Chapter 15 - Russian Revolution

1. Chapter 15 - Russian Revolution Two Revolutions From Lenin to Stalin Life in a Totalitarian State

2. Maps – South America (p730) RequiredExtra Credit ArgentinaBelize Brazil Bolivia ChileCosta Rico ColombiaEl Salvador Ecuador Guyana Guatemala Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Uruguay Venezuela

4. Russian Revolution • CONDITIONS: • Long-Term Unrest • Rich vs. Poor (bourgeoisie & proletariat) • Royal families lived LAVISH lifestyles while the poor starved • Weak Leadership – Nicholas II • Move from Autocracy towards some democratic monarchy • Lost control of the Duma • Revolutionaries press for change – radical plots • Socialists press for change – government not helping the people • World War I Impact • Poor leadership and massive death toll stretches Russia’s resources • Millions die in war far away (nothing in it for the Russian people) • Russian generals are using old tactics to fight new type of war • Czar Nicholas II to front backfires • Things get worse under the Czar’s leadership

5. The Fall of the Czar • AT SAME TIME AS CZAR WAS LOSING CONTROL IN RUSSIAAND AT THE WAR FRONT. . . • Rasputin • A mystical leader with an unusual ability to put people under “his spell” –quickly the royals were following him • Czarina Alexandra under Rasputin’s control when he was able to help her son czarivich Alexei • Loyal followers fear Rasputin’s control over the Czar – plot his assassination • Several attempts failed before he was finally killed • Collapse of Monarchy • WWI disasters, food/fuel shortages bring unrest • Monarchy falls under pressure from both sides • Czar and his family are taken by the Communist rebels • Czar is forced to abdicate his throne • Held for 14 months before the royal family is killed

6. The November Revolution • Bolshevik Takeover • Lenin returns to Russia to lead the revolt (assisted by Trotsky & Stalin) • WWI going BADLY, mutiny and desertion common • Peasants seized lands and drove landlord (royals) off their lands • The “Red Guard” (armed workers) turned against Provisional government • When the government fell, the communists (Reds) and democrats (Whites) fought for control • Bolsheviks in Charge • Bolsheviks took control in city after city • They took the Kremlin in Moscow and seized control of Russia • Declared a communist state – ended private ownership of land, gave it to peasants. Workers given control of factories and mines • Made peace with Germany – Russia was now out of WWI

7. The Russian Civil War • Opposing Forces • For 3 years, a civil war between the Red Russians and White Russians • Allies supported the White Russians, hoping for democracy by sending troops • Reds appealed to ‘nationalism’ and the foreign troops were driven out • Both sides brutal to the other (thousands of prisoners of war killed) • War Communism • Communists took over banks, mines, factories, and railroads (for war effort) • Peasants forced to give food to cities, serve in military or work in factories • Army used to fight the White Russians and to control the people • Commisars used military to teach party principles (communism) • A Costly Triumph • By 1921, Communists defeated all foes, but Russia was in chaos • Millions had died in war, famine, flu epidemic • Lenin had triumphed, but the work ahead of him was going to be rough

8. Russian Revolution • Lenin and the Bolsheviks • Adopted into a troubled family, Lenin’s family was branded as trouble when his ‘brother’ was executed for plotting to kill the Czar • Lenin hated the Czarist government because of it • Worked to convince workers to revolt against the Czarist government • After he was arrested and sent to Siberia, Lenin left Russia • Marxism • He continued to work for revolution to Marx’s view of communism • Adapted Karl Marx’s Communism to Russian conditions • “Bolsheviks” (ruling elite) would lead the revolution over capitalism • “Peace, Land, Bread” became rally cry • November Revolution • 6 month civil war between “Red” Russians and “White” Russians • Bolsheviks quickly seized power, took control of everything • “Commissars” taught party principles and ensured party loyalty

9. Building the Communist Soviet Union • Government (constitution a mixture of communism and democracy) • USSR – united much of old Russian empire (multinational state) • All shared certain equal rights (in theory) • Reality was the Communist party held ALL the power • Party used the military and secret police to enforce its will • Russia dominated over the other ‘states’ of the USSR • Lenin’s NEP (new economic policy) • Economy under “war communism” was near collapse • The state kept control of most of the economy with a few areas of capitalism • Economy would recover (due to ability to profit) but change was temporary • Stalin gains power • Lenin died in 1924 – struggle for power between Trotsky and Stalin • Trotsky, a shroud politician, was the best qualified to take over • Stalin, the enforcer, used his position and loyal followers to become the leader

10. Stalin gains power • Lenin expressed fears of what Stalin would do to his country • Trotsky a true believer in worldwide revolution and communism • Stalin wanted to concentrate on building a strong socialist country in the USSR • Stalin able to gain control by placing his loyal followers in top party jobs • Trotsky isolated and thrown out of the Communist party • He fled but continued to criticize Stalin • In 1940 – Trotsky was murdered in Mexico by an agent sent by Joseph Stalin

