Objectives:6.2 I A & C; 6.2 IV B (3rd, 4th, and 5th
bullets);6.2 V B
AGENDA: Do Now, Russian Bolshevik Revolution
PowerPoint and Guided Notes; Comparing Marxist
Communism and Leninist Communism.
DO NOW: Define communism
Hmwk: Middle East Partition Map; Read 745-748 &
749-757
The Russian Revolution
1917

Tsar Nicholas II – last Romanov ruler of Russia
Pre-Revolutionary Russia
• Autocracy (means
rule by one
person)
• Secret Police used
against enemies of
the Tsar
• Russo-Japanese
War (1905) –
defeat led to
political instability
SOCIAL
•Although there was no
more serfdom, life for
peasants was difficult
• Russia was not very
industrialized,
compared with the rest
of Europe
Role of Rasputin
• A mystic who
“healed” the czar’s
son who had
hemophilia
• Huge influence
over royal family,
bad reputation rubs
off on royals
WWI: The Last Straw
• Russia suffered heavy casualties on the Eastern
Front.
• Peasants were angry about being conscripted into
the army.
• The army was badly equipped (shared rifles).
• What little food, goods and raw materials were
available were sent to the front so there were HUGE
shortages in the cities (Total War)
• Chaos meant people locally to tried take control and
restore some order. Cities formed “soviets” – small
revolutionary councils that tried to bring change and
improvements
WWI: The Last Straw
• Urban workers were unemployed by the
thousands as factories shut down.
• Socialists and Liberals started calling for
an end to the war but Tsar Nicholas
refused.
• The Tsar even took over control of the
army in 1915—he was then blamed for the
heavy casualties.
• The war led many to turn against the
Tsar.
The Two Revolutions of 1917
Peace, Land
And Bread!
Lenin’s
April
Thesis
• February
Revolution –
Food riots lead
Tsar to abdicate
• October
Revolution –
Communists
(known as
Bolsheviks)
take control w/
military coup.
Exit War. (Treaty
of Brest-Litovsk)
Lenin
• New Ruler of Russia
• Lenin = Bolshevik (a
Russian
Communist) Wanted
a “vanguard” to
lead the revolution
• Communism could
be forced by the
vanguard, even
without urban
factory workers
Results
• Civil War in Russia
until early 1920s –
Commies versus
everyone
• New secret police:
CHEKA
(NKVD/KGB)
• Communist rule in
Russia (U.S.S.R.)
from 1917-1991
Lenin’s Rule
• NEP – New Economic Policy
– some capitalistic components (example:
farmers could sell their crops)
– Big, important industries were
nationalized (owned by gov’t)
(examples: trains, steel production)
– Goal: Industrialize Russia
• Lenin’s death – power struggle. Stalin
wins.
Think of it as, “two steps
forward, one step back,”
Karl.
I’m not speaking to
you, comrade
traitor…
Russia officially became the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics (USSR).
Stalin
Trotsky was tricked into not going to the
funeral by the other man who would try to
assume power in Russia…
Marxist Communism vs. Leninist
Communism
Lenin and the Russian Revolution
• How did the ideas of Marx and Engels influence Lenin?
• Why do you think revolution took hold in Russia first instead of a
more industrialized nation as Marx expected?
• Do you think Lenin faithfully enacted Marx’s philosophy or was it
something different?
• What are the possible negative human consequences of a
command economy vs. a free market economy?
• What was the importance of World War I in the timing of the
Russian revolution?
• How did the history of events in Europe during the 19th century
lead up to Lenin’s actions?
• Why do you think Lenin’s actions were inspirational for socialist
movements of the time?
• Were the negative consequences of Lenin’s policies due to the
ideas of socialism or the way that Lenin enacted them?