Chapter 28 Notes

Revolution in Russia

Section 1

Two Revolutions in Russia

The March Revolution

Long-Term Unrest – Czar Nicholas II made poor attempts to reform the government and society through a corrupt bureaucracy and court system – Marxists tried to ignite revolution among the was ripe

proletariat

– – Revolution would occur when time Impact of WWI – Russian casualties mounted quickly for the ill-equipped soldiers – Factory production and transportation were also lacking – The czar assumed military decisions at the front lines Proved very ineffective Left domestic duties to czarina, Alexandra, who was distrusted and knew little about government

The March Revolution

Rasputin – Self-proclaimed “holy man” that was trusted by the royal family – Held powerful influence over Alexandria’s decision making – Group of Russian nobles feared for the monarchy and killed Rasputin on Dec 29, 1916 Collapse of the Monarchy – Defeats on the battlefield, workers on strike, and hunger forced the czar to abdicate his throne – The Duma set up a provisional government Russians were fed up with war Peasants wanted land City workers demanded food – Revolutionaries began to set up

soviets

– Revolutionary group called the

Bolsheviks

, led by

Lenin

, took control –

Lenin and the Bolsheviks

Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov - Born 1870 to middle-class family - Lenin was his revolutionary name - Developed his hatred for the czarist government when his brother was executed for plotting to kill the czar Early Career – Read the works of Karl Marx and participated in student demonstrations – Was arrested for spreading Marxist ideas among factory workers – Upon his release, went into exile in Switzerland and continued to work towards revolution

Lenin and the Bolsheviks

A New View of Marx – Adapted Marxist ideas to fit Russian conditions Instead of the industrial working class spontaneously overthrowing capitalism, Lenin called for an elite group to lead revolution.

Called them Bolsheviks, meaning “majority” (not really the case) – Felt that revolution was the only way to bring about changes Many socialists believed change should be through gradual and moderate reforms Lenin believed this to be a capitalist trick designed to repress the masses Lenin Returns From Exile – Germany actually helped Lenin get back to Russia by allowing him to travel by train through their country; felt it would weaken Russia – Arrived in Petrograd on April 16, 1917 to cheering crowds

The November Revolution

Lenin was assisted by Leon Trotsky Promised “Peace, Land, and Bread” The Bolshevik Takeover – November 1917: Red Guards (armed factory workers) attacked provisional government and overthrew them.

– Bloodless takeover The Bolsheviks in Charge – Moscow became the Bolsheviks’ capital, and the Kremlin their headquarters – Ended private ownership of land a distributed it to peasants – Workers controlled factories and mines – New red flag with entwined hammer and sickle to symbolize union between workers and peasants – Was really a false sense of hope; Communists would soon control everything

Russian Civil War

- Signed Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918; lost chunk of territory and population Opposing Forces – Civil War raged for 3 years Reds: Communists Whites: counterrevolutionaries who remained loyal to the czar – Allied powers tried to help the Whites so that they in turn could help with their war effort – The Reds appealed to nationalism and urged Russians to drive out foreigners – Violent actions were taken by both sides Entire royal family eventually executed

Russian Civil War

War Communism – Took over banks, mines, factories, and railroads; peasants sent surplus food to cities – Peasants drafted into army or factory work – Leon Trotsky turned Red Army into an effective fighting force and turned former czarist officials to communism A Costly Triumph – By 1921, had defeated most foes but Russia was in chaos; millions died in war and starvation – Lenin faced challenges of rebuilding Russia politically and economically

Section 2

From Lenin to Stalin

Building the Communist Soviet Union

- Lenin had to rebuild a country that went through, WWI, two revolutions, and civil war Government – New constitution that was both democratic and socialist Elected legislature, all citizens over 18 right to vote All political power, resources, and means of production belonged to workers and peasants – New government reunited most of the old empire; became known as Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR); in theory, all republics shared equal rights – In reality, Communist party reigned supreme and Russia dominated the other republics Lenin’s NEP – Allowed some capitalist ventures – Stopped squeezing peasants for grain; able to hold onto small plots and sell surplus for profit – Enabled economy to recover but quickly went back to “pure” communism

