Communism in russia

pg 1-15. will be updated near exams

what is capitalism

one of the two dominating systyms in the 20th century. Emerged after the industrial revolution (1750 to 1850) characterized by private ownership of production and market-driven economy.

economic system in which corporations and private individuals control means of production in order to make proft. workers genreally exploited for labour

characteristics of capitalism

private industries (capitalists) controlled wealth of the state- owned means of production,

capitalist employed workers and pay low wages in order to make bigger profits. workers (proletariat) were often exploited

worker were poor in comparison to capitalists

• Russia against capitalism. Russia become first ever communist state in 1917

what is communism

economic system in which the means of production are owned by the state and people work for the good of society rather than to make profit.

characteristics of communism

• workers control means of production. mines, farmland and industries are nationalized/ taken over by state

• no divisions between rich and poor (classless)

• everyone works for the good of society rather than to make a profit. no private-wealth

proletariast

the working class, especially industrial workers, who sell labour for wages

who did communism come out of

Karl marx

who was karl marx

German political thinker. wrote the communist manifesto and das Kapital. He was dismayed that the bourgeoise (middle class) had all the power and wealth while the proletariat was trapped in poverty

what did Marx believe in

• the rich (haves) were overthrown by the poor (have-nots) throughout history

• bourgeoisie used the proletariat to make profit

• in a class struggle; the proletariat would rise up. He believe a violent revolution was necessary as the bourgeoisie would never share power and wealth

• the workers would operate workplaces by themselves as a group

• after revolution, proletariat would have the power. a dictatorship would be established and society would be classless.

• the dictatorship would be a transitional phase

  • eventually a classless society would emerge without a need for government

what is step 1 of the process to communism (the revolution of proletariat)

the proletariat would rise up and overthrow in a violent revolution

step 2 of the proccess to communism (dictatorship of proletariat)

all industries and land would be seized. a dictatorship would be established

step 3 to communism (socialism)

a transitional phase between capitalism and communism during which the state would control the nations resources and provide for peoples needs

step 4 to communism (communist society)

everyone would be equal and all resources would be shared in a classless society and the need for government would disappear

what does karl marx mean by “dictatorship of the proletariat”?

political domination of one class.

capitalism- bourgeoisie had power and wealth at the expense of poletariat. in the class struggle they would be overthrown. dictatorship would be established but is only transitional leading to a classless society.

Who was Russia ruled over

The Romanov Dynasty for about 300 years.

the Russian revolution in 1917 changed from an autocratic to the first ever communistic state

what was the communistic state called

The union of Soviet Socialist Repluics

what was the political structure of Russia in the 19h century

Russa was autocxratic, ruled by the emperors called Tsars. Tsar Nicholas the 2nd began his rule in 1894

• all power was hid. appointed ministers, relied on support from officials,army and the nobles to carry out orders

  • Nicholas 2 was a kind and gentle who was a weak ruler.

why did the tsar and his family become increasily unpopular

• Russian gov. was incompetent

• Nicholas 2 had married a German princess, Alexandra. Empress not well liked, arrogant and aloof

  • under the influence of a holy man called Rasputin (in particular the empress)

why was the russaim society deeply divided

• unequal division of wealth and privileged

• wealthy nobles owned land. occupied high positions in army and administration. Nobles enjoyed wealth and privileged class (bourgeoisie) formed only 3% of population and consisted of civil servants and doctors, lawyers and teacher. were educated and comfortably well-off

• 85% of population were peasants who lived in self-governing village communes. Either owned small plots of land or worked on the nobles; land. few peasants' could read or write and lived in poverty

  • Urban working class was relatively small and lived under dreadful conditions

Russian economy

Economically Russa was behind western Europe.

peasants used old fashioned farming methods and productivity was low

industries were not as advanced as those in western Europe

Industrialization in Russia had only begun at the end of the 19th century

lacked infrastructure and there were insufficient roads, canals and railways. the trans-Siberian railway line links the west and east was only completed in 1913

what conditions were ther for urban workers

overcrowded slums on outskirts of industrials cities

housing was scarce → some workers lived in dormitories or in the factories.

work was long hours and paid very little

why was the russian population opposed to tsar nicholas 2

in 1900 peasants lived in extreme poverty. most shared land called communes and farmed on small strips of land

an increase in population= less land for each peasant. they battled to produce enough food for families as well as feed their families. Frustrated with their conditions and wanted change.

unrest broke out in 1902 because of bad harvests. peasants ransacked the landowners stores of grain (silos) and seized stretches of land

how did discontent with autocracy lead to the formation of revolutionary political parties

-political parties forbidden in Russia bc N2 was an autocrat, believed people should be completely obedient to him.

