Unit 1 Bolshevik Aims Flashcards
When was the Bolshevik Party established?
1903
Who was the Bolsheviks Party’s main target?
The increasingly outdated and repressive Tsarist regime that ruled Russia and was, after 1894, in the hands of Tsar Nicholas II
When did the Tsarist regime collapse?
February 1917
What was the Bolsheviks’ main aims?
- Get rid of upper and middle class who exploited workers and peasants under the capitalist system that had developed with the Industrial Revolution.
- Replace the system with Socialism, through which a government representing the workers would improve the living and working conditions of the people.
- Establish Communism, when people would have control over their own lives.
What was the Bolsheviks’ view of the world based on?
The writings of Karl Marx (1818-83)
What did Karl Marx see history as?
A series of struggles by one class against another to obtain material goods, which led to change. H
What did Marx see historical change as?
Passing through various stages driven by class struggles.
What were the stages Marx talked about?
- Primitive Communism
- Feudalism
- Capitalism
- Socialism
- Communism
Primitive communism in Marx’s historical change process.
Humans living in primitive communities where there were no social classes and no concept of private property.
Can be seen in many Stone Age groups, where humans lived as collectives working together as a group.
Feudalism in Marx’s historical change process.
In this phase, society would be controlled by land-owning aristocracy (nobility).
Power would be based on their ownership of land.
Power would be exercised over the peasantry, who worked the land.
Capitalism in Marx’s historical change process.
Growth of trade and industry produced in 2 new classes: the bourgeoisie (factory owners and merchants) and the proletariat (industrial workers).
Proletariat had to rely on selling themselves as labour for bourgeoisie in order to gain enough money to survive.
Proletariat would eventually rise up by own efforts and get rid of bourgeoisie.
Socialism in Marx’s historical change process.
In this phase, workers’ organisations would form a dictatorship of the proletariat to rule on their own behalf.
Food, goods and services would be distributed fairly according to need.
Communism in Marx’s historical change process.
With no shortage of goods, would be less need to regulate society.
Gov’t would be unnecessary and would gradually wither away.
Co-operation would replace competition in a classless society based on the economic principle of ‘From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.’ [Marx, 1875]
Result would be classless and stateless society.
According to Marx, a process of historical change leading from capitalism to communism was inevitable.
True or false?
True
What did Lenin believe about Marx’s process of historical change?
Lenin believed, where possible, the process of change should be helped along.
