RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

Constitutional Democracy

Constitutional democrats took over the Duma and made it the provisional government A government that enforces recognized limits on those who govern and allows the voice of the people to be heard through free, fair, and relatively frequent elections

Reds vs. Whites

Civil War in Russia Whites= moderate/liberal socialists and supporters of a parliamentary government Reds= communists/bolsheviks

Collectivization

Collectivization was a system in which private property was eliminated and instead, the government owned all the land and the peasants worked it They pretty much grouped all the farmers together on one large "collective" farm run by the communist party Kulaks: wealthy peasants caused by the NEP who had more land, tools, cows, farmland were resistant They resisted by hoarding crops, killing livestock, burning goods, destroy tractors and fields, but Stalin just increased collectivization in response

Order of Events

Communist Manifesto-1848 January Bloody Sunday- 1905 October Manifesto- 1905 World War 1- 1914-1918 Alexandra runs the government- 1915-1917 February/March Revolution- 1917 3 different forms of government- Summer 1917 Bolshevik Revolution- October 1917 Treaty of Brest-Litovsk- March 1918 Civil war in Russia- 1918-1922 New Economic Policy- 1921-1928 U.S.S.R Established- December 1922 Lenin Dies- 1924 Stalin in charge- 1928 Collectivization- 1928-1950s

Stage 3 of Communism

Communist Paradise Total equality, everyone has a job, all jobs are equal Power, money, education are all equal No private property Utopia Classless society By the time of stage 3, the government will wither away...dictator is no longer needed No role for government Direct democracy

Socialism

Socialist parties lead by workers formed based on Marx's ideas Goal: equal welling and equal chance at success Limited market, government control over businesses Government services Social selflessness High taxes

What challenges did the USSR face in 1924 with the death of Lenin?

disagreement between Trotsky and Stalin's views and who was going to take power

Karl Marx

wrote the communist manifesto in 1848 because he was appalled by the horrible conditions in the industrial factories and blamed industrial capitalism believed that 2 groups are constantly in opposition 1. Oppressors/bourgeoisie: owned the means of production, such as land, raw materials, money, etc. This gave them the power to control government and society 2. Oppressed/proletariat: owned nothing and depended on the owners of the means of production. He created a theory called communism

Was Lenin's N.E.P successful?

yes because it helped the economy and agriculture no because they took away communism and didn't reach their main goal of utopia

Why the Revolution Continued in 1917

→ Political: all levels in Russian society resented absolutism of Nicholas, failures of WWI → Social: oppressed peasants and workers, rapid industrialization, unrest and riots, WWI → Economic: widespread inflation and famine due to WWI

Downsides of Capitalism

→ need to lower prices in order to compete, so they use cheaper materials thus the product quality is poor → sell so much that others go out of business → lower wages to further reduce costs → lie to consumers → get rid of workers to reduce costs → remove safety for your workers → factory goes overseas → inequality, rich vs. poor → little teamwork

February/March Revolution

(Part 1 of Revolution) Spontaneous revolt when women in St. Petersburg protested because of the food shortages and rationed bread by government Called for city wide strike Various political reformist groups grew, protests became violent, Duma takes over control of police and army New Provisional Government formed by the Duma Nicholas quits and is executed a year later

WWI- role and impact

1914-1918 At first, Russians rallied together, behind the Czar during this time--nationalism However this quickly fades because the war does not go over well for Russia Russia is unprepared for war Not enough supplies (food, weapons, clothing) Army poorly organized Soldiers didn't receive pay, low morale, mutinies Poor leadership from Nicholas II

Communism

A 3 step process in which the government commands the economy and runs all businesses in order to abolish social classes and create total equality Industry and businesses controlled by government, Equality of all, equal jobs and wages, no leader, direct democracy, classless society

Describe the chain of events that brought about the abdication of the Czar in February/March 1917.

After the women revolt in St. Petersburg, various reform groups grew and protests became violent Duma takes over control of police/army and new provisional government is formed Nicholas abdicates (quits) and is executed a year later

Rasputin

Alexandra was in charge of Russia and did whatever he said because he cured her son Alexai He possessed some inexplicable power over Alexai and his deadly episodes of bleeding Convinced Czarina Alexandra that Rasputin must have been sent by god Rasputin was a convenient scapegoat (blamed him for all Russia's problems) for those who wanted to attack the Czar's appointments and decisions, but who wouldn't confront Nicholas II directly Rasputin murdered in 1916

What is Joseph Stalin's legacy?

