Socialism Past and Present

Beginning with the Industrial Revolution in the nineteenth century, socialism has played a significant role in the development of many nations worldwide. While Marxists believe that socialism is a step on the way to communism, socialist nations are those that have abolished a capitalist economy. Today, many European nations have socialist aspects, but there are not many nations which remain committed to socialism or communism.

Socialism was born out of fear among the working class that the wealthy would continue to amass wealth as a result of capitalism, while workers would continue to lose money as they were replaced by machines. They were also disenchanted with poor working and living conditions which were rampant in the nineteenth century. Although socialism was mainly theoretical, the Russian leader Vladimir Lenin instituted a number of socialist ideas in Soviet Russia.

At the beginning of a unit on socialism, students should learn about the differences in the major social, political and economic theories of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Be sure to establish working definitions for capitalism, communism and socialism. Students can refer to these definitions throughout the unit. For example, you could describe socialism and communism this way - socialists seek to end the free-market economy so that industries are regulated, and communists seek to establish an egalitarian society in which the government controls the economy and everyone is equal socially and financially.

Students can create a timeline showing the rise, development and fall of socialism beginning with its Industrial Revolution-era inception. Creating a timeline is something that can be done either individually or as a whole class. You may also choose to put different tiers on your timeline so that students can see the differences among nations.

Once students have mastered the concepts of socialism and communism, have them stage a debate in which they discuss what the most effective system is: capitalism, socialism or communism. What follows are more lessons to help students understand socialism.

Socials Activities and Lesson Plans:

Comparative Economic Systems

Students define the fundamental differences among various economic systems. They analyze how a nation’s geography can influence its economy and industrialization. This lesson is excellent as a stand-alone or as a starting point for a bigger unit or project.

Economic Systems

This is another excellent lesson for helping students to understand the fundamental differences between capitalism, communism and socialism. In this lesson students also create a Venn diagram. The students’ Venn diagrams serve as an excellent resource for them during the course of the unit.

Governing Nationalist Socialist Germany

Students learn about socialism in Nazi Germany during World War II. It is important for students to understand how socialism was one of the factors that impacted the German people during the war and how it effected Germany’s role in the post-war world economy.

The Rise of Socialism and Communism

Students examine past socialist and communist experiments in the United States’ history. They also try to ascertain why such experiments might have been appealing to people at certain times in the nation’s history. Students then determine if there are socialist aspects to the United States today.