Communism in Russia 1900-1940 Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about Communism in Russia from 1900-1940.

Communism

A political and economic ideology advocating for a classless society where the means of production are owned and controlled by the community as a whole.

The Communist Manifesto

Written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, this document outlines the basic principles of communism.

Das Kapital

Karl Marx's critique of political economy.

Bourgeoisie

The ruling class in a capitalist society, owning the means of production.

Proletariat

The working class in a capitalist society, who sell their labor for wages.

Nationalisation

A system where the government takes control of the economy.

Marxism-Leninism

Lenin's adaptation of Marxist theory to suit Russia's largely agrarian society.

1905 Revolution

A period of political and social upheaval in Russia that began in 1905 as a result of worker discontent and military defeats.

October Manifesto

A decree issued by Tsar Nicholas II in response to the 1905 Revolution, promising political reforms and civil liberties.

Duma

Russia's first elected legislative body, established as a result of the October Manifesto.

Bolsheviks

Radical Marxist faction led by Vladimir Lenin.

February Revolution of 1917

The February Revolution forced Tsar Nicholas to abdicate.

April Theses

Lenin's program that aimed to end Russian participation in World War I and redistribute land to the peasantry.

October Revolution of 1917

Also known as the Bolshevik Revolution, this event led to the overthrow of the Provisional Government and the establishment of a Bolshevik regime.

Russian Civil War

A conflict fought between the Bolsheviks (Reds) and their opponents (Whites) from 1917 to 1922.

War Communism

An economic system implemented by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War to mobilize resources for the war effort.

New Economic Policy (NEP)

A policy introduced by Lenin in 1921 to revive the Soviet economy after the devastation of the Russian Civil War.

Five Year Plans

Stalin's plan to transform the Soviet Union from an agrarian society into an industrial power.

Stalin's Purges

A period of intense political repression and purges in the Soviet Union during the late 1930s.

NKVD

An organization that was used to find opposition during Stalin's rule.

Show Trials

Public trials were held and old Bolsheviks were forced to confess publicly for a variety of crimes.

Gulags

Political prisoners were sent here and forced to work on public works programs or in the mines.

Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

A pact signed between the Soviet Union and Germany in 1939, prior to Germany's invasion of Poland.

Poland

A Soviet satellite state in Eastern Europe.