The Russian Communist Revolution 1917

transcript

CommunismCommunism

Soviet Empire and Socialist RealismSoviet Empire and Socialist Realism

REASONS FOR REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA

Czar’s government used fear and terror

Weak Leadership of Czar Nicholas II

Russia was an autocracy!The Czar had

complete power

Huge difference between social classes

(4/5 of population were peasants)

Czar’s wife under influence of Rasputin

Agitation from intelligentsia, socialists, communists

And anarchists

Defeat in Russo-Japanese War (1905)

Czar kept dismissing the Duma

Bloody Sunday Massacre (1905)

Russia’s Involvement in World War I1. Defeated by German army – many Russians captured or killed2. Russian army had outdated and limited weapons3. Railway network was poor – limited transport of food and supplies4. Czar took command of army – He was directly to blame!

Lenin, age 17 Lenin, age 17 Lenin, age 25 Lenin, age 25

1905: Bloody Sunday1905: Bloody Sunday

Lenin preached the ideals of Marx: A Communist Revolution!Lenin preached the ideals of Marx: A Communist Revolution!

World War IWorld War I

March Revolution: Czar abdicates the throne.March Revolution: Czar abdicates the throne.

The Provisional Government led by Alexander KerenskyThe Provisional Government led by Alexander Kerensky

Return of Lenin! Return of Lenin!

November Bolshevik Revolution November Bolshevik Revolution

Civil War 1918-1920: Reds vs WhitesCivil War 1918-1920: Reds vs Whites

Leon TrotskyLeon Trotsky

New Economic Policy (NEP)

•1921 – Lenin promises greater freedom to small business and peasant farmers

•Temporary policy to boost economy

•Allowed some capitalism and private ownership of land•Food production began to recover, stabilized government

How did How did “Socialist “Socialist

Realist” art Realist” art portray portray

Vladimir Vladimir Lenin?Lenin?

How did How did “Socialist “Socialist

Realist” art Realist” art portray portray

Vladimir Vladimir Lenin?Lenin?

Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin

Death of Lenin: 1924Death of Lenin: 1924

• Lenin suffered from a series of strokes in 1922-1923

• He was unable to walk or speak and eventually died in 1924

• Lenin suffered from a series of strokes in 1922-1923

• He was unable to walk or speak and eventually died in 1924

Lenin’s death set off a fearsome power struggle

between Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky with

terrible consequences for the Russian people….

Lenin’s death set off a fearsome power struggle

between Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky with

terrible consequences for the Russian people….

Film Clip

• Prominent member of the Politburo

• Named Secretary of the communist party and built up political alliances

• Ruthless and power-hungry

• Prominent member of the Politburo

• Named Secretary of the communist party and built up political alliances

• Ruthless and power-hungry

StalinStalin TrotskyTrotsky

• Part of military organization • Led the Red army to fight the White

army during the Civil War.• Great speaker and intellectual who

wanted a world-wide communist revolution

• Part of military organization • Led the Red army to fight the White

army during the Civil War.• Great speaker and intellectual who

wanted a world-wide communist revolution

Killed in 1940!Killed in 1940!Stalin schemed his way into power, using a series of ruthless political moves

Stalin schemed his way into power, using a series of ruthless political moves

“I am not sure that Comrade Stalin will always use his power properly. Comrade Trotsky, on the other

hand, is distinguished by his outstanding ability.” Lenin’s Will (1923).

“I am not sure that Comrade Stalin will always use his power properly. Comrade Trotsky, on the other

hand, is distinguished by his outstanding ability.” Lenin’s Will (1923).

• Lenin set down the brutal rules for the Soviet System.

• Stalin built that system into a global power

• Lenin set down the brutal rules for the Soviet System.

• Stalin built that system into a global power

• Lenin was willing to share power & tolerate some debate inside the Party.

• Stalin insisted on absolute obedience and all the power.

• Lenin was willing to share power & tolerate some debate inside the Party.

• Stalin insisted on absolute obedience and all the power.

• Lenin took great risks to spread Communist Revolution.

• Stalin wanted security and power for the Soviet Union even if it harmed the chances for Communist revolution elsewhere.

• Lenin took great risks to spread Communist Revolution.

• Stalin wanted security and power for the Soviet Union even if it harmed the chances for Communist revolution elsewhere.

Glorification of StalinGlorification of Stalin

Religious PersecutionReligious Persecution

Five-Year PlansFive-Year Plans

CollectivizationCollectivization

Reign of TerrorReign of Terror

Control of Cultural LifeControl of Cultural Life

Examine images of Stalin and categorize them into one of

these 6 groups!