Although he was very helpful in industrializing Russia and improving their army and economy, his brutality and inhumane ways of killing anyone who had a different opinion than him leaves him with the legacy of a villain

New Economic Policy

At the end of the Civil War, there were huge problems for Lenin Peasants were resisting the power of the government, hoarding food etc. Abandoned war communism NEP=new economic policy Capitalism Gave peasants the right to private property Peasants were now able to sell sell surplus (what is left over) to the open market Peasants were allowed to sell their produce openly Heavy industry, banking, mines, factories remained in the hands of the government...NEP only changed the lives of the peasants By this time, a revived market and good harvest ended the famine, agricultural production increased NEP saved the Soviet Union from economic disaster Gives motivation to the peasants to work harder and make more money

Civil War in Russia

Bolsheviks renamed themselves the Communists Many people were opposed to the new Communist government Included people still loyal to the czar, liberal socialists, and anti-Leninist socialists Wanted constitutional monarch or gradual reform They were joined by the Allies, who were extremely concerned about the Communist takeover The White Army (anti-communist) were moderate/liberal socialists and supporters of a parliamentary government The Red Army (communists/bolsheviks) fought on many fronts against the White Army Leon Trotsky commanded the Red Army Great Britain, France, and US sent troops to fight communists/bolsheviks Lenin renamed Russia the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Victory for the Communists Enemy not united; Trotsky created well organized and disciplined army Used terror against opponents Secret police called the Checka to destroy opposition, arresting people and killing them on the spot

Five Year Plans

By 1928, Joseph Stalin is in charge Ended NEP The Five Year Plans set economic goals for 5 year periods Focuses on heavy or capital industry that is, those that are necessary in order that other industries, dependent upon them, might expand Rapid increase in production of steel, oil, coal, agriculture, iron, energy/electric, railroad's Stalin sets quotas Factory managers must meet the quota, and if they fail they will be killed In world war 2, the society union was able to be victorious over the Nazis due to the industrialization

Stage 2 of Communism

Dictatorship of the Proletariat Need to learn how to run factories, cities, society Who is going to lead us through stage 2? Military leaders or intellectuals who teach The leader organizes workers, command people to do certain jobs, control how much the factories produce it, control how much people food get, etc. Dictator commands the economy vs. in capitalism there is an open market Marx says it's supposed to be Temporary and transitional But stage 3 never happens... Gets stuck because the dictator doesn't want to give up his power

Leon Trotsky

Head of army (draft) Seen as war hero by the people, because the army was successful in winning the Civil War Does not like the NEP Wanted to industrialize Russia rapidly Wanted to spread the communist revolution Jewish professor Comes from wealth

Describe Stalin's leadership style. What motivated his actions? What were his goals? How were those around Stalin impacted?

His goals were to improve Russia and he thought everyone had to have the same ideas as himself. Those who disagreed with him were sent to labor camps in Siberia or instantly murdered.

Results of Collectivization

Hoarding food and killing livestock led to famine-- 4-5 million 2 million were forcefully driven from their homes 1 million exiled Reign of terror: Stalin purged army officers, diplomats, union officials, intellectuals, and ordinary citizens 8 million arrested, millions sent to the labor camps and never returned, others executed However, the communists made divorce easier for women and encouraged women to work outside the home

Bloody Sunday

January 22 1905 Unarmed peasants, led by Father Gapon, marched to the winter palace demanding shorter work days, minimum wage, and a constitution for Russia Peaceful protest, they just wanted to talked to the Czar Palace guards fired, killing hundreds, soldiers were not ordered to shoot Czar wasn't even there Bond between Czar and people broken forever Czar was now facing civil war if he didn't do something

October Manifesto

Later in 1905, Nicholas II finally took action He formed Russia's first parliament, the duma, or legislative body Aimed to look after the interests of the people, but the Czar still has the power to veto its decisions and dismiss members He can dissolve the duma whenever he wants Communist leader Leon Trotsky still believed it was not enough because Czar still had a lot of control over the duma

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Lenin had to get out of world war 1 to create peace, so he signed a treaty with Germany called Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Russia lost finland, Poland Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia Ukraine Entire western european Russia was given up to the germans treaty to get out of WWI, gave away western parts of Russia

Provisional Government

Liberal government formed from the Duma (duma wants to stay in war) Restore order through democratic methods Headed by Aleksandr Kerensky Mensheviks & Constitutional Democrats, small number of radical Bolsheviks, were elected into the P.G. Wanted to keep Russia in World War 1 to preserve Russia's honor This did not satisfy the workers or peasants who made up the large majority of population Competing with the soviets

Pure Marxists vs Revisionists

Marxist parties were divided Pure Marxists: thought capitalism could only be defeated by a violent revolution Revisionists: argued that workers must continue to organize in mass political parties and join other parties to gain reform As workers received the right to vote, they could achieve their aims by working within democratic systems

What events triggered the Bloody Sunday? How did Nicholas respond to it?

