THE RISE OF TOTALITARIAN STATES THE BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION AND THE CREATION OF THE SOVIET UNION

THE SOVIET UNION Karl Marx, a German philosopher, wrote The Communist Manifesto along with Friedrich Engels. The work was published in 1848.

THE SOVIET UNION THE COMMUNIST MANIFESTO INCLUDED: Philosophy of Cost Elimination of Profit Class Struggle Class Warfare Creation of a Classless Society True Equality Government Ownership of the Means of Production

THE SOVIET UNION Russia was a monarchy under the leadership of Czar Nicholas II of the Romanov Dynasty. He ruled with an iron fist and was out of touch with the majority of the Russian people. Nicholas led his nation into WW I. Russia suffered greatly at the front and at home. Conditions worsened but Nicholas did not seem to care.

THE SOVIET UNION A follower of Marx, Lenin believed in the violent overthrow of the Czar in Russia. Lenin believed that the Czar had lost touch with his people and that the system of government was corrupt. Lenin became the leader of the Bolshevik Party and plotted the overthrow of the Czar.

THE SOVIET UNION THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION March 1917- popular revolution led to the abdication of Czar Nicholas II. Russia becomes a democracy under the Provisional Government. The Bolshevik Party along with other political parties begin planning how they would take over the government of Russia.

THE SOVIET UNION THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION - November 1917- the Bolshevik Party, led by Lenin, staged a coup d’etat and overthrew the Provisional Government of Russia. - Russia dropped out of WW I. - A 4 year civil war took place from 1917 to 1921(Reds vs Whites). The Bolsheviks(Reds) won and the Soviet Union was born.

THE SOVIET UNION Vladimir Lenin-first leader of the Soviet Union. Official name: the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.). 1921-began New Economic Policy, injecting small amounts of capitalism into the communist system in light of system weaknesses.

THE SOVIET UNION Josef Stalin succeeded Lenin after a power struggle for control with Leon Trotsky. Stalin gained control of the Soviet government in 1928. He was both power hungry and paranoid. These characteristics influence many of his decisions.

THE SOVIET UNION GOAL: to industrialize the Soviet Union. 5 Year Plans Collective Farms Command Economy Secret Police (NKVD) Purges Created a fear/worship relationship with his people.

THE SOVIET UNION Executed a majority of his military officers in 1936 purge. Made the Soviet Union an industrial nation by 1938. Signed Non-Aggression Pact with the Nazis. Soviets were almost conquered by the Nazis. Soviets defeated the Nazis in 1945. Stalin led the Soviets into the Cold War.