Ch 07 - Communist revolutions: Russia, China, and Cuba Flashcards
Who were Karl Marx and Frederick Engels?
Karl Marx was a German philosopher and journalist, and Frederick Engels was an industrialist. Together, they observed the poor working conditions in 19th-century Britain and developed the theory of communism.
What did Marx and Engels observe about industrial workers in Britain?
They observed appalling conditions, including child labor, 12- to 16-hour workdays, and repetitive work with machines, which they found inhuman.
What was Karl Marx’s theory of history?
Marx argued that history progresses through class revolutions. First, capitalists overthrow monarchies, and then workers rise up to overthrow the capitalists, leading to communist states.
How did workers in Europe and North America respond to Marx’s idea?
Workers formed unions and labor parties, which improved wages, limited hours, and increased social benefits, instead of pursuing revolutions.
What did Marx predict about workers’ revolutions?
Marx predicted a global surge of workers’ revolutions against capitalists and liberal constitutional states, replacing them with communist societies where property is owned collectively.
What was the state of Russia in the 19th century?
Russia was the largest but most backward European state, with serfs only freed in 1861 but burdened by redemption payments. Industrial centers were limited, and the tsar ruled absolutely.
Where did Marx’s predicted communist revolutions occur?
They occurred in agrarian states like Russia and China, where intellectuals aimed to leap directly from peasant societies to communism.
What happened during the February Revolution of 1917?
Women’s protests over bread shortages grew into mass demonstrations. Soldiers defected to the protesters, forcing Tsar Nicholas II to abdicate and ending Romanov rule.
What events led to the 1905 Revolution in Russia?
Russia’s defeat by Japan sparked peasant rebellions, worker strikes, and naval mutinies. Although suppressed, these events pressured the government to create reforms like the Duma and land changes.
What role did World War I play in the Russian Revolution?
Russia’s defeats in the war, combined with domestic protests and food shortages, undermined the tsarist regime, leading to the February Revolution and Tsar Nicholas II’s abdication.
Who was Vladimir Lenin, and what was his idea?
Lenin was a revolutionary thinker who proposed a vanguard communist party to lead workers and peasants in overthrowing the tsarist regime and creating a communist society.
What was the provisional government in Russia?
It was a temporary government formed after the tsar’s abdication, but it lost support due to its decision to continue Russia’s involvement in World War I.
What were soviets?
Soviets were councils organized by workers, soldiers, and peasants, which became key supporters of the Bolshevik Revolution.
What occurred during the October Revolution of 1917?
The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, staged a bloodless coup by taking control of key government buildings overnight, establishing a communist government.
What was the Red Army, and who organized it?
The Red Army was the communist military force organized by Leon Trotsky, consisting of defecting soldiers, workers, and drafted peasants.
