was like a game of chicken with Kennedy and Khrushchev communicating through telegrams and aides. In the end, the US was able to get the Russians to back down and remove the missiles that were being built. The fact that Khrushchev found Kennedy to be tough and intelligent surely helped in their showdown over Cuba. Students of History -