VCE History: Unit 3Opposition to Tsarism: Ideas and Leaders

But first…

Practice: Short-Answer Question

Discuss the significant economic, political and social problems were evident when Nicholas II became tsar in 1894 and how, under his leadership, these problems were exacerbated (worsened) or showed signs of improvement.

Ultranet Space

Ideologies

• An ideology is a set of ideas or beliefs that characterise a particular revolutionary movement. They are used by leaders to explain to the masses their dreams for the future.

IdeologiesWhere does the Tsar sit?

Marx & Engels: The Communist Manifesto

• Karl Marx was born in Germany and the birth of his ‘revolutionary spirit’ can be traced to the French Revolution (1789) where he had worked as a journalist.

• Friedrich Engels was also German, they met in 1844 and began to work with Marx on developing their Communist ideology.

Reading…

‘A spectre is haunting Europe’

All the Powers of old Europe have entered into a holy allianceIt is high time that the Communists should openly, in the face of the whole world,

publish their views, their aims…

The history of all hitherto existing society, is the history of class struggle

Oppressor and oppressed

The modern bourgeois society… has not done away with class antagonisms

Bourgeois and ProletariatWORKING MEN OF ALL COUNTRIES UNITE!

The ideas

• Communism is inevitable, it will rise upon the demise of Capitalism. Capitalists will exploit workers, workers will revolt.

• Industrial workers (the proletariat) are ‘prisoners of state’. In order for them t act they need to see themselves as a ‘class’ and unit to fight the existing structure.

• After the overthrow of capitalism and the abolition of private property there will be a ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ with distribution of wealth controlled by the people.

• A ‘Classless Utopia’ will evolve which would accommodate all people’s abilities and needs.

Debate the assumptions

1) Conflicts are between classes and never within them.2) Human nature and behaviour is always consistent.3) Class loyalty is more important than national loyalty.4) Capitalism is unstable and will worsen then collapse.5) At the demise of capitalism, communism will rise.

Importance of Leadership

• Revolutions are synonymous (associated with) with their leaders.

• Examples are Robespierre (France), Mao (China) and Lenin (Russia).

• In reality leaders had a tenuous (small, unstable) over the outbreak of revolution.

• Typical pattern of leader missing initial revolution (in exile or prison spreading ideas) and being their to take control of the crowds when they return.

Lenin and TrotskyLenin: Ideologist/wrote about theories

Trotsky: brilliant tactician, organised the revolutionaries

Marxism vs Leninism

• Marxism proposed for industrial countries like Germany, France and England rather than the agriculture based Russia.

• Marx and Engels believed it would be a natural progression (Capitalism to Communism) whereas Lenin worked to accelerate the process.

• The Communist Manifesto identified the flaws with the capitalist system. Lenin interpreted and implemented ways to give History ‘a push’.