Franco and Stalin
"Dictatorship: country, government, or the form of the government in which absolute power is exercised by a dictator." That's the dictionary definition of dictatorship, but for many who have lived or are living under such government believe that it's fear and some believe that it's the right way on living in a country. There have been many dictators throughout the history, such as Hitler, Mussolini, just to mention a few. But Franco and Stalin are today's story. Before their reign, the economy in their countries was terribly, enough to tag it as a depression. For Russia, it was because Czar Nicholas had wasted his money in WWI, which caused the revolution. For Spain, the cost of the damages during both WWI and the Spanish Civil War was so high, that high unemployment was inevitable and the depression was great. By the time both countries were able to get back on their feet, they had lots of money, each finding their way differently. The social conditions weren't easy to endure either. Although both leaders found a way to control the people some way, they both did so because they feared of losing power to the people, after all, leaders are greedy for more power than they already have. What they both believed was in "equality," trying to prove the citizens that they were the best for the position to be a leader. Goals and aims? Well, easy, they wanted total control of their countries and they were arrogant, wanting to be the one and only leader, wishing to be omnipotent.
It was a complicated process for Franco to get the economy of Spain back on its feet. Right after the Spanish Civil War in 1939, there was a severe depression. Although within the years the US would help Spain, Franco struggled to help out. The Labor Charter wasn't much of help, although this law helped with the fact that all Spaniards should work, adequate wages, paid vacations, and a limit of working hours. Franco also passed the Charter of Rights to help the social conditions. This law allowed the Spaniards to do many things freely as long as they didn't break the fundamental principles of state. Franco also wanted to disguise his government as a democracy, hiding the realities from the world so that he would appear as a hero, including in his own country among the people. As an individual, he had certain goals and aims, which he managed to accomplish. Gain power, which he acquired during the Spanish Civil War. During the war, he became a leader of the Nationalists (side that were loyal to the government,) also a goal he intended because he knew if he won the war, he would have most of the people in his favor.
When Stalin took power over Russia, the economy was in a terrible state due to the damages and money invested in WWI and the extra damages of the Russian Revolution. Stalin had a created what's called the Five Year Plan, a plan that involved into turning the economy from agriculture to industry and a better education, which, as the name says, was to be done in five years. Stalin passed the NEP (New Economic Policy,) The NEP was an introduction to merchants, investors, large scale manufacturing, foreign investors, and even stabilizing the currency. Stalin feared losing his power, creating a reign of terror that lasted for years. This caused the Great Purges, which was when his secret police arrested people Stalin believed that threatened his power. Most were never seen again because they had been killed. Stalin had also abolished private farms to keep the people believing they were under the control of communism, a type of government that in general believes in a classless system. The goals of Stalin were pretty obvious, get power and be a leader. The only way Stalin got his power was when Lenin died because of a stroke. Stalin, like Lenin and Trotsky, was one of the leaders of the Bolsheviks, getting starting with attention from the people. But again, it was after Lenin's death that Stalin received true power.