The Russian Revolution pt II Lecture From Lenin to Stalin Lecture Notes

1. The Russian Revolution pt II LectureFrom Lenin to Stalin Lecture Notes

2. The Russian Civil War • After Lenin seized control of Russia in October 1918, the country fell into a 3 year Civil War • White Army –loyalists to the Czar • Red Army –Communists workers and soldiers • In the onslaught of the Red Army, Kerensky helped Nicholas II and his family to escape the Red Terror • The Red Army soon found them in a basement and executed Nicholas and his entire family

9. The Russian Civil • The war claimed 15 million Russian lives during the fighting • Most of the Russian economy had been completely destroyed ie factories, bridges, roads, and farms • In the end, the Lenin and the Bolsheviks had beaten back the Whites and formally declared Russia a Communist State

15. Russia after the Revolution • A new Constitution for a "democratic" socialist country with an Elected Legislature and all citizens had the right to vote • United all Russian Republics under one Union of the Soviet Socialist Republic • In reality the Communist party remained supreme, used secret police and held most of the power

19. Lenin's Policies • Lenin needed to rebuild the economy and industry after the Civil War • Created New Economic Plan (NEP) • Small business could remain in private ownership for profit; some capitalism • The state controlled banks, trade and large industries • The Russian Economy slowly gained strength again

22. The Death of Lenin • The years of revolution and civil war had severe effects on Lenin’s health • After 2 strokes and an assassination attempt, Lenin resigned from active politics in 1922. • In March 1923, he suffered a 3rd stroke and was no longer able to speak • He died in January 1924 at the age of 53

27. Stalin's Rise to Power • Lenin preferred Leon Trotsky as a successor • Lenin believed Stalin was too powerful and not tolerant enough • Trotsky was a scholar and leader of the Communist Revolution • Stalin was a politician in the Communist party that had amassed great power through organizing his loyal group of followers.

31. Stalin's Rise to Power • Stalin was from the peasant class so he had a lot of support from the Russian people. • Stalin pressured Trotsky out of the Communist Party • Trotsky left the USSR in 1929 and fled to Mexico • He was murdered by a secret agent of Stalin's

36. Stalin’s Plan • Soviet citizens would work not for the individual for the overall good of the working class • He called the economic plan the FIVE-YEAR PLAN. • The government decided the quantity, and price of all products such as tanks, airplanes and tractors. • All private industry is state owned. • He called for construction of massive industrial centersto support military buildup and a strong economy. • Peasants had to give up their small plots of land for state-owned farms- Collectivation

37. Totalitarianism in Russia • Stalin had brought the Soviet Union into a complete totalitarian state • Russians lost their freedoms, could not earn a better life, and lived in fear of the government • Stalinist Russia set the stage for other Totalitarians to rise up and establish complete control over their countries and their people