OCTOBER REVOLUTION OF 1917

The Bolsheviks, communist, lead a revolution and took over Russia. Under Lenin’s rule, the Bolsheviks had 7 decades with one-party Communist rule.

PEACE TREATY SIGNED

Bolsheviks signed peace treaty giving territory to Germany. The treaty led to a civil war in Russia, which was fought by 2 armies. White, men loyal to czar. Red, Lenin’s army.

VICTORY

It was a Boleshevik victory in 1921, where the country was destroyed and worthless. Economy included. Efforts to rebuild the economy were started by Vladimir Lenin.

DEATH

Lenin went through several strokes between 1922 and 1923. He died from his final stroke on January 21,1924. He was very honored in Russia after his death.

NEW DICTATOR

Josef Stalin ruled Russia 4 years after Lenin’s death. Stalin was in complete control of the communist party, the military forces, and the secret police. Stalin was an absolute dictator by the end of 1927.

DRASTIC MEASURES

In the early 1930s he began making huge changes to ensure loyalty. Industrialization was the key factor to preparing the country to survive war. In 1931, Stalin stated that Russia was 50-100 years behind the more advanced nations.

MASSIVE BLOOD BATH

While the 1930s was rapidly developing, everything was eliminated by Ivan The Terrible. Forced labor was usual and unexpected. The difference between free workers and labor camp inmates were easily shown. Fury turned inward against the Communist Party.

TROTSKY

Trotsky was tried and sentenced to death and the sentence was continued when Trotsky was murdered in Mexico in 1940. Then, elder Bolsheviks stomped into courts to confess to crimes that are against the state and resulted in execution. Many revolutionary leaders disappeared during the 1930s.

THE FIVE YEAR PLAN IN FOUR YEARS

In 1930 the Five Year Plan was created increasing industrialization by forty-five percent. The plan was doing great, but agriculture and industry caused government leaders to decide the plan should be completed in four years. It was formally closed and called a success on January 1,1933.

THE DECLARATION OF STALIN

Josef Stalin decided to have a conference with all industrial leaders on June 23. His speech showed the changes that were taking place in Russia’s economy. He used the slogan: “To each according to his needs, from each according to his ability,” meaning all rewards depend on ability and production.

MANUFACTURING

The first 2 years of the Five Year Plan, the leaders produced what’s called “heavy” industries. The Ford automobile was completed, but wasn’t scheduled for large production till April, 1932. Aluminum, steel, and chemical plants were also more dense producers.

AGRICULTURE

Now that the economy is becoming in shape, state farms increased their acreage, and the collective (individual peasant) farms grew so fast that the Communist Party had to shut down for the summer and recruit more areas. It was estimated that sixty per cent of all the peasants had joined the collectives. The percentage was as high as ninety—five per cent in the rich grain regions.