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