The Bolsheviks and Russia The start of Communism Youtube: Dennis the Peasant/Downton Abbey

“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.”

Society How would you reorganize society to satisfy all needs? Go! Eliminate poverty, racism, class struggle, inequality of wealth. Go! How many tv’s do you own? Wasteful!

History of… …Russia = sad, depressing, fantastically awful; therefore, fascinating. Like watching the battle for middle earth, except “man” does a horrible job of winning. Serfs – European/Russian indentured servants not likely to be freed. 4 Political Groups: Nationalists, Liberals, Peasant Socialists, Marxists

Marxists Kark Marx – The Communist Manifesto. CM – History of class struggle, problems of capitalism, and the role of the masses in society. Stages before communism: Tribal Society: hunter/gather. Shared property for survival Primitive communism: agreement of governing by tribes; private property concept develops Feudalism: concentration of wealth/private property. Slavery begins. Class distinction begins. Capitalism: lots more $; lots more property; lots more exploitation; lots more strife and worker unrest. Socialist/communist state: one class, all profits shared. No class distinction.

February Revolution (1917) 1903 – Russian Socialists Democratic Labor Party. Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (or V. Lenin) is the leader. Renames peeps “Bolsheviks” (majority). Forms worker owned councils (Soviets). WWI goes badly for Russia (1914-1917) 4.6m wounded/killed, 2.4m prisoner. Domestic Problems: No food, No fuel, No clothing February, 1917 – Nicholas II gives up power. (Feb. Rev.) November Revolution – Bolsheviks take over Russia, civil war ensues for control of Russia until 1922. Reds (communists) vs. Whites (Czar)

They still love Lenin in Russia

Communism Lower classes (proletariats) overthrow the upper classes (bourgeoisie) Proletariat – Bob the builder. Workers in society. “Have-nots”. Bourgeoisie – John Rockefeller. Upper classes or owners in society. “Haves”. Class Struggle – friction between social/economic classes over resources. Bolsheviks – Followers of Lenin communism Communism The government owns all land and property One political party Individuals have no civil rights The government owns all businesses, banks, factories, farms, cars, roads, etc.

Reaction War Hawks, in America, want to get into WWI. Refused to ally with the czar to fight Germany. Red Scare – Fear of communism that reaches a fever pitch causing a roundup of all suspected communists 1919 -- Attorney General Mitchell Palmer had a bomb explode on his front porch. Several bombings around the country occurred too Newspapers call for the arrests of radicals and be given “free trips to the electric chair”