The Soviet Era
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Transcript of The Soviet Era
The Russian Revolution On what came to be known as “Bloody Sunday”,
1905-Nicholas II fires on protesters sparking revolution
In March of 1917-Nicholas II is forced to abdicate the throne.
A temporary provisional government was set up as a democracy under Alexander Kerensky
The Soviets (or councils) will rule Russia Lenin promises Peace, Land and Bread Kerensky continues WWI effort and not reform Peasants demand land, city dwellers want end to
shortages Lenin’s goal: Proletariat to overthrow capitalism
BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION• 1917 Red Guard (armed factory workers) &
sailors attack & overthrow provisional gov.• Lenin proclaims a Socialist State• Private land is confiscated & given to peasants• Workers given control of mines and factories• New Flag: Hammer & Sickle –union of workers and
peasants• Bolsheviks will be renamed communists • Withdraws from WWI
CIVIL WAR Civil War between “REDS” (Communiusts) and
Whites (counterrevolutionaries) made up of tsarist imperial officers
Allies support Whites to overthrow Communists in hope of their support in WWI against Germany
Reds appeal to nationalism & urge Russians to throw out foreigners
Allied invasion fed Communist distrust of West 1918 Czar Nicholas II & family shot Red Army (Communists) won & control Russia
How did two revolutions and a civil war bring about Communist control of Russia?
Using your text, class notes explain the following essay. Be sure to include facts and examples to support your essay.
WAR COMMUNISM Communists use terror to control people Cheka-Secret police executed those against the
revolution –instituted forced labor camps War Communism
Lands, banks, mines, factories and railroads taken over
Peasants forced to give crops to feed army 7 city people
Peasants forced into military & factories Lenin unites old Russian Empire into Soviet
Union (USSR) & rebuilds
LENIN BUILDS THE SOVIET UNION Constitution both democratic
and socialist Elected legislature 18 & older can vote Means of production &
resources, political power belong to workers & peasants
Reality-Communist party reigned supreme
Lenin’s economic policies fail Mine output drops, peasants
stop producing grain
LENIN’S NEW ECONOMIC POLICY Lenin institutes NEP Allows some capitalism Small businesses allowed State controls banks, trade, &
large businesses Gov. stops taking grains from
peasants-they sell for profit This helps economy recover Ends armed resistance to new gov. Food & industrial production
grow
LENIN’S DEATH Lenin’s death brings power struggle among
communists Trotsky – Marxist-Bolshevik Revolution-favors
worldwide revolution against capitalism Stalin – Focus on socialism in USSR Trotsky flees USSR Stalin had him killed in Mexico Stalin becomes dictator of Soviet Union & turns
it into a totalitarian state
STALIN’S FIVE-YEAR PLANS Does away with Lenin’s NEP Takes complete control of economy 1st Five Year Plan- Focus: building heavy industry,
improving transportation, increasing farm output Gov. owns all businesses and resources Command Economy-Gov. officials make all economic
decisions – put quotas into effect Standard of living remains low, shortage of consumer
products – clothes, cars household items Large quotas force production of inferior products Forces Collectivation-large government run by peasants Kulaks-(wealthy farmers)resist – Stalin does away with
the class – Brings on Terror Famine
STALIN’S MEANS OF CONTROL Used terror against his people Gulag-brutal labor camps Great Purge –Stalin does away
with all who he fears are working against him
Many talented people killed-many military leaders (80%), scientists, economists, engineers
Works against him in WWII Tries to lift morale with
propaganda Russification- forced Russian
Culture on all