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Russian Revolution

Russian Revolution. Vladimir Lenin. Provided the intellectual and organizational energy behind the Russian Revolution Became radical when his brother was executed for indirect involvement in an assassination attempt on Czar Alexander III Went into exile in Switzerland.

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Russian Revolution

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  1. Russian Revolution

  2. Vladimir Lenin Provided the intellectual and organizational energy behind the Russian Revolution Became radical when his brother was executed for indirect involvement in an assassination attempt on Czar Alexander III Went into exile in Switzerland

  3. Lenin’s Contributions to Socialist Ideology Wrote April Theses, which addressed Marxist principles in relation to Russian society Incorporated imperialism into Marx’s critique of capitalism Lenin insisted that only a small group of professional revolutionary conspirators could operate successfully in Russia’s undemocratic political climate

  4. “Weakest link in the chain” • Lenin and the Bolsheviks focused on simple slogans and uncompromising opposition to the Provisional Government • “Peace, bread, and land” • “All power to the Soviets”

  5. Brest-Litovsk Treaty Recognized the independence of the Baltic provinces, Poland, and the Ukraine Lost the most densely populated regions of their nation, important mineral resources, and some of Russia’s best farmland Bolshevik leaders hoped to regain these lands in an inevitable socialist revolution

  6. Russian Civil War (1918-1922) • The Reds (communists) vs. the Whites (czarists, Mensheviks, Social Revolutionaries) • The Allies supported the Whites in hopes of getting Russia back into WWI • The Reds had the support of the people, but assassinated the czar just in case • Reds will be led by Leon Trotsky • Formed the cheka,(NKVD- secret police) to seek out White supporters

  7. Two Views of Trotsky

  8. War Communism Nationalized key industries, allowed workers to run the factories Harshly punished peasants that hoarded grain or refused to surrender their crops and livestock Created class warfare between wealthy peasants on one side and landless laborers and urban dwellers on the other

  9. Reds win, but at a cost • Took over factories, mines, railroads and farms from the people • Forced peasants to be soldiers • Millions died from fighting, starvation, disease • Red Terror • Designed to eliminate “class enemies”

  10. Lenin’s USSR • Bolsheviks create the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) or Soviet Union • Constitution gave ownership of resources and power to the people • In reality the Communist Party controlled everything and Russia was the most powerful Soviet

  11. Party-State Dualism • For each function of the government , there existed both a party and a state organ • Party- primary policy-making role • Acted as the driving force of the revolution and direct representation of the proletariat • State • Carry out the policies of the party • Elections featured only one political party, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union • Central Committee (several hundred top CPSU) & Politiburo(policy bureau, dozen individuals) made the decisions for the state

  12. Social and Cultural Changes • Legal changes provided women with a measure of equality (right to vote, divorce, access to birth control and abortions) • Alexandra Kollontai appointed People’s Commissar for Social Welfare • Found Zhenotdel, a women’s bureau designed to fight illiteracy, and educate women about new marriage laws • Creation of the Communist Youth League, or Komsomol, to promote socialist values and membership in CPSU

  13. The economy was bad after the war • Lenin allowed some capitalist elements to encourage production • New Economic Plan (NEP) • A new class of wealthy peasants emerge, kulaks • Allowed USSR to stabilize, but Lenin felt he’d sold out Communism • He dies suddenly in 1924 • Had suggested Trotsky as his successor • But no one listened

  14. Stalin’s USSR • Communists feared that Trotsky was too popular, could become too powerful • Chose Stalin instead • Quiet, but manipulative behind the scenes • Trotsky was forced to flee USSR; was later assassinated in Mexico

  15. The Man of Steel

  16. Stalin was determined to make the USSR a modern industrial power • Had several Five-Year plans to industry, farm production and transportation • Created a command economyin which the government owned everything and made all decisions • (Opposite of free market economy)

  17. The Growth of Heavy Industry in the USSR

  18. Stalin’s Goals: • Modernize Russia (Saw Russia as being 50-100 years behind other European countries) • Develop the perfect communist state • Make the Soviet Union into a power state that would be able to withstand an attack • Stalin’s policies were brutal, but effective • Increased production through force • Eliminated opposition by killing all his enemies in the Great Purge

  19. Estimated Results of the Great Purges Arrests, 1937-1938- about 7 million Executed- about 1 million Died in camps- about 2 million In prison, late 1938- about 1 million In camps, late 1938- about 8 million

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