The Russian Revolution pt II Lecture From Lenin to Stalin Lecture Notes

The Russian Civil War After Lenin seized control of Russia in October 1918, the country fell into a 3 year Civil War –White Army –loyalists to the Czar –Red Army –Communists workers and soldiers In the onslaught of the Red Army, Kerensky helped Nicholas II and his family to escape the Red Terror The Red Army soon found them in a basement and executed Nicholas and his entire family

The Russian Civil The war claimed 15 million Russian lives during the fighting Most of the Russian economy had been completely destroyed ie factories, bridges, roads, and farms In the end, the Lenin and the Bolsheviks had beaten back the Whites and formally declared Russia a Communist State

Russia after the Revolution A new Constitution for a "democratic" socialist country with an Elected Legislature and all citizens had the right to vote United all Russian Republics under one Union of the Soviet Socialist Republic In reality the Communist party remained supreme, used secret police and held most of the power

Lenin's Policies Lenin needed to rebuild the economy and industry after the Civil War Created New Economic Plan (NEP) Small business could remain in private ownership for profit; some capitalism The state controlled banks, trade and large industries The Russian Economy slowly gained strength again

The Death of Lenin The years of revolution and civil war had severe effects on Lenin’s health After 2 strokes and an assassination attempt, Lenin resigned from active politics in In March 1923, he suffered a 3 rd stroke and was no longer able to speak He died in January 1924 at the age of 53

Stalin's Rise to Power Lenin preferred Leon Trotsky as a successor Lenin believed Stalin was too powerful and not tolerant enough Trotsky was a scholar and leader of the Communist Revolution Stalin was a politician in the Communist party that had amassed great power through organizing his loyal group of followers.

Stalin's Rise to Power Stalin was from the peasant class so he had a lot of support from the Russian people. Stalin pressured Trotsky out of the Communist Party Trotsky left the USSR in 1929 and fled to Mexico He was murdered by a secret agent of Stalin's

Stalin’s Plan Soviet citizens would work not for the individual for the overall good of the working class He called the economic plan the FIVE-YEAR PLAN. –The government decided the quantity, and price of all products such as tanks, airplanes and tractors. All private industry is state owned. He called for construction of massive industrial centers to support military buildup and a strong economy. Peasants had to give up their small plots of land for state- owned farms- Collectivation

Totalitarianism in Russia Stalin had brought the Soviet Union into a complete totalitarian state Russians lost their freedoms, could not earn a better life, and lived in fear of the government Stalinist Russia set the stage for other Totalitarians to rise up and establish complete control over their countries and their people