Joseph Stalin was a leader of the Soviet Union from 1929 to 1953. When Stalin was the leader he wanted to see a new Russia. He gained most of his power after Lenin died. He took his role into being the next leader. He wanted Russia to be a global power instead of a peasant society. He rose to his power by destroying many things. He had the Russian Orthodox Church destroyed and had orthodox priest executed or put in jail and treated terribly. He took away ⅘ of livelihood. After Stalin became leader, a wave of violence swept the country. In 1932, he took a turn for the worst. He enslaved many of his own people. His officers known as the “secret police” had to do what Stalin said or they would be executed. They were forced to swipe the soviet
