The Russian Revolution & the Rise of Communism Class Conflict, Propaganda, Repression

Focus I can explain how Russia has had a history of authoritarian rule for much of its recent past. I can determine why communism was able to take hold in Russia.

Communist Ideology Communism is a system of government in which the means of production* are the property of the entire society rather than individuals. In a communist society, labor is shared equally and the benefits of labor are distributed according to need. Under such a system, all people are equal without class stratification. * Raw materials, tools, equipment, production facilities

Origins of Communisim Although the basic idea of communism has existed since the time of Plato, modern communism is identified with the system of government described by Karl Marx and Fredrich Engels in The Communist Manifesto.

A Classless Society They believed that capitalistic systems* were bound to destroy themselves because the poor would rebel against their former oppressors and form a classless society. *Systems based upon the exploitation of the powerless lower class by the rich upper class, which prospered

Utopian Dream This prophecy has never come true and countries that have attempted to base their governments on communism ultimately have failed to achieve the utopia described by Marx and Engels

Ivan the Terrible Peter the Great Alexander II Nicholas II Serfdom

Peasants who are legally bound to the land. Feudal System No freedom, were tied to the land. All their property was actually the property of the noble/Czar

European Revolutions 1700

European Revolutions 1800

European Revolutions 1900

Russia: Land of the Tsars Crimean War Alexander II Reform – Economy/Policies Issues with Nobility Revolutionary Actions Duma/Parliament Alexander III Lenin Nicholas II and Wife Rasputin WWI How did these people or issues shape the Russia and/or cause the Russian Revolution?

WWI

Russian Revolution 1917

Russian Civil War

Causes of the Revolution For centuries, autocratic and repressive czarist regimes ruled the country and most of the population lived under severe economic and social conditions.

PEACE, LAND, & BREAD

The Soviet Union million Russians have died from war, disease, and starvation “We have destroyed the country in order to defeat the Whites.” Leon Trotsky

Lenin War Communism, 1918 Nationalization “those who would eat must work” New Economic Policy, NEP 1921 Major industry under gov’t control, some private business CAN operate USSR, 1922 New Constitution Dictatorship of the Proletariat

Trotsky Built the Red Army Close to Lenin Middle class and a scholar “permanent revolution” Stalin Son of artisans Secretary general of the Communist Party Skilled administrator “build socialism in a single country”

Five-Year Plan, 1928 Brought all agricultural and industrial production under government control Heavy on industry Provide housing, health care and other services Poor quality Collective farms Government owned all land and peasants farmed it Kulaks Secret Police Spy on one another or children on their parents Disloyalty: shot or labor camp Purges, 1930’s Potential enemies Old Bolsheviks

The Spread of Communism