Rise of the Czarsand the

Russian Revolution

Chapter 14 : Section 2

What is Propaganda? Propaganda is the systematic spreading of ideas or

beliefs. One of the difficulties with propaganda is that the user

usually sprinkles some truth within the framework.

Questions Is propaganda good or bad? Are you aware of propaganda? What is leadership? Who are our leaders and how are they

chosen? Is it possible to be both a leader and a

follower?

Denotation and Connotation The denotation and connotation of words

becomes very important. For example…

One person may be described as assertive if the speaker desires to paint that person in a positive manner.

The same person takes on a subtle but important difference when described as aggressive.

Politics and Philosophy People are governed by a system of beliefs that are known as political

philosophy.

Democracy – a government formed to represent the people directly or through elected representatives

Constitutional Monarchy – a government whose head of state is a monarch. The governmental policies are spelled out in a

written constitution.

Dictatorship – a government whose leader has absolute authority over all things in the government and under its

control.

Totalitarian State – a government whose leader or political party has absolute control over all aspects of its citizens’ lives. Opposing ideas are not welcomed.

The Czars The Romanov Dynasty begins in 1613 and

ends with the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. Czars (like emperors) have total control

over the government.

Czars cont. Ivan III (Ivan the Great)

Drove the Mongols out Made Muscovy independent

Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) Used Secret Police (Cheka) to control people

Czars cont. Peter the First (Peter the Great)

Undertook extensive reforms; made Russia more like Europe

Russia became a great European nation Built a new capital = St. Petersburg

Catherine the Great Second wife of Peter Pushed the borders south and west

1800s Napoleon Bonaparte

Invades Russia Cold winter favors the Russians

Czar Alexander II (aka the Czar-Liberator) Freed the serfs Began to industrialize

A change in economy to rely more on manufacturing and less on farming.

1900s - The Russian Revolution Vladimir Lenin (later known as Lenin) was a

key figure in European history. He led the Bolsheviks (which later became

known as communists) to overthrow the Russian Tsar, and brought socialism to Russia.

He introduced Communism to Russia. Lenin’s impact on Europe and Russia consisted

of him applying Marxist ideas, which later led to complete Communism, and a threat to Europe and the rest of world.

Pre - 1917 Prior to 1917, Lenin

introduced Marxist ideas to Russia. He told the people, for

example, that the workers should control the means of production and that society in general should be for the working class, not the bourgeois.

There was growing dissatisfaction in Russia with the royal family (Czar Nicholas Romanov) Russia was dragged into

war Czar Nicholas proves to

be an incompetent ruler

1917 The Russian Revolution begins out of protests

against war and poverty, and it ends with the abdication (resignation) of Czar Nicholas

October Revolution Lenin leads Bolshevik troops to the Government

headquarters at the Winter Palace – brings the soviets to power

Communists seize control of the government Checka – secret police – become official

Operate in secrecy; often used to maintain the political power of the state rather than uphold the rule of law (Czar Nicholas and his family were murdered by secret police).

1917-1923 Start of religious persecution in Russia

USSR is formally established (federation of Russian states united under the communist system)

Joseph Stalin = Secretary-General

1923 Stalin’s brutality becomes apparent

As Secretary-General, he was in a powerful position in the communist hierarchy.

His ability to make appointments to other positions of power gains him many important allies (ie: Lenin).

1924 Death of Lenin

Lenin’s body mummified and put on public display

Beginning of the struggle between Stalin and Trotsky (they duel for power) Leon Trotsky = head of the Red Army

(essentially Lenin’s right-hand-man) Stalin becomes Lenin’s successor

1929 Trotsky deported

Deported to Turkey because he opposed Stalin

Start of Industrialization Stalin enacts the first Five-Year Plan for rapid

industrialization of the Soviet Union He told his “comrades” to work harder than they

ever have, so that Soviet Russia could prosper as a beacon of hope to workers everywhere

1929 - 1932 Five-Year plan begins to fail Failure of cooperative farms

Farmers give crops to government Peasants burn the crops

Communists begin to abuse their power Stalin orders the persecution of "kulaks"

(capitalist farmers). 15 million peasants are deported to the Arctic

regions and 6.5 million die

1932 Starvation of millions of people who did not

want to work for Stalin One million people in Kazakhstan and five million

people in Ukraine die of famine (farm production lags as industry expands).

1933 The United States and other countries

recognize the USSR Soviet Russia is a formidable world power by the

end of Stalin’s second proposed Five Year Plan

1934 The Great Purge; loyal citizens are

removed when they are no longer useful Stalin's main advisor, Sergei Kirov, is

assassinated, prompting Stalin to begin the "great purge" of the Communist Party (thousands of communists are deported to “Gulags”)

Cheka formed Start of the Soviet labor camps (Gulags)

1936

“Show Trials” of Stalin’s opponents Forced confessions were followed by quick trials

and executions or imprisonment Between 2-7 million people suspected of

opposition to Stalin are executed; others were sentenced to years of hard labor in the Gulags

1939 Non-aggression pact between Germany

and Russia Secret agreement between Stalin and Hitler; pact

guaranteed that neither country would oppose or attack the other

World War II begins with the invasion of Poland by Germany

1941

German invasion of Russia “Operation Barbarossa” – Hitler’s troops attack

the Soviet Union in defiance of the Non-Aggression Treaty

1941 - 1945 Germans penetrate deeply into the Soviet

Union and devastate the country

Russians drive Germans out of the Soviet Union after launching a counter offence Soviet Union enters Berlin and Germany

surrenders

1945 Treaty to divide Germany

Germany and Berlin are divided in four sectors, soon to be come "western" and "eastern" (Russian) sectors

World War II in Europe ends

Post 1945 Five-Year plans focused on heavy industry to

the exclusion of consumer goods Propaganda figures concerning the success of

the Five-Year plans released to the public Religious tolerance begins The Allies have a falling out at the end of World

War II. Start of the Cold War