Communism & Russian Revolution Flashcards

1
Q

What is the communist symbol? /3

A

Hammer and Scythe

Hammer: workers

Scythe: peasants/farmers

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2
Q

What is communism? /9

A

The political ideology in which everyone has equal share in a country/nation

Political/economic ideology that aims for a classless and stateless society

Free access to the articles of consumption

Opposite of capitalism/ no private property and end of wage labour

No social classes

Believes it is based off pure equality

No one can be rich, but that no one can be poor either

Lack of choices only what the state provides
|-> workers do not get to choose their jobs

Communist replaces religion

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3
Q

What is ideology? /2

A

System of ideas and ideals

Forms the basis of economic or political policy

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4
Q

What is capitalism? /4

A

An economic system which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit rather than by the federal government

Based on supply and demand

A political/economic system in which capital (money) and resources ar privately owned and operated for private profit

Believes that you are which or pour depending on how hard you work (not entirely true)

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5
Q

What is socialism? /2

A

Political/economic system that supports social equality, collective decision-marketing, distribution of income based on contributions, and public ownership of capital and resources

Rich should share some of their wealth with the poor so that things are less unequal

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6
Q

What is pure equality? /2

A

If income is BIG = taxes are HIGHER

If income is SMALL = taxes are LOWER

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7
Q

What were consequences of the capitalist system in the mid 19th century? /8

A

Profits of businesses came at the expense of workers

Working conditions were poor

Workers worked between 14-18 hours a day, 6 days a week

Unsafe working conditions

Child labour

Wages were barely liveable

If worker is injured, they were fired

Private owners make all the money

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8
Q

Who is Karl Marx? /4

A

German philosopher

Was asked by the Communist League to draw up a plan for their organization (1847)

Marx wrote a plan called the Manifesto of the Communist Party = Manifesto of the Communist Bible

Creator of Marxism: believed it was based off socialism

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9
Q

How did Karl Marx view the history of capitalism? /4

A

All societies have devolved into class struggle

Aristocrats/Landowners/Manufacturers
VS.
Farmers/Labourers/Workers

Oppressor = Manufacturer

Oppressed = workers (proletariat)

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10
Q

What were the goals of the communist political party? /4

A

Abolition of private property and capitalism

Private property keep workers enslaved

To end exploitation, WORKERS must abolish capitalism

Calls for the workers (proletariat) to force/make a change

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11
Q

What was Karl Marx’s vision of communism? /9

A

Abolition of property in land

Workers revolt

Each worker would work according to their ability and receive according to their needs

Communism being total worldwide economic equality

Heavy progression or graduated income tax

Abolition of all rights of inheritance

Equal obligation of all to work

Free education for all children in public schools

Combination of education with industrial production
|-> children have to play a part too

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12
Q

Who are the two socialist groups that followed Karl Marx’s vision of communism? /2

A

Mensheviks

Bolsheviks

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13
Q

Who are the Mensheviks?

A

Wanted to bring about communism slowly by passing new laws

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14
Q

Who are the Bolsheviks? /3

A

Led by Vladimir Lenin

Believe a violent overthrow of the ruling class (revolt) is the solution to class struggle

Small extremist group

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15
Q

Why was the idea of communism never brought up in Western Europe and America? /3

A

Labour laws were passed that made the work place safer and more tolerable

Publication of papers and pamphlets describe the inhumane working conditions in factories

Worldwide revolution Marx gore saw never came to pass in the west

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16
Q

What are the ECONOMIC causes of the Russian revolution? /4

A

Economy growing rapidly

Peasants have bad living conditions, do not own their own land

Workers in cities also have bad living conditions, strikes increase

Capitalists gain power thanks to industrialisation
|-> large income gap between owners and workers

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17
Q

What is industrialization in Russia? /3

A

Number of factories increasing

Russia is growing the fastest, BUT NOT the largest industrial power

Old techniques, NO MECHANIZATION

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18
Q

Who are the capitalists in Russia?

A

Bourgeoisie = factory owners

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19
Q

What is the class struggle during the Russian revolution?

A

Bourgeoisie VS. Proletariat (workers)
=

Land owners VS. Peasants

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20
Q

What are the SOCIAL causes of the Russian revolution? /4

A

Peasants make up over 80% of the Russian population: generally poor

Workers are alienated and unhappy

Growing middle class (nobility) wants a bigger role in the government

HUGE imbalance between the majority of the population and the very rich elite

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21
Q

Why is there a huge imbalance between the poor and the elite in Russia? /2

A

Most peasants are uneducated
|-> can not read/write, only know how to farm/work

Advantage for the bourgeoisie because then no one can oppose/challenge them

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22
Q

Why are the bourgeoisie unhappy with the social structure of the Russian government?