Military Weaknesses Russo Japanese War: Russia badly beaten in war with Japan (revolts by peasants, workers, sailors, non-Russians, and intellectuals over loss in war) After its defeat in Japan in 1905, and the Revolution of 1905, Russia was unprepared both militarily and technologically for the total war of World War 1. Russia had no competent military leaders Czar Nicholas II insisted on taking personal charge of the armed forces in spite of his obvious lack of ability and training. Russian industry was unable to produce the weapons January Bloody Sunday--Result: widespread strike in St. Petersburg

What were Stalin's economic programs? How did they impact the lives of ordinary Soviets?

Millions of workers and their families lived in miserable conditions Quality of products were not good Not really communism because workers were not equal at all The workers were paid based on how much they produced and quality of the products produced as an incentive to work harder

Results of Civil War

Much of Russia in ruins Cities, farms, factories destroyed after almost eight years of fighting Millions died or fled the country Communists had to rebuild the country When the war was over, peasants began to sabotage the Communist program by hoarding food The situation became even worse when drought caused a terrible famine in 1920-1922 5 million died Cause agricultural disaster and then came industrial collapse

How did Russia's involvement in World War 1 affect the fate of Nicholas and his citizens?

Nicholas was a poor leader during world war 1 and they were really unprepared and were defeated

Did the Bolshevik Revolution achieve Marx's vision of a communist society?

No because it never reached utopian society, there were still social classes, it was a bloodless revolution and step one of a communist society was to have a violent revolution

Czar Nicholas II

Not a strong leader Did not keep promises to increase human rights (free speech, religion, movement, language) Sergei Witte (minister to the czar) was punished for modernization: higher taxes and loans from Western nations built up Russian industries, foreign experts hired to run Russian factories, Trans Siberian Railroad Upper class did not like foreign influence from the foreign experts hired to run Russian factories by czar Nicholas II formed the duma, Russia's first parliament

Bolshevik/October Revolution

Part 2 of the revolution October 25th 1917: the Bolsheviks take over Bolshevik goals: gain control over the soviets to overthrow provisional government Used propaganda to gain control and support: mass support through promises geared towards the people: end the war, redistribute land, transfer factories from owners to the soviets November 6th 1917: Leon Trotsky (head of St. Petersburg soviet) leads the revolution-- they seized government buildings and arrested members of the Provisional government Government quickly collapsed, no bloodshed This isn't a part of the communist theory...not any stage. Strange, not following what Marx said

Joseph Stalin

Peasant Wanted Russia to focus on improving itself, domestic focus rather than focusing on communist revolutions Does not like NEP Georgian, not Russian Communist party secretary He appointed regional, district, city, and town party officials across Russia Stalin used his post as general secretary to gain complete control of the Communist party Thousands of officials he appointed provided him with support in his bid for power sets the quotas, factory managers must meet them if they were not met then you were killed or sent to a labor camp (gulag) in siberia

Stage 1 of Communism

Proletariat Revolution Proletariat: oppressed, factory workers aka. industrial workers Fighting against Bourgeoisie (capitalists) Get power Proletariat wins by VIOLENCE!

What political and personal problems did Nicholas II face in 1905?

Rapid Industrialization, factory workers: low standard of living, lack of political power Upper class resented influence of foreign companies Some workers wanted a Democratic Republic like France Others wanted a Constitutional Monarchy like Britain Growing numbers of radicals looked to Communism/Socialism Leadership at the top had a series of military and economic disasters Russian people and even conservative aristocrats (who supported a monarchy) were upset with the czarist regime

The Soviet of St. Petersburg

Representative council formed in St. Petersburg Made up of workers, peasants, and soldiers (proletariats) Led the strikers

The Romanovs

Russia's 300 year old royal family Nicholas II was the last of the Romanovs

Duma

Russia's first parliament aimed to look after the interests of the people but Nicholas II still had power to veto decisions and dismiss members Legislative Assembly

3 different types of government in 1917

Soviets, Military Dictatorship, Provisional Government

Revolution of 1905

Split into 2 events Russo-Japanese War: Russia badly beaten in war with Japan (revolts by peasants, workers, sailors, non-russians, and intellectuals over loss in war) January Bloody Sunday resulted in widespread strike in St. Petersburg

U.S.S.R

Stalin essentially became the dictator of the Soviet Union The Soviet Union had its roots in 1917 when the Bolsheviks, headed by Vladimir Lenin, led the October Revolution which overthrew the provisional government that had replaced the Tsar. They established the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, beginning a civil war between pro-revolution Reds and counter-revolution Whites. Lenin takes over Russia and renames it