11. Stalin’s 5 Year Plans • Stalin set out to make the USSR a modern industrial power • 1928 – Introduced a series of 5 year plans to modernize • All economic activity was put under government control (command economy) • Mixed Results • ++ Production goals set high – government pushed workers (reward those who did meet goals, punishing those who did not) • ++ For next 10 years, industry built up (dams, transportation, factories, mining, etc) • -- The country advanced, but life for the peasants was just as bad a before • -- Central planning led to shortages of food, fuel • -- Managers, pushing to meet goals, had not concerns for quality • Revolution in Agriculture • NEP put agriculture under government control • Peasants given small plots of lands (inefficient, did not meet goals, threat to central power) • COLLECTIVES created (large farms operated by peasants), controlled by government • Seed, farm machinery, labor controlled. Food needed for city workers • A Ruthless Policy • Peasants resisted, killed thousands of farm animals, destroyed tools, burnt crops • Stalin decided to destroy the KULAKS (wealthy peasants) – took lands, sent to labor camps – overworked till death • Peasants only grew enough to feed themselves. Government seized all food. Millions will starve to death • Collectivization increased control but did not increase yeild

12. Stalin’s USSR • Stalin’s Great Purge • Stalin’s power absolute (he feared rival leaders plotted against him) • Secret police used to crack down on ANY opposition (in & out of party) • Old army heroes, managers, writers, ordinary citizens targeted • Crack down on those he saw as a threat (execution or Siberia) • Show trials held to force “confessions” from most noted • Most were not tried, but were sent to “labor camps” in Siberia • More than 4 million “purged” during this era • Stalin’s power increased, those left owed him loyalty to survive • All Soviet citizens knew the price of “disloyalty” • Many military leaders part of the purges – would really hurt USSR in WWII

13. Soviet Foreign Policy • 2 goals pursued by Stalin’s USSR • Worldwide Revolution – spread communism to other nations • COMITERN – created to aid revolutionary groups in other nations • Propaganda against western powers used to convince their citizens and other nations that communism was the way to go • Western nations highly suspicious – “RED SCARE” • US broke off relations in 1917, support counter revolutionaries • GB broke off relations in 1920’s when proof shown that USSR was supporting a revolutionary group in England • Secure National Security • Build up a huge military • Allied with nations to build support

14. Three Revolutions Compared • US, French and Russian revolutions occurred within 150 years • US least radical • No mass executions or seizing of property • French • Thousands executed, lands and Church nationalized • Wealthy class striped of their riches • Russian • Stalin seized all land • His policies cost the lives of millions • All three had worldwide influence • US –models of democracy (Declaration of Independence & Constitution) • Many nations continue to build on democracy or are moving towards it as a form of government • French – inspired revolutions throughout Europe • Russia – model of communism, supported revolutions • Most have rejected Lenin/Stalin & communism

15. Stalin’s USSR • Totalitarian Control • Terror • To ensure obedience, Stalin used secret police, purges, censorship and terror • Nothing appeared in print without government approval • Critics were rounded up and sent to labor camps where many died • Propaganda • Technology allowed government to bombard public with communist successes and the evils of capitalism • Newsreels showed huge crops, great successes of Soviet industry & military • They also showed the horrid conditions of workers in capitalist nations • Extreme nationalism exalted. “PRAVDA” (the truth) linked enemies to anti-communist activities • 14 year old boy hailed as a national hero for turning in his father

16. Stalin’s USSR • War in Religion • Atheism the official stance of the Communist party • Russian Orthodox Church, Jews targeted (leaders killed, churches destroyed) • One show trial charged 15 Catholic priests with “counterrevolutionary activities” • Communist ideology replaced religion for all good soviet families • Portraits of Stalin and Lenin were found in almost every household (replacing religious icons)

17. Changes in Soviet Society • The New Elite • Communist Party officials became elite • Industrial leaders, military leaders, scientists became elite • Elite enjoyed benefits denied to the rest of the population • Houses, vacations, shop at stores with plentiful supplies • Social Benefits and Drawbacks • Free education, free medical care, free child care, inexpensive housing • Bread was plentiful (most other foods in short supply) • Education • All children required to attend state schools • Schools created workers for industrial state • Taught Communist principles, the glory of collective farming, the love of Stalin • Women • Women worked for the revolution/party spreading communist principles • Women won equality under the law (jobs, education) • Women played a key role in the building of the Soviet Union

18. The Arts and the State • The Arts used to “serve politics” • Socialist Realism • Under Stalin, the state forced artists and writers to conform to a style called “Socialist Realism” • It showed Soviet life in a positive form • Promoted hope in a communist future • Popular themes were peasants working hard for the love of country and Stalin • Censorship • Government controlled what was printed, heard, displayed • Artists who ignored lost jobs and maybe sent away • Many chose not to publish their works under Stalin • Great works were created despite censorship

19. Looking forward • In 1953, Joseph Stalin died • The Soviet Union was a world super power, both industrially and militarily • Stalin’s efforts to reach this goal had brutal results • USSR a one party state under tyrannical control of Stalin • People lived in fear of the totalitarian regime • People lived in poverty (equally) • Germany and Italy will also develop brutal one-party states prior to World War II • They will also impose dictatorial rule on their people

20. Essays • What is communism? What conditions in Russia led Lenin to push for a revolution and to set up a communist country? • How was Stalin’s rule different from that of Lenin? Give specific examples • Explain what “TOTALITARIAN RULE” is and how it was used by Stalin to increase his power and the power of the USSR