Russian RevolutionRussian Revolution

1917-19391917-1939

Causes for March 1917 RevolutionCauses for March 1917 Revolution

Czars had reformed too littleCzars had reformed too little Peasants extremely poorPeasants extremely poor Revolutionaries hatched radical plansRevolutionaries hatched radical plans WWI DisasterWWI Disaster Rasputin’s role in government weakened Rasputin’s role in government weakened

respect for itrespect for it

Czar Nicholas IICzar Nicholas II

Russian PeasantsRussian Peasants

RasputinRasputin

Ingredients there for a November Ingredients there for a November RevolutionRevolution

Lenin adapted Marxist Ideas for RussiaLenin adapted Marxist Ideas for Russia Called for an elite group to rise up and create a dictatorship of Called for an elite group to rise up and create a dictatorship of

the proletariat the proletariat Conditions were at hand for Lenin and Bolsheviks to Conditions were at hand for Lenin and Bolsheviks to

make their movemake their move Provisional Govt. still in war, Problems with land reformProvisional Govt. still in war, Problems with land reform Summer 1917 launched a terrible offensive against Summer 1917 launched a terrible offensive against

GermanyGermany The army was in terrible shape and growing number of The army was in terrible shape and growing number of

troops mutiniedtroops mutinied Peasants seized land and drove off landlordsPeasants seized land and drove off landlords

Karl MarxKarl Marx

Vladimir Lenin (2004 photo)Vladimir Lenin (2004 photo)

Bolsheviks?Bolsheviks?

Russian Civil WarRussian Civil War How did Communists quickly defeat their How did Communists quickly defeat their

enemies?enemies? Lenin quickly made peace with GermanyLenin quickly made peace with Germany

• Could focus all of energy on defeating enemies at homeCould focus all of energy on defeating enemies at home War CommunismWar Communism

• Policy in which the communists took control of the banks, Policy in which the communists took control of the banks, mines, factories and railroads. Also took control of food made mines, factories and railroads. Also took control of food made by peasants and either drafted them into the military or by peasants and either drafted them into the military or factory work.factory work.

Trotsky turned the Red Army into a great fighting Trotsky turned the Red Army into a great fighting forceforce

When allies intervened to support Whites, the When allies intervened to support Whites, the Communists used nationalism as a driving force to Communists used nationalism as a driving force to fight off the foreigners fight off the foreigners

Treaty of Brest-LitovskTreaty of Brest-Litovsk

Wrong Red ArmyWrong Red Army

TrotskyTrotsky

Timeline of RevolutionTimeline of Revolution

19141914 WWI BeginsWWI Begins

19171917 March- Revolution forces Czar to Abdicate, March- Revolution forces Czar to Abdicate,

Provisional Govt. takes overProvisional Govt. takes over April- Lenin returns to RussiaApril- Lenin returns to Russia July- Russia suffers more than 50,000 in casualties in July- Russia suffers more than 50,000 in casualties in

one battleone battle November- A second revolution takes place and November- A second revolution takes place and

results in the Bolsheviks taking powerresults in the Bolsheviks taking power December- Bolsheviks seek peace with GermanyDecember- Bolsheviks seek peace with Germany

Lenin 1917Lenin 1917

Bolshevik RevolutionBolshevik Revolution

Timeline of RevolutionTimeline of Revolution

19181918 March- Russia signs the treaty of Brest-Litovsk, March- Russia signs the treaty of Brest-Litovsk,

ending the war, but losing a lot of territoryending the war, but losing a lot of territory July- Civil war breaks out between the Reds and the July- Civil war breaks out between the Reds and the

Whites, The Czar and his family are executedWhites, The Czar and his family are executed August- American, British, Japanese among others August- American, British, Japanese among others

intervene in Russiaintervene in Russia

19211921 March- Communist government is victorious and only March- Communist government is victorious and only

sporadic fighting continuessporadic fighting continues

Brest-LitovskBrest-Litovsk

Czar and his FamilyCzar and his Family

Communist State under LeninCommunist State under Lenin New Communist ConstitutionNew Communist Constitution

Set up elected legislature called the Supreme SovietSet up elected legislature called the Supreme Soviet Gave all citizens over 18 the right to voteGave all citizens over 18 the right to vote Placed all political power, resources, and means of Placed all political power, resources, and means of

production in the hands of the peasants and workersproduction in the hands of the peasants and workers The new government united much of the old The new government united much of the old