Building the Communist Soviet Union

Stalin Gains Power – Lenin’s sudden death set off power struggle Leon Trotsky: brilliant Marxist thinker, skillful speaker, architect of Bolshevik Revolution; Lenin’s right hand man Joseph Stalin: “man of steel”; not a scholar but a very shrew politician behind the-scenes operator – By 1920’s Stalin rose to general secretary of the party Use position to build a loyal group of Communist officials who owed their jobs to him – Trotsky and Stalin jockeyed for position Trotsky: urged support for worldwide revolution against capitalism Stalin: wanted to concentrate on building socialism at home first; by putting his buddies in top jobs, he isolated Trotsky from the party – Trotsky was stripped of party membership and exiled to Mexico; later murdered by Stalinist agent

Stalin’s 5-Year Plans

Aimed at building heavy industry, improving transportation, and increasing farm output

Command economy -

Mixed Industrial Results – Set high production goals If workers and mangers failed to make quotas they were punished; rewarded if they made them Oil, steel, and coal production grew – Despite progress overall, most people’s standards of living remained very poor Wages stayed low, consumer goods scarce – Turned out low-quality goods

Stalin’s 5-Year Plans

Revolution in Agriculture – Stalin forced peasants to give up their private plots and live on either state-owned farms or

collectives

– – Were able to keep houses and personal belongings, but had to give up animals and equipment – Government was supposed to take care of everything they needed A Ruthless Policy – Peasants resisted collectivization by killing the animals, destroying tools, and burning crops – Stalin responded with brutal force and sought to destroy the

kulaks

– – Between the burning of crops and only growing enough to feed themselves, famine swept Russia; millions died

The Great Purge

Stalin obsessed over fears that rival party leaders were plotting against him – Secret police cracked down on Old Bolsheviks – Later included army heroes, industrial managers, writers, ordinary citizens “Show Trials” – Former Communist leaders confessed to all kinds of crimes after officials tortured them or threatened their families or friends – Over 4 million were purged; executed or sent to labor camps Replaced old revolutionaries with young party members whose loyalty was with him – Victims of the purges included many of the best military officers – This lack of military leadership were hurt with the onset of WWII

Three Revolutions Compared

American Revolution – The least radical – Did not order mass executions or seize property – Dec. of Ind. And US Const. serve as model for democracy French Revolution – Executed thousands and nationalized the lands of the Church and the aristocracy – Inspired revolts across Europe Russian Revolution – Seized even the land of the peasant masses – Caused millions of deaths – Supported revolts in many lands and became the model for communist government Worldwide Impact – Russia and most of its allies have abandoned goals of Lenin and Stalin – Democratic nations continue to build on the principles brought by American and French revolutions

Section 3

Life in a Totalitarian State

The Age of Totalitarian Control

-

Totalitarian State

Terror – Secret police, censorship, violent purges, and terror used to ensure obedience to the state Propaganda – Used modern technology to bombard the public – Radio, movies, newsreels and newspapers, billboards and posters – Revived extreme nationalism War on Religion –

Atheism

especially became an official state policy – Persecuted Russian Orthodox and Jews – Replaced religious icons and texts with writings of Lenin and Marx; Lenin’s tomb became a shrine; pictures of Stalin in people’s homes

Changes in Soviet Society

The New Elite – Very small group of people; industrial managers, military leaders, scientists, etc.

Social Benefits and Drawbacks – Free education for all, free medical care, day care, inexpensive housing, public recreation – Standard of living remained poor Education – Educated workers needed to build modern industrial state – Taught communist values of atheism, glory of collective farming, and love of Stalin – Trained for party membership Women – Able to have education and equal opportunity for important jobs – Contributed to the economic growth of USSR

The Arts and the State Socialist Realism

– Goal was to was to boost socialism by showing Soviet life in a positive light; had to promote hope in the communist future – Popular themes were peasants, workers, heroes of the revolution, and Stalin

Censorship

– Government controlled what books were published, what music was heard, and which works of art were displayed