Summary 3.2 & 3.3
3.2 Problems
Russian people were already unhappy because of poverty, famines and no political power. Before WW1,
there was unrest in Russia because of three events:
1. Russia lost the Russo-Japanese war in 1905 and was ashamed
2. When citizens demonstrated and wanted reforms the Czar’s police shot at them: Bloody Sunday
3. There were rumors that the wife of the czar was cheating on him with the priest Rasputin who
influenced the government.
3.2 Socialism and communism
Karl Marx was the founder of socialism: the idea that the state should equalize economic power of
people they should revolt = class struggle, and then share the wealth, labour and land equally.
However, Russia didn’t have workers, but mostly farmers. So Lenin, leaders of the Bolshevik party,
changed the idea to communism: one party should organize a revolt of farmers and lead the country.
3.2 Two revolutions in 1917
In 1914 World War 1 starts and because farmers were fighting, not enough food was produced. The czar
abdicated and Russia got a Provisional Government = the February Revolution. The provisional
government fails to end the war GER sends Lenin to Russia. Lenin promises land, peace and bread.
Lenin and his Bolshevik Communist Party take control of the Provisional Government in the October
Revolution.
3.2 1917-1922 Civil War
From 1917 onwards Trotsky’s Communist Red Army fights against the White Army = Civil War. The
Whites (opponents of communism) threaten to free the Czar family Lenin executes them. In 1922
Lenin wins and Russia becomes the Union of soviet Socialist Republics (SU/USSR), a one-party state.
They get radical equality in wages and gender. Healthcare and education are free and improved.
3.3 Secret Service
The Communist Party (CP) was in complete control after 1922. The secret service tracked the enemies of
communism down. Criticism was not allowed: you would be sent to camps or killed. The CP controlled
trade unions, schools, sports clubs, newspapers and radio.
The CP nationalized banks and factories = they are now owned by the state. But economic output fell.
Land was controlled by the state, but farmers didn’t like that and only produced for themselves (war
communism)
3.2 Problems
Russian people were already unhappy because of poverty, famines and no political power. Before WW1,
there was unrest in Russia because of three events:
1. Russia lost the Russo-Japanese war in 1905 and was ashamed
2. When citizens demonstrated and wanted reforms the Czar’s police shot at them: Bloody Sunday
3. There were rumors that the wife of the czar was cheating on him with the priest Rasputin who
influenced the government.
3.2 Socialism and communism
Karl Marx was the founder of socialism: the idea that the state should equalize economic power of
people they should revolt = class struggle, and then share the wealth, labour and land equally.
However, Russia didn’t have workers, but mostly farmers. So Lenin, leaders of the Bolshevik party,
changed the idea to communism: one party should organize a revolt of farmers and lead the country.
3.2 Two revolutions in 1917
In 1914 World War 1 starts and because farmers were fighting, not enough food was produced. The czar
abdicated and Russia got a Provisional Government = the February Revolution. The provisional
government fails to end the war GER sends Lenin to Russia. Lenin promises land, peace and bread.
Lenin and his Bolshevik Communist Party take control of the Provisional Government in the October
Revolution.
3.2 1917-1922 Civil War
From 1917 onwards Trotsky’s Communist Red Army fights against the White Army = Civil War. The
Whites (opponents of communism) threaten to free the Czar family Lenin executes them. In 1922
Lenin wins and Russia becomes the Union of soviet Socialist Republics (SU/USSR), a one-party state.
They get radical equality in wages and gender. Healthcare and education are free and improved.
3.3 Secret Service
The Communist Party (CP) was in complete control after 1922. The secret service tracked the enemies of
communism down. Criticism was not allowed: you would be sent to camps or killed. The CP controlled
trade unions, schools, sports clubs, newspapers and radio.
The CP nationalized banks and factories = they are now owned by the state. But economic output fell.
Land was controlled by the state, but farmers didn’t like that and only produced for themselves (war
communism)
