General Overview of General Overview of Communism & the Russian Communism & the Russian

RevolutionRevolution

AP World HistoryAP World History

Chapter 22Chapter 22

““The Rise and Fall of World The Rise and Fall of World Communism” (1917 – Communism” (1917 –

Present)Present)

Communism: A General Communism: A General OverviewOverview

Socialism = the belief that the economy should be Socialism = the belief that the economy should be controlled by society, either directly or controlled by society, either directly or through the through the governmentgovernment Believe in: a classless society, equal distribution Believe in: a classless society, equal distribution

of wealth, gender equality, etc.of wealth, gender equality, etc. How is communism different?How is communism different?

It really isn’t very different It really isn’t very different think of think of communists as “extreme socialists”communists as “extreme socialists”

Socialists believe their ideal society can be Socialists believe their ideal society can be achieved slowly through progression and achieved slowly through progression and evolution of the governmentevolution of the government

Communists believe this society can only be Communists believe this society can only be achieved by overthrowing the governmentachieved by overthrowing the government

Communism: A General Communism: A General OverviewOverview

Cold War = 1946 – 1991Cold War = 1946 – 1991 Global rivalry between the Global rivalry between the

Soviet Union and the U.S.Soviet Union and the U.S. Capitalism vs. CommunismCapitalism vs. Communism Divided continents, Divided continents,

countries, and citiescountries, and cities Spawned the space raceSpawned the space race Spawned a dangerous Spawned a dangerous

arms race focused on arms race focused on nuclear weaponsnuclear weapons

Communism: A General Communism: A General OverviewOverview

The Soviet UnionThe Soviet Union Eastern EuropeEastern Europe ChinaChina North KoreaNorth Korea North VietnamNorth Vietnam

LaosLaos CambodiaCambodia CubaCuba AfghanistanAfghanistan

Major countries/regions in the communist “bloc”:

Communism: A General Communism: A General OverviewOverview

During the Cold War, the During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and its Soviet Union and its allies were brought allies were brought together by:together by:

Warsaw Pact = military Warsaw Pact = military alliance designed to alliance designed to counter NATOcounter NATO

Council on Mutual Council on Mutual Economic Assistance = Economic Assistance = tied together the tied together the economies of the Soviet economies of the Soviet Union and those of Union and those of Eastern European Eastern European countriescountries

The Russian RevolutionThe Russian Revolution(1917)(1917)

Pre-Revolutionary RussiaPre-Revolutionary Russia Only true autocracy left in Only true autocracy left in

EuropeEurope No type of representative No type of representative

political institutionspolitical institutions Nicholas II became czar in Nicholas II became czar in

18841884 Last ruler from the Romanov Last ruler from the Romanov

familyfamily Believed he was the Believed he was the

absolute ruler anointed by absolute ruler anointed by GodGod

Russo-Japanese War Russo-Japanese War (1904) = defeat for Russia (1904) = defeat for Russia in this war led to political in this war led to political instabilityinstability

Russia in WWIRussia in WWI Suffered harsh defeatsSuffered harsh defeats Shortages of both food Shortages of both food

and weaponsand weapons Morale in the Russian Morale in the Russian

army = hit rock bottomarmy = hit rock bottom Russian civilians Russian civilians

suffering at home toosuffering at home too All supplies & food went All supplies & food went

to the army, not themto the army, not them Demanded: “PEACE AND Demanded: “PEACE AND

BREAD!”BREAD!” These losses in WWI These losses in WWI

made Czar Nicholas II made Czar Nicholas II veryvery unpopular unpopular

Russian soldiers running from advancing German

troops

The March Revolution of The March Revolution of 19171917

People organized strikes People organized strikes and protests demanding and protests demanding food and fuelfood and fuel

Soldiers who were sent to Soldiers who were sent to stop the protests ended stop the protests ended up joining the protestorsup joining the protestors

Czar Nicholas II abdicated Czar Nicholas II abdicated (gave up) his power on (gave up) his power on March 15, 1917March 15, 1917 End of the 300-year End of the 300-year

Romanov dynasty in Romanov dynasty in RussiaRussia

The Provisional GovernmentThe Provisional Government

Russian masses wanted 3 things:Russian masses wanted 3 things:

1) Immediate peace & withdrawal from WWI1) Immediate peace & withdrawal from WWI

2) Transfer of land to the peasants2) Transfer of land to the peasants

3) Control of factories by workers3) Control of factories by workers Provisional government did Provisional government did notnot pull Russia pull Russia

out of the war and did out of the war and did notnot enact any social enact any social reformsreforms Lost popularityLost popularity Led to its downfallLed to its downfall

The BolsheviksThe Bolsheviks

Bolsheviks = radical Bolsheviks = radical revolutionary group in revolutionary group in RussiaRussia Wanted a socialist society in Wanted a socialist society in

RussiaRussia Led by: Vladimir LeninLed by: Vladimir Lenin Slogan = “Peace, land, and Slogan = “Peace, land, and

bread!”bread!”