A

Want more government power, BUT

The Tsar is the only one with utmost government power

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23
Q

Who was the Tsar during the Russian revolution?

A

Nicholas II and Alexandra

Tsar). (Tsarina

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24
Q

What is the social structure of Russia during the revolution? /7

A
Tsar+ Tsarina
⬇️
Nobility/Aristocrats/Elite
⬇️
Russian Orthodox Church
⬇️
Military
⬇️
Bourgeoisie 
⬇️
Peasants
⬇️
Farmers
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25
Q

What is the role of the Tsar + Tsarina in the Russian social structure?

A

Rule over you

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26
Q

What is the role of the Nobility/Aristocrats/Elite in the Russian social structure?

A

Govern you

Nobility inherit money

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27
Q

What is the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Russian social structure?

A

Pray for you

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28
Q

What is the role of the Military in the Russian social structure?

A

Shoot you

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29
Q

What is the role of the Bourgeoisie in the Russian social structure?

A

Eat for you

30
Q

What is the role of the Peasants in the Russian social structure?

A

Work for you

31
Q

What is the role of the Farmers in the Russian social structure?

A

Feed you

32
Q

What is the Romanov Dynasty? /4

A

Ruling family in a Russia since 1613

Peter the Great: expanded the Russian empire
Was 7ft tall
Catherine the Great

Nicholas II is the descendant of the Romanov Dynasty

33
Q

What are the POLITICAL causes of the Russian revolution?

A

Tsar wanted to maintain the old social structure in Russia (the pyramid)

34
Q

Why did Tsar want to maintain the old social structure?

A

Star rules uncontested/ unchallenged

35
Q

What is the Duma? /3(4)

A

An elected body to help govern Russia

Never had any REAL power

Tsar dismissed them why they opposed or ignored him
|-> dissolves the parliament and another election occurs

36
Q

Who is Rapsutin? /3

A

A Siberian monk

Became an advisor to the Russian family, gained influence in the government/court

The Tsar and Tsarina become dependent on Rapsutin, ask for political advice

37
Q

Why did the Tsar and Tsarina become dependent on Rasputin? /2

A

Romanov family believed Rasputin possessed the healing powers of God

Was able to continuously heal the Romanov heir, Alexey, for 12 years

38
Q

What medical condition was the Romanov heir, Alexey, born with? /3

A

Hemophilia

Rare blood disorder that results in massive internal bleeding and possible death

Blood coagulation is not possible

39
Q

What incident occurred on the day of Nicholas II’s coronation was seen as a bad omen of terrible events to come?

A

The free offering of beer during the coronation lead to over a 1000 people (including children) to be trampled to death

40
Q

How did Rasputin die? /4

A

Prince Felix Yusupov tried poisoning Rasputin with enough cyanide laced food to kill a group of men

Unharmed, Yusupov then shoots Rapsutin with his revolver (gun)

Unharmed again, the Russian Corp do a mass fire on Rasputin in which he eventually falls off the bridge into the icy river

Rasputin dies from drowning

41
Q

What prophecy did Rasputin make before his death?

A

If the Romanov family were to kill Rasputin, they will die within 2 years by the hands of the Russian population

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

42
Q

Why did Nicholas II do so little to change things to prevent a revolution?

A

Does not want to change anything since the Romanov family has been ruling over Russia for over 300 years

43
Q

How did the Tsarine, Alexandra, try to save the Romanov fortune? /2

A

Tsarina and her daughters sewed the royal jewels into their undergarments

Wearing millions of dollars in gems/jewelry under their clothing

44
Q

Why was Rasputin hated by other aristocrats/nobility/elite? /2

A

Since Rasputin was taking over their jobs with having the Tsar’s attention

Proved evidence of the Tsar’s weakness and inability to run the country

45
Q

What effect did WWI have on the Russian revolution? /8

A

Russia suffered huge losses

Soldiers poorly led by aristocrat officers

Poorly equipped

Suffered many defeats at the hands of the Germans

High rate of casualties: 9.5 million

Low morale

High rate of desertion

Tsar receives personal blame from the Russia

46
Q

Why were Russian soldiers poorly led during WWI?

A

Aristocrat officers are descendants of nobility, not good leaders

47
Q

Why did the Tsar receive personal blame from Russia during WWI? (3

A

Took personal command of the Russian army in 1915

Just as bad of a leader than the aristocrat officers

Blamed for Russia’s continuous defeats in WWI

48
Q

What consequences did WWI have on the Russian peasants?