The Purges

Stalin purged the army officers because they served in the civil war and led army under Trotsky to victory, was intimidated by the idea that the army officers could potentially fight off stalin, he's worried over his power of the USSR

Bolsheviks

The Bolsheviks: radical communists Lead by V.I. Lenin (April 1917) Dedicated to violent revolution led by the peasants NOW! Lenin believed it was the only way to destroy capitalism Their slogan: peace, land, bread When he heard the provisional government was formed, saw an opportunity for the Bolsheviks to seize power Lenin believed Bolsheviks should work towards gaining control of the soviets of soldiers, workers, and peasants He would use them to overthrow the provisional government They promised to end the war, redistribute all land to the peasants, transfer factories and industries from capitalists to committees of workers, and transfer government power from the provisional gov to the soviets REVOLUTIONARY

Menshiviks

The Mensheviks: moderate socialists Thought that the marxist revolution needs to wait until proletariat is larger and more powerful Non-violent evolution Wanted to evolve over time to achieve communist country One group of soviets EVOLUTIONARY

Russian Revolution

The overthrow of the czar's government and the establishment of Communist rule

What different groups were vying for power after March 1917?

The provisional government, menshiviks, bolsheviks

Soviet

The soviets, representative councils composed of workers, peasants and soldiers, largely made up of socialists and communists (want to follow the communist theory) Soviets want to end the war, higher wages, government oversight of industry, safer conditions, enough bread to feed all Soviets include Lenin and the Bolsheviks competing with Mensheviks , they have differences about how to achieve communism Competing against the provisional government

Proletariat

The working class made up of factory owners (4%) Lenin wanted them to take over in order to establish the dictatorship of the proletariat, so he added the peasants (84%) to the proletariats so that they were 88% of the population

War Communism

Took place during civil war, government was Lenin and the communists Government controls all economic activity-industry, banks, railroads were all nationalized (government owned) All men under 50 drafted for government labor or army; many women work in factories and construction projects No strikes by workers allowed, police seized food from the peasants to feed army Divorce was introduced, Russian Orthodox church's power in society greatly reduced, legal equality between genders; women can vote for local Soviets

How did propaganda play a role in Lenin's ability to maintain control of Russia?

Used propaganda to gain control and support: mass support through promises geared towards the people: end the war, redistribute land, transfer factories from owners to the soviets

Why were the Bolsheviks able to seize power in October/November 1917?

Used propaganda to gain followers, the czar had just been abdigated and the provisional government was not stable, so the bolsheviks were able to easily take over

Radical Reformers

Wanted to abolish the capitalist system and create a socialist system Supported socialist parties to achieve goals believed that industrial capitalism was heartless and brutal

Moderate Reformers

Willing to work within the system for gradual changes such as fewer hours, better benefits, and safe working conditions Used trade unions to achieve goals believed that industrial capitalism was heartless and brutal

Population of Russia in 1917

Workers 4%, Peasants 84%

What problems did Lenin face after the revolution? How did he plan on solving these problems?

Working class makes up only 4% of the Russian population and the peasantry makes up 84% so they will be defeated quickly. Lenin becomes known as a marxist revisionist because he changes the theory of communism. He goes back and he changes who is in the proletariat group, he makes the farmers and rural inhabitants and serfs to be in the proletariat group to suit his needs. Now 88% of the population is proletariat.

Vladimir Lenin

a Russian communist revolutionary, politician, and political theorist Vladimir Lenin engineered the Bolshevik revolution in Russia in 1917 and later took over as the first leader of the newly formed USSR gained more followers through his propaganda

Marxism

a spontaneous revolution of the working class; Marx believed that revolution would come from the proletariat (working class) and not the peasantry (farmers) set up government in which the workers would rule

Alexander Kerensky

led the provisional government kept Russia in world war 1 to preserve Russia's honor

What was the condition of imperial Russia (during the Czarist rule)? What was life like for ordinary people under the Czar?

people wanted civil liberties and political reforms but the czars ignored them, ordinary people didn't have a say in anything

"Capital" Heavy Indsutry

rapid increase in production of steel, oil, coal, agriculture, iron, energy/electric, RR's

Capitalism

set of ideas/principles → privately owned businesses → profit motive → invisible hand: in an open market (no regulations) the invisible hand is allowed to work, and the invisible hand is competition → Profit motive and competition causes all these competing businesses to use deals and incentives (lower prices etc.), advertisement, good products and service...all these things benefit the buyer → When businesses compete, the consumers win, they benefit A set of principles in which there is an open market in which privately owned businesses compete against each other. The economy is not controlled by the government, it is dictated by the market.