Anyone in political activity was deemed an enemy and arrested by Okhrana

in spite of dangers, those opposed and formed revolutionary groups who aimed to overthrow Tsar.

Social Democrats

A revolutionary group.

led by Plekhanov, adopted marx’s ideas

→ social democrats believed that industry mining and banking should be controlled by the proletariat.

believed in seizing power by means of revolution

Plekhanov summarized his party’s beliefs in 1889

Why were the social democrats split

There was a disagreement in Brussels in 1903.

The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, wanted a disciplined group of revolutionaries to seize power by force.

The Mensheviks, led by Julius Martov believed that change would happen when the working class had increased in size and capitalism was fully developed (Marx)

This split in ideology created two factions within the Social Democrats, resulting in significant divergences in strategy and approach towards revolution.

Bolsheviks v.s Mensheviks

Bolsheviks: (majority)

• aim was to overthrow Tsar and establish a communist state

• a central committee would control a small group of professional revolutionaries

• propaganda, strikes and demonstrations would be used to bring about worker and peasant revolution

Mensheviks: (minority)

• aim was to overthrow the Tsar and establish a communist state

• organization would have a mass membership drawn from the trade unions.

• revolution would occur once Russia was a fully capitalist and the peasants had become part of the proletariat and joined trade unions.

Social revolutionaries

Social revolutionary movement was formed in 1901. believed that since Russia was largely agricultural, the peasants should be involved in the overtaking

land would be seized from nobles and church

land would be controlled by village communities instead of being privately owned

small, secret groups of social revolutionaries assassinated the Tsar’s officials as a way of weakening the Tsar’s power

supported by peasants

Constitutional Demlocrats

Industrialists, merchants and intellectuals. formed in 1905

political program:

→ get rid of corrupt police and officials

→ limit the powers of the Tsars so that he became a constitutional monarch (a king who had to abide by a constitution)

→introduce a democratically elected parliament

what was the immediate cause of the 1905 revolution

n2 ignored the growing unrest, believed god had given him authority.

dealt with foreign affairs instead of of internal affairs

n2 had ambitions of extending Russian influence in the far east so he could call himself the “emperor of the pacific”

this caused conflict between Russia and Japan because:

• The Chinese empire was weak and both Russia and Japan took control of Chinese land in the east

• the Russians took over land in Manchuria and claimed port Arthur as a base for their navy in the pacific. the tsar wanted to extend influence to Korea

• Japan controlled land in Korea but wanted land in Manchuria as well.

Tensions increased in 1903 the land disputes could have been settled diplomatically by the tsar did not want to compromise his desire to expand influence on Korea

on 8 feb 1904, Japanese attacked port Arthur and Russia declared war on Japan (prev. Russian naval base)

war w japan

n2 was in favour of war w japan, convinced it would untie russian people and end unrest.

Russia had biggest army, tsar sure it would be a quick victory.

this would not be possible because:

• to reach the warfront on the pacific, troops and supplies had to make a 6 day journey on the single trans-serbian railway. Japanese trains were much shorter

• The russian and Japanese armies met at mukden and after 2 weeks, japan was victorious

• japanese laid siege to port arthur and prevented ships of the russian fleet to leave harbour

• n2 ordered a baltic fleet (russian navy in europe) to sail half way arounf the world to assist the pacific fleet. after 8 month trip around africa and through the indian ocean, russain arrived in far east.

• as the russain baltic fleet sailed through the straits of Tsushima, the japanese attacked and sunk or destroyed most russian ships.

Russias humiliating defeat increased unrest and demands for reform. the cost of war led to conditions worsening as there was a shortage of food and prices were rising

The 1905 revolution

Unrest breaking out in st petersburg in jan 1905. began with strikes in factories. followed with a demonstration led by Father Gapon (Priest and trade union leader). He drew up a petitions:

• better working conditions

• parliament chosen by people

• freedom of speech

• end of war with japan

on sunday 22 jan 1905. Father Gapon lead 150 000 workers to the Winter palace to present the petition to the Tsar. Wore best clothes, sang hymms and carried pictures of the tsar.

When crowd reached the palace. The Cossacks (soldiers on horses form Volga region) charged with guns and shot them.

200 killed and thousands wounded.

attack known as ‘Bloody sunday (massacre)”