A

Food production decreases (less harvests) due to the lack of men

Lack of men: Hugh casualties (death + injury)

49
Q

What consequences did WWI have on the Russian workers? /4

A

Food and fuel shortage
|-> cause by disruption in transportation caused by WWI

High unemployment

Bad working conditions (less pay + long hours)

Shortages increase the living costs by 300% in 3 years

50
Q

What consequences did WWI have on the Russian aristocracy? /2

A

Rasputin has greater power in the government than they do

Officers are aristocrats’ sons = high casualty rate

51
Q

What consequences did WWI have on the Russian bourgeoisie? /3

A

Want political power (say in government)

Frequent strikes (unions)

Lack of raw material leads to production decrease= factories start closing

52
Q

What is the FIRST Russian revolution? /4

A

February 1917

Women strike first: International Women’s Day

Women demand bread/end to war/better working conditions

Believe WWI is the reason for all of Russia’s misfortune

53
Q

How does the Tsar, Nicholas II, react to the FIRST Russian revolution? /5

A

Ordered the army to put down the revolt by force, HOWEVER…

Army refuses to shoot since female family members were present and anticipating into the strike

Many soldiers join the strike in the end

Eventually the strike loses control

Tsar Nicholas II steps down on March 2nd
|-> Romanov dynasty ends

54
Q

Why does the Romanov dynasty end after the Tsar Nicholas steps down? /2

A

Alexey can not inherit the throne since he’s too young

Michael (brother of Nicholas II) refuses when asked to take over

55
Q

Who led the February 1917 Russian revolution?

A

Liberals and Socialists who wanted reform

56
Q

What is the consequence after the Tsar steps down from the throne?

A

Liberals and Socialiste form a provisional (temporary) government

57
Q

What difficulties does the Russian provincial government face? /3

A

Refuses to take Russia out of WWI

Puts off land distribution to the peasants

Economy is just as bad as before

58
Q

Why does the provincial government refuse to remove Russia from WWI? Why is it ironic? /2

A

Do not want to break the alliance they have with the Triple Entente

Ironic b/c France does not hold their end of their alliance during WWI
|-> Russia suffers HUGE CASUALTIES

59
Q

What is the SECOND Russian revolution? /3

A

October 1917

Provisional government lose support in Russia

Bolsheviks party gain support and overthrow the provisional government

60
Q

What d the Bolsheviks promise during the SECOND Russian revolution? /2

A

End the war

Better control of food supplies

61
Q

What is the Bolsheviks’ slogan?

A

PEACE! LAND! BREAD!

62
Q

Which outside source also supports the Bolsheviks? Why? /2

A

Germany supports Vladimir Lenin’s party (Bolsheviks)

Why:
Have Russia fall apart and pull them out of WWI

63
Q

Vladimir Lenin was exiled from Russia. How does he does back in? /2

A

Vladimir Lenin goes undercover (disguised) and begins his political revolt

Assistance from Germany: paid for his train ticket

64
Q

What happened after Vladimir Lenin’s death? /2

A

Bolsheviks get a wide increase of support

Russia is taken out of WWI: Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

65
Q

What is the Russian civil war? /3

A

Allies send soldiers to fight against the Bolsheviks (allies join the White army)

Fight between the “white army” (Tsar and Liberals) VS. the “red army”(Bolsheviks)

By 1921, the red army (Bolsheviks) win

66
Q

What is the cause of the Russian Civil war? /2

A

Russia is taken out of WWI, BUT NOT EVERYONE supports the revolution

Bolsheviks did not win government position via election, BUT did take over the government regardless

67
Q

Who is Joseph Stalin? /7

A

The next leader of the Bolsheviks Party in 1926

Famous for his purges

Brutal dictator

Deported all citizens who opposed him to Siberia

Had secret police who would arrest/torture/mass execute at random

Responsible for millions of deaths due to famine in the Ukraine

Was competing with Leon Trotsky for Vladimir’s leader position

68
Q

What is a gulag?

A

Harsh working camps in Siberia

69
Q

What year was the famine in the Ukraine?

A

1933

70
Q

How did Stalin win becoming leader of the Bolsheviks? /3

A

Stalin lies to Trotsky about Vladimir Lenin’s funeral to get a dead start in the competition

States the funeral is Tuesday, when it was actually Monday

Later on, Stalin exiled Trotsky and later assassinated him in Mexico

71
Q

What was Stalin’s view on Communism? /3

A

Turned Karl Marx’s idealistic goals into a system that was many ways more terrifying than the rule of the Tsar

No freedom, based on military rule

Communist becomes totalitarian

72
Q

What is totalitarianism?

A

When one party or group has total control of everything