The Russian RevolutionThe Russian Revolution November 1917November 1917 Also known as the: Also known as the:

Bolshevik RevolutionBolshevik Revolution Bolsheviks staged a coup Bolsheviks staged a coup

d’etat in St. Petersburgd’etat in St. Petersburg Overthrew the provisional Overthrew the provisional

governmentgovernment Members of the Members of the

provisional government provisional government fled or were arrestedfled or were arrested

Relatively bloodlessRelatively bloodless Bolsheviks claimed absolute Bolsheviks claimed absolute

powerpower

The Russian RevolutionThe Russian Revolution Bolsheviks began building Bolsheviks began building

a socialist statea socialist state Ended private ownership of Ended private ownership of

propertyproperty Distributed land among the Distributed land among the

peasantspeasants Gave workers control of Gave workers control of

factories and minesfactories and mines Bolshevik Party = officially Bolshevik Party = officially

renamed the Communist renamed the Communist Party in March 1918Party in March 1918 Wanted to spread the Wanted to spread the

Communist revolution Communist revolution throughout the worldthroughout the world

Peace with GermanyPeace with Germany

Lenin’s 1Lenin’s 1stst order of order of business = get business = get Russia out of WWIRussia out of WWI

Signed peace treaty Signed peace treaty with Germany in with Germany in March 1918March 1918 Russia lost much of Russia lost much of

its western territory its western territory and 1/3 of its and 1/3 of its populationpopulationPeace Conference between

Russia and Germany

Russian Civil WarRussian Civil War

1918 – 19211918 – 1921 Communists vs. their Communists vs. their

political opponentspolitical opponents Political opponents = Political opponents =

Royalists, Liberal Royalists, Liberal Democrats, Moderate Democrats, Moderate Socialists, Landlords, Socialists, Landlords, etc.etc.

Communists = “the Communists = “the Reds”Reds”

Their opponents = “the Their opponents = “the Whites”Whites”

Russian Civil War: The Red Russian Civil War: The Red ArmyArmy

Communist Communist Army = Army = called the called the Red ArmyRed Army

Led by Leon Led by Leon TrotskyTrotsky

Russian Civil War: The Russian Civil War: The TerrorTerror

Bolsheviks imposed a policy called Bolsheviks imposed a policy called “war communism”“war communism” Took direct control over all Took direct control over all

industriesindustries Forced peasants to send food to Forced peasants to send food to

the citiesthe cities Killed the imprisoned Czar & his Killed the imprisoned Czar & his

familyfamily Set up secret police force = the Set up secret police force = the

ChekaCheka Arrested (and often executed) Arrested (and often executed)

anyone considered an “enemy of anyone considered an “enemy of the revolution”the revolution”

Placed severe restrictions on the Placed severe restrictions on the Russian Orthodox ChurchRussian Orthodox Church Communists = anti-religionCommunists = anti-religion

Russian Civil WarRussian Civil War ““Whites” surrendered in 1921Whites” surrendered in 1921

Outnumbered, disorganized, Outnumbered, disorganized, poorly equipped armiespoorly equipped armies

Lenin and the Communists then Lenin and the Communists then had complete control of Russiahad complete control of Russia

Lenin = ruled from 1921-Lenin = ruled from 1921-19241924

State of Russia = horribleState of Russia = horrible From 1914-1921 = 27 million From 1914-1921 = 27 million

Russians had diedRussians had died Economy = in shamblesEconomy = in shambles Peasants = still starvingPeasants = still starving

Lenin in PowerLenin in Power 1922 = Russia 1922 = Russia

becomes USSR = Union becomes USSR = Union of Soviet Socialist of Soviet Socialist Republics = Soviet Republics = Soviet UnionUnion

New constitution New constitution written = makes it a written = makes it a socialist statesocialist state

In theory = Soviet In theory = Soviet Union supposed to be Union supposed to be run by the workersrun by the workers But really the But really the

Communist Party didCommunist Party did

Lenin in PowerLenin in Power

Lenin died in 1924 at the age of 54Lenin died in 1924 at the age of 54

Trotsky vs. Trotsky vs. StalinStalin

Fought for power after Lenin Fought for power after Lenin dieddied

Leon Trotsky = leader of the Leon Trotsky = leader of the Red Army during the Civil Red Army during the Civil WarWar

