Russian Revolution

Causes for March 1917 Revolution  Czars had reformed too little  Peasants extremely poor  Revolutionaries hatched radical plans  WWI Disaster  Rasputin’s role in government weakened respect for it

Czar Nicholas II

Russian Peasants

Rasputin

Ingredients there for a November Revolution  Lenin adapted Marxist Ideas for Russia Called for an elite group to rise up and create a dictatorship of the proletariat Called for an elite group to rise up and create a dictatorship of the proletariat  Conditions were at hand for Lenin and Bolsheviks to make their move  Provisional Govt. still in war, Problems with land reform  Summer 1917 launched a terrible offensive against Germany  The army was in terrible shape and growing number of troops mutinied  Peasants seized land and drove off landlords

Karl Marx

Vladimir Lenin (2004 photo)

Bolsheviks?

Russian Civil War  How did Communists quickly defeat their enemies? Lenin quickly made peace with Germany Lenin quickly made peace with Germany Could focus all of energy on defeating enemies at homeCould focus all of energy on defeating enemies at home War Communism War Communism Policy in which the communists took control of the banks, mines, factories and railroads. Also took control of food made by peasants and either drafted them into the military or factory work.Policy in which the communists took control of the banks, mines, factories and railroads. Also took control of food made by peasants and either drafted them into the military or factory work. Trotsky turned the Red Army into a great fighting force Trotsky turned the Red Army into a great fighting force When allies intervened to support Whites, the Communists used nationalism as a driving force to fight off the foreigners When allies intervened to support Whites, the Communists used nationalism as a driving force to fight off the foreigners

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Wrong Red Army

Trotsky

Timeline of Revolution  1914 WWI Begins WWI Begins  1917 March- Revolution forces Czar to Abdicate, Provisional Govt. takes over March- Revolution forces Czar to Abdicate, Provisional Govt. takes over April- Lenin returns to Russia April- Lenin returns to Russia July- Russia suffers more than 50,000 in casualties in one battle July- Russia suffers more than 50,000 in casualties in one battle November- A second revolution takes place and results in the Bolsheviks taking power November- A second revolution takes place and results in the Bolsheviks taking power December- Bolsheviks seek peace with Germany December- Bolsheviks seek peace with Germany

Lenin 1917

Bolshevik Revolution

Timeline of Revolution  1918 March- Russia signs the treaty of Brest-Litovsk, ending the war, but losing a lot of territory March- Russia signs the treaty of Brest-Litovsk, ending the war, but losing a lot of territory July- Civil war breaks out between the Reds and the Whites, The Czar and his family are executed July- Civil war breaks out between the Reds and the Whites, The Czar and his family are executed August- American, British, Japanese among others intervene in Russia August- American, British, Japanese among others intervene in Russia  1921 March- Communist government is victorious and only sporadic fighting continues March- Communist government is victorious and only sporadic fighting continues

Brest-Litovsk

Czar and his Family

Communist State under Lenin  New Communist Constitution Set up elected legislature called the Supreme Soviet Set up elected legislature called the Supreme Soviet Gave all citizens over 18 the right to vote Gave all citizens over 18 the right to vote Placed all political power, resources, and means of production in the hands of the peasants and workers Placed all political power, resources, and means of production in the hands of the peasants and workers  The new government united much of the old Russian empire to form the Soviet Union or U.S.S.R. (The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)  Lenin set up the NEP or New Economic Policy Allowed some capitalist ventures (small business) Allowed some capitalist ventures (small business) State controlled everything else State controlled everything else

Soviet Union

Stalin’s Five Year Plans  Stalin took over after Lenin’s Death  He put into place his Five year plans, aimed at making USSR into a industrial power  Stalin brought all industry under govt. control developing a command economy  Stalin also brought all agriculture under government control forcing all peasants to give their land into a state run farm or collectives (which were large farms run by peasants)  Overall standard of living remained poor, wages were low and consumer goods were scarce.

Propaganda Poster for Five Year Plans

The Great Purge  Stalin always had great fear that rival party leaders were plotting against him  The Great Purge Launched in 1934 Launched in 1934 At least 4 million people purged At least 4 million people purged Increased Stalin’s power Increased Stalin’s power Most of military leadership purged Most of military leadership purged Weakened military (WWII right around the corner) Weakened military (WWII right around the corner)

A prisoner about to be executed during the Great Purge

Soviet Foreign Policy  two very different goals pursued in foreign policy As communists Lenin and Stalin wanted to bring about the worldwide revolution that Marx had envisioned As communists Lenin and Stalin wanted to bring about the worldwide revolution that Marx had envisioned Lenin formed the Communist International of Comintern, which helped revolutionary groups around the worldLenin formed the Communist International of Comintern, which helped revolutionary groups around the world Their propaganda made other nations highly suspicious of the Soviet Union Their propaganda made other nations highly suspicious of the Soviet Union They wanted to win the support of other nations, so they tried to join the League of Nations They wanted to win the support of other nations, so they tried to join the League of Nations

World Wide Propaganda

Comintern

Life under Totalitarianism  Stalin ran the Soviet Union like a Totalitarian state Single party dictatorship attempts to control every aspect of people’s lives Single party dictatorship attempts to control every aspect of people’s lives  Stalin used: Secret Police, Censorship, Purges, Terror Secret Police, Censorship, Purges, Terror Replaced Religion with their own ideology Replaced Religion with their own ideology Used relentless propaganda Used relentless propaganda

Novel about life in a Stalin prison camp

Changes in Soviet Society  Few elite groups emerged as the ruling class  Granted free education, day care, health care, inexpensive housing and public recreation  Women were granted equality under the law

Equality in Soviet Union

Arts  Stalin forced artists to use Socialist Realism It focused on showing Socialism in a positive light It focused on showing Socialism in a positive light  The govt. controlled what books were published, works displayed and music listened to  Writers, Musicians and Artists faced public persecution

Censorship