The Soviet Era

KARL MARX

The Russian Revolution On what came to be known as “Bloody Sunday”,

1905-Nicholas II fires on protesters sparking revolution

In March of 1917-Nicholas II is forced to abdicate the throne.

A temporary provisional government was set up as a democracy under Alexander Kerensky

The Soviets (or councils) will rule Russia Lenin promises Peace, Land and Bread Kerensky continues WWI effort and not reform Peasants demand land, city dwellers want end to

shortages Lenin’s goal: Proletariat to overthrow capitalism

BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION• 1917 Red Guard (armed factory workers) &

sailors attack & overthrow provisional gov.• Lenin proclaims a Socialist State• Private land is confiscated & given to peasants• Workers given control of mines and factories• New Flag: Hammer & Sickle –union of workers and

peasants• Bolsheviks will be renamed communists • Withdraws from WWI

CIVIL WAR Civil War between “REDS” (Communiusts) and

Whites (counterrevolutionaries) made up of tsarist imperial officers

Allies support Whites to overthrow Communists in hope of their support in WWI against Germany

Reds appeal to nationalism & urge Russians to throw out foreigners

Allied invasion fed Communist distrust of West 1918 Czar Nicholas II & family shot Red Army (Communists) won & control Russia

How did two revolutions and a civil war bring about Communist control of Russia?

Using your text, class notes explain the following essay. Be sure to include facts and examples to support your essay.

WAR COMMUNISM Communists use terror to control people Cheka-Secret police executed those against the

revolution –instituted forced labor camps War Communism

Lands, banks, mines, factories and railroads taken over

Peasants forced to give crops to feed army 7 city people

Peasants forced into military & factories Lenin unites old Russian Empire into Soviet

Union (USSR) & rebuilds

LENIN BUILDS THE SOVIET UNION Constitution both democratic

and socialist Elected legislature 18 & older can vote Means of production &

resources, political power belong to workers & peasants

Reality-Communist party reigned supreme

Lenin’s economic policies fail Mine output drops, peasants

stop producing grain

LENIN’S NEW ECONOMIC POLICY Lenin institutes NEP Allows some capitalism Small businesses allowed State controls banks, trade, &

large businesses Gov. stops taking grains from

peasants-they sell for profit This helps economy recover Ends armed resistance to new gov. Food & industrial production

grow

LENIN’S DEATH Lenin’s death brings power struggle among

communists Trotsky – Marxist-Bolshevik Revolution-favors

worldwide revolution against capitalism Stalin – Focus on socialism in USSR Trotsky flees USSR Stalin had him killed in Mexico Stalin becomes dictator of Soviet Union & turns

it into a totalitarian state

Joseph Stalin/Man of Steel

STALIN’S FIVE-YEAR PLANS Does away with Lenin’s NEP Takes complete control of economy 1st Five Year Plan- Focus: building heavy industry,

improving transportation, increasing farm output Gov. owns all businesses and resources Command Economy-Gov. officials make all economic

decisions – put quotas into effect Standard of living remains low, shortage of consumer

products – clothes, cars household items Large quotas force production of inferior products Forces Collectivation-large government run by peasants Kulaks-(wealthy farmers)resist – Stalin does away with

the class – Brings on Terror Famine

STALIN’S MEANS OF CONTROL Used terror against his people Gulag-brutal labor camps Great Purge –Stalin does away

with all who he fears are working against him

Many talented people killed-many military leaders (80%), scientists, economists, engineers

Works against him in WWII Tries to lift morale with

propaganda Russification- forced Russian

Culture on all

The Big Three-Churchill, Roosevelt & Stalin

Nikita Khrushchev

The Cuban Missile Crisis

Lenin Stalin Khrushchev

John F. Kennedy

Mikhail Gorbachev: Last President of the USSR