Communism & Russian Revolution Flashcards
What is the communist symbol? /3
Hammer and Scythe
Hammer: workers
Scythe: peasants/farmers
What is communism? /9
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
What is ideology? /2
System of ideas and ideals
Forms the basis of economic or political policy
What is capitalism? /4
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)
What is socialism? /2
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
What is pure equality? /2
If income is BIG = taxes are HIGHER
If income is SMALL = taxes are LOWER
What were consequences of the capitalist system in the mid 19th century? /8
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
Who is Karl Marx? /4
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
How did Karl Marx view the history of capitalism? /4
All societies have devolved into class struggle
Aristocrats/Landowners/Manufacturers
VS.
Farmers/Labourers/Workers
Oppressor = Manufacturer
Oppressed = workers (proletariat)
What were the goals of the communist political party? /4
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
What was Karl Marx’s vision of communism? /9
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
Who are the two socialist groups that followed Karl Marx’s vision of communism? /2
Mensheviks
Bolsheviks
Who are the Mensheviks?
Wanted to bring about communism slowly by passing new laws
Who are the Bolsheviks? /3
Led by Vladimir Lenin
Believe a violent overthrow of the ruling class (revolt) is the solution to class struggle
Small extremist group
Why was the idea of communism never brought up in Western Europe and America? /3
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
What are the ECONOMIC causes of the Russian revolution? /4
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
What is industrialization in Russia? /3
Number of factories increasing
Russia is growing the fastest, BUT NOT the largest industrial power
Old techniques, NO MECHANIZATION
Who are the capitalists in Russia?
Bourgeoisie = factory owners
What is the class struggle during the Russian revolution?
Bourgeoisie VS. Proletariat (workers)
=
Land owners VS. Peasants
What are the SOCIAL causes of the Russian revolution? /4
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
Why is there a huge imbalance between the poor and the elite in Russia? /2
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
Why are the bourgeoisie unhappy with the social structure of the Russian government?
Want more government power, BUT
The Tsar is the only one with utmost government power
Who was the Tsar during the Russian revolution?
Nicholas II and Alexandra
Tsar). (Tsarina
What is the social structure of Russia during the revolution? /7
Tsar+ Tsarina ⬇️ Nobility/Aristocrats/Elite ⬇️ Russian Orthodox Church ⬇️ Military ⬇️ Bourgeoisie ⬇️ Peasants ⬇️ Farmers
What is the role of the Tsar + Tsarina in the Russian social structure?
Rule over you
What is the role of the Nobility/Aristocrats/Elite in the Russian social structure?
Govern you
Nobility inherit money
What is the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Russian social structure?
Pray for you
What is the role of the Military in the Russian social structure?
Shoot you
What is the role of the Bourgeoisie in the Russian social structure?
Eat for you
What is the role of the Peasants in the Russian social structure?
Work for you
What is the role of the Farmers in the Russian social structure?
Feed you
What is the Romanov Dynasty? /4
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
What are the POLITICAL causes of the Russian revolution?
Tsar wanted to maintain the old social structure in Russia (the pyramid)
Why did Tsar want to maintain the old social structure?
Star rules uncontested/ unchallenged
What is the Duma? /3(4)
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
Who is Rapsutin? /3
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
Why did the Tsar and Tsarina become dependent on Rasputin? /2
Romanov family believed Rasputin possessed the healing powers of God
Was able to continuously heal the Romanov heir, Alexey, for 12 years
What medical condition was the Romanov heir, Alexey, born with? /3
Hemophilia
Rare blood disorder that results in massive internal bleeding and possible death
Blood coagulation is not possible
What incident occurred on the day of Nicholas II’s coronation was seen as a bad omen of terrible events to come?
The free offering of beer during the coronation lead to over a 1000 people (including children) to be trampled to death
How did Rasputin die? /4
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
What prophecy did Rasputin make before his death?
If the Romanov family were to kill Rasputin, they will die within 2 years by the hands of the Russian population
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
Why did Nicholas II do so little to change things to prevent a revolution?
Does not want to change anything since the Romanov family has been ruling over Russia for over 300 years
How did the Tsarine, Alexandra, try to save the Romanov fortune? /2
Tsarina and her daughters sewed the royal jewels into their undergarments
Wearing millions of dollars in gems/jewelry under their clothing
Why was Rasputin hated by other aristocrats/nobility/elite? /2
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
What effect did WWI have on the Russian revolution? /8
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
Why were Russian soldiers poorly led during WWI?
Aristocrat officers are descendants of nobility, not good leaders
Why did the Tsar receive personal blame from Russia during WWI? (3
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
What consequences did WWI have on the Russian peasants?
Food production decreases (less harvests) due to the lack of men
Lack of men: Hugh casualties (death + injury)
What consequences did WWI have on the Russian workers? /4
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
What consequences did WWI have on the Russian aristocracy? /2
Rasputin has greater power in the government than they do
Officers are aristocrats’ sons = high casualty rate
What consequences did WWI have on the Russian bourgeoisie? /3
Want political power (say in government)
Frequent strikes (unions)
Lack of raw material leads to production decrease= factories start closing
What is the FIRST Russian revolution? /4
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
How does the Tsar, Nicholas II, react to the FIRST Russian revolution? /5
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
Why does the Romanov dynasty end after the Tsar Nicholas steps down? /2
Alexey can not inherit the throne since he’s too young
Michael (brother of Nicholas II) refuses when asked to take over
Who led the February 1917 Russian revolution?
Liberals and Socialists who wanted reform
What is the consequence after the Tsar steps down from the throne?
Liberals and Socialiste form a provisional (temporary) government
What difficulties does the Russian provincial government face? /3
Refuses to take Russia out of WWI
Puts off land distribution to the peasants
Economy is just as bad as before
Why does the provincial government refuse to remove Russia from WWI? Why is it ironic? /2
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
What is the SECOND Russian revolution? /3
October 1917
Provisional government lose support in Russia
Bolsheviks party gain support and overthrow the provisional government
What d the Bolsheviks promise during the SECOND Russian revolution? /2
End the war
Better control of food supplies
What is the Bolsheviks’ slogan?
PEACE! LAND! BREAD!
Which outside source also supports the Bolsheviks? Why? /2
Germany supports Vladimir Lenin’s party (Bolsheviks)
Why:
Have Russia fall apart and pull them out of WWI
Vladimir Lenin was exiled from Russia. How does he does back in? /2
Vladimir Lenin goes undercover (disguised) and begins his political revolt
Assistance from Germany: paid for his train ticket
What happened after Vladimir Lenin’s death? /2
Bolsheviks get a wide increase of support
Russia is taken out of WWI: Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
What is the Russian civil war? /3
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
What is the cause of the Russian Civil war? /2
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
Who is Joseph Stalin? /7
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
What is a gulag?
Harsh working camps in Siberia
What year was the famine in the Ukraine?
1933
How did Stalin win becoming leader of the Bolsheviks? /3
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
What was Stalin’s view on Communism? /3
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
What is totalitarianism?
When one party or group has total control of everything
