Russian Revolution

The March Revolution  The Czar was very inefficient in ruling the country.  Riots broke out among the proletariat.  Pride from the was went away very fast due to lack of supplies and resources.  Funding the war efforts sent the nation into widespread debt.

 Self proclaimed holy man Gregory Rasputin was an advisor to the queen.  Government lost faith in Rasputin and killed him on December 29,  Czar stepped down from power and government was broken into two factions.  V.I. Lenin led the Bolsheviks and took over the soviets.

Lenin and the Bolsheviks  Turned into a radical when his brother was hanged for plotting to kill the czar.  Studied the works of Karl Marx and sent away to Siberia plenty of times.  Believed that true revolution would bring the change that was needed.

The November Revolution  Lenin promised “Peace, Love, and Bread”  Red Guards working with Lenin to help overthrow the provisional government.  With new power over the government, Lenin moved the capitol over to Moscow.  Communist would be come the name of Lenin’s group.

Russian Civil War  March Lenin looked for peace against Germany and let go of land.  Two sides of the Civil war. Reds=Communist, Whites= Counterrevolutionaries.  U.S supported the Whites to help contain communism.  Russia bought into wartime communism, protecting its land from the U.S.

 Civil war tore the country apart and millions died in the two major wars.  Most Russians were waiting in their houses to die due to famine and poverty.

Building the Communist Soviet Union  Supreme Soviet- Elected legislature gave all citizens over 18 the right to vote.  Soviet Union- Multinational state made up of Europe and Asian populations.  New Economic Policy- Lenin allowed some capitalist ventures for the people.  Economy production rose in this system.

 Joseph Stalin-Studied to be a preacher and was punished regularly for reading about revolution.  He became the General Secretary for the Communist Party.  Stalin put his own people in power when Lenin died and secured the communist party.

Stalin’s Five- Year Plans  Stalin developed a command economy- government makes all economic decisions.  Stalin put a goal on major production, gave rewards when met and punishment when not.  Agriculture- Stalin made peasants give up their lands and operate as groups.  People tried to resist but were met with harsh punishment.

The Great Purge  Stalin’s secret police were sent to arrest old Bolsheviks and war heros.  Up to 4 million people were purge of crimes of the years of Stalin.  Stalin was able to replace leadership positions with people that were loyal to him.  Would take punishment in 1941 in WW2.

Soviet Foreign Policy  Comintern- Aided revolutionary groups around the world and urged people to rise up against imperialist.  Soviet Union also sought to join the United Nations to improve relations with other governments.

An Age of Totalitarian Control  One party dictatorship attempts to regulate every aspect of the lives of citizens.  Secret police was used to keep strict control over the people of Russia.  Used propaganda to praise communism and paint capitalism in a negative light.  Under Stalin, atheism was the official form of religion, attacking the Russian Orthodox Church.

Changes in Soviet Society  People of the Communist party were the heads of society.  Free education, free healthcare, day care for children, inexpensive housing, and public recreation.  Housing was scarce, food was on short supply.  Education taught communist values, atheism, collective farming, and love for Stalin.

 Under Communism, Women won equality under the law.  Government provided nurseries for children so the women would work.

The Arts and the State  Artist were to paint socialism by showing Soviet life in positive light.  Peasants, workers, heroes of the revolution and Stalin.  Government controlled what books were published, what music was heard, and which works of art were displayed.  Many people could not publish works because of guidelines.

Looking Ahead  Stalin died in 1953, leaving behind a superpower in industrial powers.  Most people of the Soviet Union lived meager lives based on terror.