Revolution + Nationalism Ch 30 1900-1939

Russia U.S.S.R. Rule of the Czars Russia was an autocracy (a gov.’t in which the ruler has unlimited power + uses it in an arbitrary manner) Anyone who questioned the czar’s authority, spoke a language other than Russian, or didn’t practice the Russian Orthodox Christian faith was considered dangerous Jews were especially persecuted When Czar Nicholas II came into power, Russia was modernizing, but it was still behind Western Europe He rapidly industrialized Russia Led to bad living + working conditions which angered many Russians

A group that followed the views of Karl Marx formed of the Bolsheviks A group that followed the views of Karl Marx formed They believed industrial workers (proletariat) would overthrow the czar The radical Bolsheviks were willing to sacrifice everything to make that change Led by Vladimir Lenin “Comrade Lenin Cleanses the Earth of Filth”, a Communist poster from 1920.     

Crises Cause the Czar to Lose Support 1. Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) Loses angered Russians 2. Bloody Sunday (Jan. 22, 1905) 200,000 workers + their families marched to the czar’s palace w/ a petition asking for better working conditions, more personal freedoms, + an elected national legislature Czar’s generals ordered soldiers to fire on the crowd + hundreds died Provoked violence + so Czar Nicholas II granted more personal freedom + created the Duma (Russian parliament) - which he would later dissolve

3. WWI – Russians suffered numerous defeats + casualties 4. Rasputin, a corrupt “holy man” was able to treat Prince Alexis (heir to the Russian throne) for his hemophilia. B/c of that, while the czar was fighting in WWI, the czarina let Rasputin make important political decisions He was despised by Russians + murdered

The March Revolution 200,000 workers go out into the streets + protest the gov.’t Soldiers will side w/ them Led to revolution + the abdication of Czar Nicholas II (last czar of Russia) A provisional gov.’t (temporary gov.’t) was established. It was weak + kept Russia in WWI

The Bolshevik Revolution (1918-1920) Lenin returned to Russia + led the Bolsheviks. They toppled the provisional gov.’t + took over Signed truce w/ Germany + surrendered a lot of land Russians angry + civil war breaks out The Red Army (Lenin’s Bolsheviks) fought against the White Army (Some supported a czarist gov.’t, some wanted democracy, + some were socialists who didn’t like Lenin) 14 mil Russians die from war + famine Red Army won

Lenin ordered the deaths of the czar + his family Formation of the U.S.S.R. Lenin revived economy by establishing a socialist economy (system in which the gov.’t controls major industries) Lenin ordered the deaths of the czar + his family Lenin reorganized gov.’ts w/in the country + renames Russia the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR or Soviet Union) Bolsheviks rename themselves the Communist Party End Section 1

30.2

Joseph Stalin takes power of USSR after Lenin + establishes a totalitarian state… Totalitarianism A gov.’t that takes total, centralized, state control over every aspect of public + private life Totalitarian leaders appear to provide a sense of security + give direction for the future Challenges the highest values of Western democracies (reason, freedom, human dignity, + worth of individuals)

Characteristics of a totalitarian gov.’t include: Police Terror – crush opposition, spy + intimidate, often use brutal methods Indoctrination – instruction in the gov.’t’s beliefs (control education to glorify the leader, his policies, + establish loyalty) Propaganda + Censorship – gov.’t controls media + only shows info that reflects positively on the gov.’t (much of it is lies) Religious or Ethnic Persecution – often create “enemies of the state” (someone to blame for any of the gov.’t’s failures), usually a member of a minority group who are often subjected to campaigns of terror

Stalin Builds a Totalitarian State His secret police monitored phone lines, read mail, + planted informers everywhere In 1934, he launched the Great Purge, a campaign of terror to eliminate anyone who threatened his power (real or imagined) “enemies” were found guilty of “crimes against the state” + sent to labor camps or executed Controlled all sources of media + the arts – had to glorify Stalin + the USSR Controlled education from nursery schools to college Tried to achieve a atheist state by persecuting different faiths (many still clung to their religious beliefs though)

Stalin Controls the Economy Proclaimed that USSR was far behind western powers in development + tried to close the gap quickly Established a command economy (system where the gov.’t makes all economic decisions) Sought to speed up industrialization w/ the 1st 5-year plan (plan for the development of the USSR). It set impossibly high goals for production for items like steel, coal, oil, etc… Led to shortages of consumer goods, + although most goals weren’t met, many gains were made. Launched a 2nd 5-year plan w/ similar results Also sought to control agricultural production Seized private farms + combined them into large, gov.’t owned farms called collective farms. The crops were given to the state to redistribute

People became better educated + mastered new technical skills Effects on Society + Effects: People became better educated + mastered new technical skills Women were treated more equally Many held important jobs (but typically not the best jobs) - Effects: Personal freedoms limited, shortage of consumer goods, dissent prohibited Women, in addition to holding a full time job, were still responsible for all housework + childcare End Section 2