The Russian Revolution History of the Modern World, pages

We have already learned that Marx published his Communist Manifesto in 1848.

Marx watched the events in Paris 1871 and the commune with interest. The commune in Paris did not succeed.

But the idea that revolution was needed to overthrow governments remained a key point of Marxist doctrine.

Marxism should have been just another ‘ism of the 1800’s.

But Marxism found fertile ground in the Russian state. A country plagued by deep rooted societal, social and political difficulties.

Russia was ripe for revolution: A previous history of oppression A rising sense of Pan-Slavism: Russia has a unique destiny Local conflicts across the vast Russian empire.

A brief review: Alexander II freed the serfs. Alexander was assassinated by the “Peoples Will” His son, Alexander III is reactionary: drives revolutionaries and terrorists into exile.

Much of the intelligentsia that is kicked out of Russia will come back with revolutionary ideas. Many “underground” groups will form.

Russia began to pass through the industrial revolution during this agitated time…but most of the money came from Europe.

Most of the intelligentsia yearned for an over throw of the government, so they could skip the problems of Capitalist Industrial Europe.

They wanted industrialization— but industries owned by the state, and not by some rich smug factory owner who exploited his workers.

One of the Intelligentsia was Vladimir Lenin ( )

Lenin’s brother had been executed as an auxiliary member of the plot to assassinate Alexander III.

Because of this, Lenin was unable to attend law school. He eventually engaged in revolutionary activities and was sent to Europe. He did not return until 1917—the year of the Russian Revolution

So what did Lenin believe in? that the rich abused the poor that anybody making a profit was abusing everybody else that everybody was equal wanted a government that truly represented the people wanted the overthrow of the Russian government that kept the huge majority of Russian people in misery