Russian Revolution Vocabulary

Abdicate

To give up a position, right, or power

Autocracy

A system of government in which the power to rule is in the hands of a single individual

Bolsheviks

A party of revolutionary Marxists, led by Vladimir Lenin, who seized power in Russia in 1917.

Bourgeoisie

the middle class, including merchants, industrialists, and professional people

Capitalism

An economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

Censorship

Restriction on access to ideas and information

Communism

A form of socialism that abolishes private ownership

Democracy

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

Ideology

A system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.

Industrialization

The development of industries for the machine production of goods.

Manifesto

a public statement explaining the intentions, motives, or views of an individual or group

Marxism

A branch of socialism that emphasizes exploitation and class struggle and includes both communism and other approaches.

Mensheviks

Right-wing or moderate Marxists willing to cooperate with the bourgeoisie and opposed the Bolsheviks.

Monarchy

A government ruled by a king or queen

Nobility

A high-ranking social class

Peasant

a member of a class of persons who are small farmers or farm laborers of low social rank

Proletariat

working class or lower class

Propaganda

Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.

Revolution

A forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system.

Romanovs

Russian family that came to power in 1613 and ruled for three centuries.

Serf

A person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord

Socialism

A system in which society, usually in the form of the government, owns and controls the means of production.

Soviet

Representative council of workers and soldiers set up by Russian revolutionaries in 1917.

Tsar

The Russian term for ruler or king; taken from the Roman word caesar.

Vanguard

the foremost part of an army