Russian Revolution and Extremism

unit 1

extremism

the holding of political or religious views outside of our social values; fanaticism; being willing to harm others for your ideas

types of extremism

far left, far right, islamist and single issue

St Petersburg Soviet

Union of workers who wanted communism, part of the temporary government. Lenin was the leader

Stalin

Leader of Russia after Lenin. An extremism leader.

Reasons for why Stalin was ‘extreme’

The Great Terror, Gulags, Kulaks, Cult of Stalin, Treatment of minorities, and how Stalin became leader

The Great Terror

In 1936-1937, Stalin purged the communist party of leaders who were unloyal. The methods were 'mysterious’ and Stalin would hold ‘show trials’. After someone was purged, images would be made to make them ‘disappear’, like they never existed.

Gulags

A prison camp (or a system of hard labour camps) that killed their inmates. People who disagreed with communism were sent to them in Siberia etc. Around 4 million people were sent to them, and work was often pointless.

Kulaks

The middle class farmers who were against communism. 120,000 were shot and 1.8 million were deported to other areas of Russia. Farmers were forced to ‘collectivise’ their farms, making them larger and state owned. In 1932-1933, 5-7 million people starved as a result.

Cult of Stalin

Stalin was portrayed as a god-like dictator which influenced people to worship him. As Stalin centralised his power, the communist party was used to terrorise people in Russian society.

Treatment of minorities

The USSR was made up of many ethnic groups or areas such as Ukraine, that wanted to be separate. Stalin oppresed them and they were targeted in the Great Terror of 1937 (e.g Chinese, Germans, Poles). They also suffered as a result of collectivisation.

Stalin becomes leader

Stalin sided with the capitalist idea, kicked out Trotsky and then used his ideas anyway. In the 1930s, Stalin became paranoid about his opponents and put many on trial for disloyalty. These trials were filmed (show trials).

Provisional Government

Part of the temporary government. They had been infighting and were took over by the Soviets.

Anarchy

When all political structures are destroyed.

1905 revolution

4000 protestors were shot by the Stolypin’s orders after a march in St Petersburg. Named ‘Bloody Sunday’

March 1917 revolution

Soviets had control of the army because of “Order Number One” and the Tsar’s government was falling because his hown army refused to shoot demonstators and joined the revolution.

Order Number One

Meant that the Soviet had control of the army instead of the Tsar.

October 1917 revolution

The Provisional Government lost authority, and the Soviets plotted a takeover of St Petersburg and took over the Winter Palace at 2:10 am on the 26th October. The Soviets issued decrees that changed Russia, as well as leaving World War One.

Revolution

A major, sudden and violent change in government and society.

Lenin’s promise in April 1917

‘peace, land, and bread’

events of July 1918

The Tsar and his family were massacred in Ekaterinburg, where they had been held in prison. The Soviets covered up their crime and dumped their bodies.

reasons why it was difficult to rule Russia

Westerners vs Slavophiles, structure of the Tsarist state, landscape and size, diversity of the people, and rich and poor

Westerners vs Slavophiles

Westerners believed Russia should conform to Western beliefs, but Slavophiles wanted Russia to follow their own path and culture.

Structure of the Tsarist state

80% of people in Russia were peasants. There was a clear hierarchy, with the Royal family at the top and ‘urbanites’ at the bottom, who were very unhappy.

Landscape and size

The Russian Empire covered 1/6 of the world’s land surface and communication across regions was poor.

Diversity of the people

The Russian Empire brought people of many different nationalities to various regions with Russians making up only half the population.

Rich and poor

Many urban workers were ex-peasants and worked in factories and mines. They worked in very bad conditions and there were lots of deaths as a result.

reasons for the Russian revolution

leaders (good or bad), first world war, poverty and hunger

leaders (good or bad)

long term and short term cause. Lenin was welcomed as he promised peace, land and bread. Tsar Nicholas II and the provisional governemnt did not withdraw from World War One. Stolypin massacred 4000 people in 1905.

Poverty/hunger

long term cause. People protested about terrible living conditions, and were very desperate. They had long been suffering from a lack of food.

First World War

short term cause. The Russian people had no desire to fight in World War One. There were millions of deaths and yet they did not withdraw troops, so morale was very low.

radicalisation

the process in which someone is persuaded to have extremist views