The Glorification of Stalin

Stalin developed what became known as a "personality cult".

Artists painted pictures glorifying

Stalin and His accomplishments.

The Glorification of StalinHe gained the nickname "Uncle Joe" which was an attempt to develop an

image of a kind, homely man who was the ‘father’ of all Russians.

Leader Stalin with scouts

Do Now:Do Now: Why would communist leaders want art that looked realistic instead of

abstract?

According to these images, what do you think is a major goal that Stalin wants to

achieve?

According to these images, what do you think is a major goal that Stalin wants to

achieve?

Read Document and answer

question

•Stalin ended Lenin’s NEP, which allowed some capitalism•Agriculture was collectivized, and large scale forced labor enforced upon peasants.•Plan was to increase crop production and use profits for State industry

CollectivizationCollectivization

Success of Collectivization

•As a result of their opposition, several million peasants met death by an engineered famine and genocide.

Ukrainian Famine

Film ClipFilm Clip

Industrialization

•Stalin started the rapid development of economy with Five-Year Plans, first of which were launched in 1927.

•All the resources were commanded by state to ensure rapid industrialization.

•Heavy investment was done in industry, at the cost of agriculture and consumer goods.

•Stalin started the rapid development of economy with Five-Year Plans, first of which were launched in 1927.

•All the resources were commanded by state to ensure rapid industrialization.

•Heavy investment was done in industry, at the cost of agriculture and consumer goods.

“Planner’s Preferences” not “Consumer’s Preferences”

Command Economy

“Work hard during

harvest time and you will be rewarded with plenty of bread."

“Work hard during

harvest time and you will be rewarded with plenty of bread."

United States Advertisement, 1920s

Alexey Stakhanov – Hero of Socialism

In 1935 a coal miner called Alexei Stakhanov was

reported to have dug 102 tons of coal in a single 6-hour shift.

This was many times more than a miner was expected to cut. Stakhanov was rewarded and praised as an example to all other workers. The public were not told that Stakhanov

had two co-workers, plus machinery in perfect working order, to help him achieve so much. Russians were told to

model themselves on Stakhanov. They rose to the challenge in what became

known as the Stakhanovite Movement. Stakhanovites

tried to perform feats of great productivity, through working

harder and also through reorganizing the way things were done in their place of work. They were rewarded with better pay and also lots of praise and publicity. This was just one way in which

Stalin attempted to persuade his new industrial laborers to

work more efficiently.

• Stalin's control over Russia meant that freedom was the one thing that people lost.

• The people of Russia had to read, listen to, see and learn only what the state allowed.

• The state’s control of the media was total.

State-Controlled MediaState-Controlled Media

This was all called "Socialist Realism". Those who wrote poems and novels had to glorify Stalin. Some artists and authors were so depressed by all this that they committed suicide rather than do what the state ordered them to do. Many others

tried to leave the country.

"Stalin as an Organizer of the November Revolution" by Karp Trokhimenko

Socialist Realism Art

• The Great Purges – 1934 and 1939. • Stalin put on ‘show trials’, where the accused pleaded guilty to impossible charges of

treason. • During Stalin's rule of the country over 20 million people were sent to labor camps,

where nearly half of them died.

• The Great Purges – 1934 and 1939. • Stalin put on ‘show trials’, where the accused pleaded guilty to impossible charges of

treason. • During Stalin's rule of the country over 20 million people were sent to labor camps,

where nearly half of them died.

Reign of TerrorStalin Signs a Death Warrant

Doctored Photos

In turn, artists complied with State demands and produced in a naturalist, academic style. They wouldn't dare to even dream of abstract art.

“Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our

enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas.”

A Russian Family with

Stalin.

A Russian Family with

Stalin.

Cultural Life

How does Stalin use Socialist Realist Art and Propaganda to control

people?

How does Stalin use Socialist Realist Art and Propaganda to control

people?

'Thanks to the Party, Thanks to Dear Stalin for

a Happy, Joyful Childhood'

How does Stalin use Socialist Realist Art and Propaganda to

control people?

How does Stalin use Socialist Realist Art and Propaganda to

control people?

Education

• Those who attempted to listen to or read anything else were severely punished and sent to labor camps.

Socialist Realism

Abstract Art

Salvador Dali Persistence of Memory

Salvador DaliSurrealism

Salvador Dali

Andy Warhol – Pop Art

Andy Warhol

Jackson Pollack, 1950