Russian Communism and Revolution

• Russian Communism involved key terms such as proletariat (the working class), soviet (councils of workers and soldiers), and commissar (government officials).

March Revolution and WWI Impact

• The March Revolution occurred due to the impact of World War I, including lack of infrastructure, logistics, and the influence of Rasputin.
• The monarchy collapsed in 1917, with demonstrations in St. Petersburg.
• The Duma took over, continuing the war and attempting to create a constitution.
• Revolutionary socialists formed soviets, councils of workers, and soldiers.

Lenin's Rise

• Lenin adapted Marxist ideas to fit Russian conditions.
• Lenin, along with Stalin and Trotsky, led the Bolsheviks.

November Revolution and Civil War

• Bolsheviks (Red Guards) took over the Duma with little bloodshed during the November Revolution.
• The Bolsheviks implemented communist ideologies after taking charge.
• The takeover initiated the Russian Civil War between the Whites (opponents of the Bolsheviks) and the Reds (Bolsheviks).
• The Allies attempted to aid the Whites, fostering distrust as the Reds appealed to Russian nationalism.
• The Bolsheviks promised Peace, Land, and Bread.
• War communism involved the takeover of everything.
• The civil war concluded in 1921 with significant costs.

Post-Revolution USSR

• Lenin established the Cheka, a secret police force, and implemented a command economy.
• Collective farms were introduced.
• Kulaks were targeted.
• In 1922, Communists created a constitution, declaring all political power, resources, and means of production belonged to the workers and peasants, supervised by the government.
• The country became the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics).

New Economic Policy (N.E.P.)

• The N.E.P. allowed some capitalist ventures.
• It helped the Soviet economy recover.

Stalin's Ascent

• Lenin died in 1924, leading to a power struggle between Stalin and Trotsky.
• Although Lenin was not entirely confident in Stalin, Stalin could relate to the people more effectively than Trotsky.
• Stalin had Trotsky arrested and exiled, and Trotsky was later assassinated in Mexico.

Stalin's Rule

• Stalin established a cult of personality.
• Implemented Five-Year Plans using a command economy model, with all decisions made through central planning by the government.
• The government owned everything.
• Set high production goals, especially for heavy industry.
• Significant progress was made, but workers saw little improvement in their standard of living, and many remained poor.
• Central planning was inefficient, causing shortages, especially of consumer goods.
• Some former peasants acquired new skills, but overall production could not match capitalist countries.

Collectivization and Purges

• Stalin initiated the collectivization of agriculture, declaring the liquidation of the kulaks "as a class".
• The Gulag labor camps were expanded.
• Stalin used terror as a political weapon.
• The Great Purge (1934-1938) targeted various groups, including Western sympathizers, Bolsheviks, and communists.

Totalitarian State

• Stalin created a totalitarian state.
• Pravda was the official newspaper.
• Censorship was widespread.
• Socialist Realism was promoted in the arts.
• The Comintern was established to promote international communism.
• Russification was implemented to promote Russian culture and language.
• The government promoted atheism.

Social Structure and Social Programs

• Despite claims of a classless society there was still an elite class.
• The Communist Party was not open to everyone, and most people were excluded.
• Social benefits such as medical care, day care, inexpensive housing, and public recreation were provided.
• Under communism, women were granted equality under the law, access to education, and the ability to work in various professions.

Explore Russian Communism, its key terms, and the March and November Revolutions. Learn about Lenin's rise, the impact of World War I, and the subsequent Russian Civil War. Summarizing the significant events and figures in the Russian Revolution.