Joseph Stalin = General Joseph Stalin = General Secretary of the Communist Secretary of the Communist PartyParty

Difference = Trotsky wanted Difference = Trotsky wanted to spread Communism all to spread Communism all over the world immediately over the world immediately & Stalin wanted to make it & Stalin wanted to make it strong in the Soviet Union strong in the Soviet Union firstfirst

Trotsky vs. StalinTrotsky vs. Stalin Trotsky = closer to Lenin Trotsky = closer to Lenin

and more well-knownand more well-known Stalin = outmaneuvered Stalin = outmaneuvered

Trotsky politicallyTrotsky politically Ability to remove and Ability to remove and

appoint government officialsappoint government officials Once he gained control of Once he gained control of

the government, he exiled the government, he exiled Trotsky to Siberia in 1929Trotsky to Siberia in 1929

Trotsky eventually moved to Trotsky eventually moved to Mexico City Mexico City Stalin sent an Stalin sent an assassin there to kill himassassin there to kill him

Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin Ruled the Soviet Union from 1929 – Ruled the Soviet Union from 1929 –

19531953 Responsible for the next major Responsible for the next major

extension of communist controlextension of communist control In Eastern Europe after WWIIIn Eastern Europe after WWII Soviet military forces already Soviet military forces already

there after the war there after the war stayed stayed there to help impose communist there to help impose communist regimes per Stalin’s ordersregimes per Stalin’s orders

Stalin wanted to be surrounded Stalin wanted to be surrounded by “friendly” governments as by “friendly” governments as security against invasions from security against invasions from the Westthe West

Stalin takes control of the Stalin takes control of the EconomyEconomy

Called for a command economy – system which theCalled for a command economy – system which the government makes all economic decisionsgovernment makes all economic decisions Political leaders identify economic needs and determine howPolitical leaders identify economic needs and determine how to fulfill themto fulfill them Creates a Five Year Plan (two of them in fact) in order toCreates a Five Year Plan (two of them in fact) in order to create a goal for the nation to strive towards.create a goal for the nation to strive towards. Five year plan set unrealistically high goals – consumerFive year plan set unrealistically high goals – consumer production had to be limited to try to teach these goals,production had to be limited to try to teach these goals, causing widespread shortages of foot, housing, clothes, etccausing widespread shortages of foot, housing, clothes, etc Government controlled all aspects of people’s lives – choseGovernment controlled all aspects of people’s lives – chose jobs, assigned hours, needed permission of the police to movejobs, assigned hours, needed permission of the police to move Those who did not cooperate could be executed or sent to theThose who did not cooperate could be executed or sent to the gulagsgulags

Agricultural collectivizationAgricultural collectivization

1928 – 25 Million privately1928 – 25 Million privately owned farms seizedowned farms seized Combined into governmentCombined into government owned collective farmsowned collective farms Were told what to plant,Were told what to plant, when, etcwhen, etc Strong resistance fromStrong resistance from peasants – especially kulakspeasants – especially kulaks – – class of wealthy peasantsclass of wealthy peasants 1938 – 90% of peasants lived1938 – 90% of peasants lived on collectiveson collectives 5-10 million dead – mostly5-10 million dead – mostly from a lack of foodfrom a lack of food

Weapons of TotalitarianismWeapons of Totalitarianism

Police terror – destroyedPolice terror – destroyed enemies of Stalinenemies of Stalin Monitored telephoneMonitored telephone lines, read mail, plantedlines, read mail, planted informantsinformants Many children told onMany children told on parents for “disloyal”parents for “disloyal” commentscomments Great Purge – term usedGreat Purge – term used to describe the systematicto describe the systematic killed of many enemies ofkilled of many enemies of the state such as:the state such as: – – Bolshevik party membersBolshevik party members who helped in thewho helped in the Revolution of 1917 (freeRevolution of 1917 (free thinkers)thinkers) – – Kulaks: wealthy peasantsKulaks: wealthy peasants who deliberately destroyedwho deliberately destroyed fields rather than havefields rather than have them taken by the statethem taken by the state

COT: Russia 1917- Post COT: Russia 1917- Post WWIIWWII

Continuities Changes

IndustrialismLarge peasant(agrarian population)Russian Orthodox(although lessened)Absolute(totalitarian) War(militarism)Proletariat(working class)Large multi-ethnic empireDeep distrust of the “West”Need to increase industrialization (5 year plan)Intolerance of ethnic minorities( ex Jews)Siberia as a location for “unwanted” populationKulaks

CommunismTotalitarianism5 year plansPurgesPolitburoU.S.S.R alliancesWarsaw PactCOMINTERNPropagandaCollectivizationEnd od Czarist RussiaSuperpowerCold War