1.2 Capitalism versus communism Flashcards
Capitalism def
The economic system followed by the West during the Cold War; people have the right to start and own businesses in a free market
Communism def
An economic and political system in which there is no private ownership; people contribute based on their ability and take only what they need
Democracy def
A system of government where citizens elect their leaders or have a say in their country’s laws
Ideology def
A guiding political belief, eg Communism
Industrialisation def
The movement from an an economy based mainly in agriculture to one based mainly on manufacturing
Bourgeoisie def
According to Karl Marx, the middle classes who have power and need to be overthrown
Proletariat def
The workers (mainly from cities) who should rise up and take control according to Marxism
Tsar def
The emperor of Russia before the 1917 revolutions
Bolshevik def
The political party that took over in 1917, led by Lenin; the Bolsheviks later became known simply as the Communist Party
Cheka def
The secret police under Lenin and the Bolsheviks
What happened when the USA (and other European countries) had industrialised?
- powerful group of factory owners emerged: middle class capitalists
- middle class became wealthy in contrast to poor factory workers
Why did the Americans not like Communism?
- major capitalist powers of the Cold War were democracies
- Americans viewed capitalism as synonymous with individual freedom and democracy
- ‘American Dream’ promised everyone the right to try to become successful and wealthy
- any system that challenged this way of thinking was bound to come into conflict with the USA
Who was Karl Marx
A German intellectual who published The Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital
What did Marx think about capitalism?
- the power of the bourgeoisie was the latest stage in a movement towards a completely new way of running society
- eventually the working class (proletariat) would overthrow the bourgeoisie
What was life like for Russians under Tsar Nicholas II?
- he was a monarch with absolute power
- most Russians lived in poverty while the tsar lived a life of luxury
- after learning of Marx’s ideas a growing number of people wanted revolution and the creation of a communist state
- many blamed tsar for WW1 suffering
When did the tsar give up the throne
February 1917
What happened after the tsar gave up the throne
a new government was formed but this lasted just a few months
When did the Bolsheviks take control and what was the uprising called
The Russian Revolution, October 1917
Were the Bolsheviks popular amongst the Russian people
No, civil war was fought for years after the revolution
How did the West try to stop the spread of communism
Britain and USA sent troops in support of the opponents
Who was the leader of the Bolsheviks
Vladimir Lenin
How did the Bolsheviks control the Russian population
- used brutal methods
- other parties were banned
- private businesses and newspapers were seized
- secret police arrested opponents
What was the secret police under Lenin called
Cheka
Differences between capitalism and communism: business
Capitalism: any person free to start a business, profits are their own
Communism: businesses are state-owned and any profit goes to the state
