Case Study: Russia. 03
REVOLUTION: Capitalists, Communists, Socialists
UNDERSTANDING
The Industrial Revolution propelled the economic system of capitalism onto the global stage, but capitalism
faced significant challenges with the rise of communism and socialism. Nowhere was that challenge more
extreme than in Russia at the start of the 20th century. By 1917 the workers had risen up against the ruling
power and the upper class. Inspired by the ideals of Marxist communism – and organized by a passionate
leader named Vladimir Lenin – Russian workers became revolutionaries and began to transform their country.
Soon, however, the communist intentions of Lenin and others gave way to extreme dictatorship under a man
named Joseph Stalin. Stalin’s policies may have increased industrial production, but they also created a
society struggling with poverty and living in fear. Ultimately, the transformations brought on by the
Revolution did more harm than good.
LEARNING TARGETS
 I CAN identify people, events, and terms related to the Russian Revolution: Tsar Nicholas II, Proletariat,
Bourgeoisie, February Revolution, provisional government, October Revolution, Vladimir Lenin, Leon
Trotsky, Soviet Union (USSR), Joseph Stalin, KGB, Gulag, collective farms, Five Year Plan, Cold War
 I CAN sequence the major events of the Russian Revolution;
 I CAN establish the causes and effects of the Russian Revolution
 I CAN compare and contrast the economic agendas of Nicholas II, Lenin, and Stalin;
 I CAN assess the validity of statements made about the Russian Revolution;
PART I
Directions
People, Events, Terms
Reading Comprehension
Read the expository text below about the Russian Revolution of 1917. As you read record
notes in the margins. On the left side list significant people, events, and terms related to the
Russian Revolution. Provide brief details about each. See the example.
The Industrial Revolution created a capitalist economy in Russia in the 1800s. Private
owners operated the new industrial factories of the cities as well as the enclosed farms of the
countryside. This wealthy elite upper class was known as the Bourgeoisie. Beneath them was
the Proletariat¸ the working class. As the century turned from the 1800s to the 1900s, it was
apparent that the income gap was only getting larger, and the Proletariat was getting angrier.
Much of the anger was directed at the ruler, or Tsar, of Russia. Nicholas II, who had the
support of the upper classes, kept his hands off of the Russian economy. He supported the
system of capitalism and its free-market economics. The workers of Russia insisted that
Nicholas supported greed more than anything else. They began to make their feelings
known. In January 1905 a group of peaceful protestors marched through the snowy streets
of St. Petersburg to petition the Tsar for help. They were gunned down by the royal army.
The event became known as Bloody Sunday. The anger it created would help fuel a major
revolution 12 years later against the same government.
By 1917 the lives of the Proletariat were sunk deep into poverty and depression. Workers
were tired of being exploited like animals. They were angry that the royal government did
little to regulate the greed of the elite Bourgeoisie. Furthermore, they were angry that
Nicholas II had dragged Russia into World War I. Poor Russians had no interest fighting
for a government that refused to help them in their daily lives. The enemy, they felt, was not
outside of Russia but within! The time was right for Revolution! The workers wanted to
completely change Russia’s economy.
Case Study: Russia. 03
REVOLUTION: Capitalists, Communists, Socialists
People, Events, Terms
In “March” 1917 Russia’s factory workers went on strike. This first major event in the
Revolution was known as the February Revolution, even though it really took place in March
(the Russian calendar was still in the month of February). Factory owners lost a lot of
money. As the mob became angrier Nicholas II feared for his family’s safety. So he
abdicated, or stepped down, from the throne. This abdication was a major event! A
temporary government replaced Nicholas and promised to improve life for the working
poor.
Life did not improve. In “November” 1917 the workers lead a second uprising called the
October Revolution. This uprising was more violent. Nicholas II and his family were
executed, and a man named Vladimir Lenin took control. Lenin dreamed of creating
communism in Russia. He dreamed of complete equality, a society without social classes,
one in which all property and responsibilities would be shared and operated by the
Proletariat (which would include all people). He dreamed of a society that lived in peace
without need for a government.
Before communism could be realized, however, Lenin believed the government had to
assume control of economic production. With the help of another revolutionary leader
named Leon Trotsky, initiated a number of socialist policies. These became known as the
New Economic Policy, or NEP. Lenin saw the NEP as a blend of capitalism and socialism.
He allowed small-scale middle class business owners to maintain some control over their
industries, but all large-scale factory industries were swept under the control of Lenin and
the government. Owners became workers, and all workers followed the directions of the
state planners.
Other countries were inspired by Lenin’s socialist economy and his dream of communism.
These countries joined Russia. The group of socialist countries, lead by Russia and riding a
wave of popular support within the working classes, became known as the Soviet Union.
The word “soviet” referred to workers. For short, the block of countries was called the USSR
(the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics).
After Lenin died in 1924, a violent dictator named Joseph Stalin took control of the Soviet
Union. Stalin cared more about his own power than the needs of the workers, and he
intensified the programs that Lenin had put in place. He cut down the New Economic
Policy and replaced it with very strict “Five Year Plans.” Stalin’s Five-Year Plans turned the
Soviet economy into a very rigid command-market system. The government controlled
everything. Stalin established collective farms, in which all privately-owned lands were
grouped together, controlled by the state, and farmed by the citizens. There were stiff
penalties and punishments if the farms did not produce as much food as the government
demanded. Stalin also employed a secret police force called the KGB to spy on Russian
citizens. If any workers disagreed with Stalin’s policies, made jokes about the government,
or expressed disappointment with the direction of the USSR, then they were arrested. As
Stalin became more paranoid about losing his power, he ordered the execution of hundreds
of thousands of these political prisoners. Others, like Leon Trotsky, were driven away from
the Soviet Union. Many more prisoners – without even having trials – were sent to Labor
Camps (like prisons). These industrial camps were operated by a government agency called
the Gulag. Millions died while serving in the Labor Camps.
Case Study: Russia. 03
REVOLUTION: Capitalists, Communists, Socialists
People, Events, Terms
Ultimately, Stalin’s policies did advance Russia’s industrial development. But the costs were
tremendous. Millions of people died in labor camps, and millions more suffered through
lives of extreme poverty and fear. Stalin died in 1953. The Soviet Union lasted until 1991.
Throughout its lifetime, supporters of socialism and communism in the USSR waged a war
of ideas against the supporters of capitalism and democracy in the United States. This “war”
is called the Cold War because it remained bloodless, in the sense that the US and USSR
never actually fought one another. But both sides actively tried to stop (US) or spread
(USSR) the ideals and policies of communism. In 1991 the Cold War ended as the Soviet
Union collapsed and Russia returned to an economy based primarily on capitalism.
Part II
Organizing Information
1. SEQUENCE of Events: Plot the major events of this history on a timeline.
2. CAUSE/EFFECTS: Establish the causes and effects of the Russian Revolution.
CAUSES
OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
EFFECTS
OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
Case Study: Russia. 03
REVOLUTION: Capitalists, Communists, Socialists
3. COMPARE/CONTRAST: Fill the diagram with details that shows the similarities and/or differences
between the ideas and policies of Nicholas II, Vladimir Lenin, and Joseph Stalin.
NICHOLAS II
LENIN
STALIN