russian rev and totalitarianism

Bourgeoisie Power: Gained through economic means (Marx & Engels).

October Revolution: The Bolsheviks became the ruling party led by Vladimir Lenin.

Event Summary: Coup against Provisional Government in 1917.

Post-October Power: Shared between Bolsheviks and Soviet Congress.

Civil War Outcome: The Bolsheviks (Reds) defeated the anti-Bolshevik forces (Whites).

Key Concepts:

• Cult of personality: Leader portrayed as infallible.

• Totalitarianism: Government seeks total control.

Royal Family: The Romanovs were executed during the Civil War.

Marxist Theory:

• Class struggle is the engine of history.

• Communism aims for a classless society with public ownership.

Important Figures:

• Joseph Stalin Succeeded Lenin in 1924.

• Eisenstein: Notable filmmaker (e.g., "Battleship Potemkin").

Communist Party: The official newspaper was Pravda.

Kulaks: Well-to-do peasants who resisted collectivization.

Bolsheviks The faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party that seized power in the October Revolution, led by Vladimir Lenin. 

October Revolution A coup led by the Bolsheviks in 1917 that resulted in the overthrow of the Provisional Government in Russia.

 Whites Anti-Bolshevik forces during the Russian Civil War, including monarchists and other groups opposed to the Reds. 

Bolshevik Victory The Bolsheviks (Reds) won the Russian Civil War. 

Cult of Personality A political system where a leader is presented as infallible and heroic, often through propaganda. 

Totalitarianism A type of government seeking total control over all aspects of public and private life. 

Romanov Family The royal family executed during the Russian Civil War. 

Class Struggle According to Marx, the engine of history.

 Pravda The Communist Party's official newspaper. 

Kulaks Wealthy peasants in Russia who resisted collectivization. 

Five-Year Plans Stalin's industrialization strategy aimed at rapid economic growth. 

Abolition of Property The economic policy closest to The Communist Manifesto, advocating for public ownership of land. 

Bolshevik Power Sharing The Bolsheviks and the Soviet Congress shared power after the October Revolution

Joseph Stalin The leader who succeeded Lenin after his death in 1924. 

Eisenstein's Films Notable Soviet films included 'Battleship Potemkin'. 

Communism's Goal The establishment of a classless society where all property is publicly owned. 

Marx's View on Capitalism A Marxist would NOT want private ownership of the means of production. Kulaks Wealthy peasants who resisted collectivization. 

Great Purge A campaign of political repression in the Soviet Union during the late 1930s. 

Totalitarianism A political system where the state seeks total control over its citizens. 

Joseph Stalin Leader who succeeded Lenin in 1924 and developed a totalitarian regime. Bolsheviks The faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party led by Lenin that seized power in 1917. 

Five Year Plan Stalin's economic policy aimed at rapid industrialization and collectivization. 

March Revolution An uprising in 1917 that led to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. 

Menshevik A faction of the Russian socialist movement that opposed the Bolsheviks. 

Soviet A council representing workers' and soldiers' interests. 

Provisional Government The temporary government established after the abdication of Nicholas II. 

Rasputin A mystic and advisor to the Romanov family, influential prior to the Russian Revolution. 

Lenin Leader of the Bolsheviks and head of the Russian government after the October Revolution. 

Proletariat The working class, particularly in relation to Marxist theory. 

• Red Army The army of the Bolshevik government. 

• White Army The anti-Bolshevik forces in the Russian Civil War. 

• Leon Trotsky Key figure in the Bolshevik Revolution and leader of the Red Army.

•  New Economic Policy Lenin's policy to stabilize the economy by allowing some private enterprise. 

• Red Terror A campaign of political repression and violence carried out by the Bolsheviks. 

• Traits of Totalitarianism Includes propaganda, censorship, and the suppression of dissent. 

• Command Economy An economic system where the government makes all economic decisions.

•  Soviet Realism An artistic movement that glorified communism and Soviet life. 

• Alexander III Emperor of Russia known for his oppressive policies and suppression of dissent.

•  Duma The legislative body of the Russian Empire. Bloody Sunday The 1905 incident where peaceful protesters were shot by the Tsar's troops. 

• Russo-Japanese War A conflict between Russia and Japan (1904- 1905) over territorial disputes. 

• Nicholas II The last Emperor of Russia, abdicated in 1917. 

• Pogroms Violent riots aimed at the massacre or persecution of an ethnic group, particularly Jews. 

  • Treaty of Brest-Litovsk The peace treaty signed by the Bolshevik government and Germany in 1918. 

  • Collective Farm A large farm owned and operated collectively by a group of farmers.

• October/November Revolution The 1917 revolution that resulted in the Bolsheviks taking power. Alexander Kerensky The leader of the Provisional Government before the Bolshevik takeover.