Revolution and Nationalism Notes

Revolutions in Russia

  • Long-term social unrest led to revolution and the first communist government.
  • Alexander III halted reforms and used harsh measures to suppress revolutionaries.
  • Nicholas II continued autocratic rule but was blind to changing conditions.
  • Rapid industrialization led to poor working conditions and discontent.
  • Marxist revolutionaries aimed for a "dictatorship of the proletariat."
  • Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, sought committed revolutionaries willing to sacrifice everything for change.
  • Crises such as the Russo-Japanese War and Bloody Sunday weakened the Czar.
  • World War I further exposed the weaknesses of Czarist rule.
  • The March Revolution forced Czar Nicholas II to abdicate.
  • A provisional government was established, but it lacked strong leadership.
  • Lenin returned to Russia and the Bolsheviks gained control.
  • The Bolshevik Revolution toppled the provisional government.
  • Lenin distributed farmland to peasants and control of factories to workers.
  • The Bolshevik government signed a truce with Germany, surrendering territory.
  • A civil war ensued between the Bolsheviks' Red Army and the White Army.
  • The Red Army crushed the opposition, leading to Bolshevik victory.
  • Lenin implemented the New Economic Policy (NEP), allowing some private ownership.
  • Russia was organized into self-governing republics under the USSR.
  • The Communist Party held all the power, establishing a dictatorship.
  • Stalin became dictator after Lenin's death, eliminating Trotsky.

Totalitarianism

  • Totalitarianism is a government with total, centralized state control over every aspect of public and private life.
  • Totalitarian leaders use terror, indoctrination, propaganda, censorship, and persecution to dominate.
  • Stalin built a police state to maintain power, using secret police and informants.
  • The Great Purge eliminated anyone who threatened Stalin's power.
  • The government controlled all media and used it for propaganda.
  • Education was controlled to indoctrinate people with Communist beliefs.
  • Religious persecution aimed to replace religious teachings with communism.
  • Stalin implemented a command economy with Five-Year Plans.
  • Collectivization of agriculture led to resistance and mass starvation.
  • Industrial production increased, but consumer goods were limited.
  • Women gained rights and opportunities but also faced heavy burdens.

Imperial China Collapses

  • China faced humiliation from foreign powers and sought modernization and nationalism.
  • The Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) aimed to overthrow the Qing dynasty.
  • Sun Yixian became president of the new Republic of China but lacked authority.
  • Yuan Shikai betrayed democratic ideals, and civil war broke out after his death.
  • The Warlord Era divided China until 1928.
  • The Treaty of Versailles gave Chinese territories to Japan, sparking the May Fourth Movement.
  • The Chinese Communist Party was formed in 1921, with Mao Zedong as a founder.
  • Mao envisioned a revolution in rural areas with peasants as the key force.
  • Sun Yixian allied the Kuomintang with the Communist Party.
  • Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-shek) took over the Kuomintang after Sun's death and turned against the Communists.
  • Nationalist troops massacred Communist leaders in Shanghai.
  • Civil war raged between Nationalists and Communists.
  • Mao established himself in the hills of south-central China.
  • The Long March was a hazardous journey by Communist forces to escape Nationalist forces.
  • Japan invaded Manchuria and launched an all-out invasion of China.
  • Nationalists and Communists temporarily united to fight the Japanese.

Nationalism in Southwest Asia

  • The Ottoman Empire dissolved after World War I, stirring nationalist activity.
  • The Young Turk Revolution aimed to restore the Constitution of 1876.
  • The Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers in World War I and was partitioned after the war.
  • European powers governed many new nations, disregarding ethnic history.
  • Mustafa Kemal led Turkish nationalists in fighting back the Greeks and overthrew the last Ottoman sultan.
  • In 1923, Kemal became the president of the new Republic of Turkey and implemented sweeping reforms.
  • Kemal's reforms separated Islamic laws from national laws, granted women rights, and spurred economic growth.
  • Persia became Iran under Reza Shah Pahlavi, who modernized the country.
  • Saudi Arabia, under Abd al-Aziz Ibn Saud, kept strictly to Islamic law and traditions.
  • Oil discoveries led to rapid economic changes and development in the region.
  • Western nations sought to dominate the region due to its oil resources.