Russian empire to form the Soviet Union or Russian empire to form the Soviet Union or U.S.S.R. (The Union of Soviet Socialist U.S.S.R. (The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)Republics)

Lenin set up the NEP or New Economic PolicyLenin set up the NEP or New Economic Policy Allowed some capitalist ventures (small business)Allowed some capitalist ventures (small business) State controlled everything elseState controlled everything else

Soviet Union 1917-1938Soviet Union 1917-1938

Stalin’s Five Year PlansStalin’s Five Year Plans Stalin took over after Lenin’s DeathStalin took over after Lenin’s Death He put into place his Five year plans, aimed at He put into place his Five year plans, aimed at

making USSR into a industrial powermaking USSR into a industrial power Stalin brought all industry under govt. control Stalin brought all industry under govt. control

developing a command economydeveloping a command economy Stalin also brought all agriculture under Stalin also brought all agriculture under

government control forcing all peasants to give government control forcing all peasants to give their land into a state run farm or collectives their land into a state run farm or collectives (which were large farms run by peasants)(which were large farms run by peasants)

Overall standard of living remained poor, wages Overall standard of living remained poor, wages were low and consumer goods were scarce.were low and consumer goods were scarce.

Propaganda Poster for Five Year Propaganda Poster for Five Year PlansPlans

The Great PurgeThe Great Purge

Stalin always had great fear that rival party Stalin always had great fear that rival party leaders were plotting against himleaders were plotting against him

The Great PurgeThe Great Purge Launched in 1934Launched in 1934 At least 4 million people purgedAt least 4 million people purged Increased Stalin’s powerIncreased Stalin’s power Most of military leadership purgedMost of military leadership purged Weakened military (WWII right around the Weakened military (WWII right around the

corner)corner)

A prisoner about to be executed A prisoner about to be executed during the Great Purgeduring the Great Purge

Soviet Foreign PolicySoviet Foreign Policy

1917-1939 two very different goals pursued in 1917-1939 two very different goals pursued in foreign policyforeign policy As communists Lenin and Stalin wanted to bring As communists Lenin and Stalin wanted to bring

about the worldwide revolution that Marx had about the worldwide revolution that Marx had envisionedenvisioned

• Lenin formed the Communist International of Comintern, Lenin formed the Communist International of Comintern, which helped revolutionary groups around the worldwhich helped revolutionary groups around the world

Their propaganda made other nations highly suspicious of the Their propaganda made other nations highly suspicious of the Soviet UnionSoviet Union

They wanted to win the support of other nations, so They wanted to win the support of other nations, so they tried to join the League of Nationsthey tried to join the League of Nations

World Wide PropagandaWorld Wide Propaganda

CominternComintern

Life under TotalitarianismLife under Totalitarianism

Stalin ran the Soviet Union like a Stalin ran the Soviet Union like a Totalitarian stateTotalitarian state Single party dictatorship attempts to control Single party dictatorship attempts to control

every aspect of people’s livesevery aspect of people’s lives Stalin used:Stalin used:

Secret Police, Censorship, Purges, TerrorSecret Police, Censorship, Purges, Terror Replaced Religion with their own ideologyReplaced Religion with their own ideology Used relentless propagandaUsed relentless propaganda

Novel about life in a Stalin prison Novel about life in a Stalin prison campcamp

Changes in Soviet SocietyChanges in Soviet Society

Few elite groups emerged as the ruling Few elite groups emerged as the ruling classclass

Granted free education, day care, health Granted free education, day care, health care, inexpensive housing and public care, inexpensive housing and public recreationrecreation

Women were granted equality under the Women were granted equality under the lawlaw

Equality in Soviet UnionEquality in Soviet Union

ArtsArts

Stalin forced artists to use Socialist Stalin forced artists to use Socialist RealismRealism It focused on showing Socialism in a positive It focused on showing Socialism in a positive

lightlight The govt. controlled what books were The govt. controlled what books were

published, works displayed and music published, works displayed and music listened tolistened to

Writers, Musicians and Artists faced public Writers, Musicians and Artists faced public persecutionpersecution

CensorshipCensorship