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ESWH3 - Unit 2 Study Guide

Big Concepts

  • Totalitarianism: A political system where the state holds total authority over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life.

    • Example: Stalin's regime in the USSR.

  • Communism: A political and economic ideology advocating for a classless society in which all property is publicly owned, and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.

    • Example: Lenin and the Bolshevik Revolution."

  • Democracy: A system of government by the whole population, typically through elected representatives.

    • Significance: The contrast between democracy and totalitarianism during the Cold War.

  • Spheres of Influence: Regions where a particular country has exclusive rights and influence.

    • Significance: These shaped international relations during the 20th century.

Geography

  • Where is Russia?: Located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, spans the continents of Europe and Asia.
  • What is the capital? Where is it?: The capital is Moscow, situated in the western part of Russia.
  • What important countries border Russia?: Important bordering countries include China, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan.

Vocabulary Terms and Definitions

  • Proletariat: The working class; significant as they were pivotal in Marxist theory regarding revolution.

  • Bloody Sunday: A massacre of peaceful protesters in 1905, leading to unrest and the 1905 Revolution.

  • Bolsheviks: A faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party that led the October Revolution.

  • Lenin: Leader of the Bolsheviks, known for his role in the Russian Revolution and establishing Soviet rule.

  • Provisional government: The temporary government established after the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II; significant for its inability to address social issues.

  • Soviet: A council of workers' and soldiers' deputies; played a key role during the revolutions of 1917.

  • Communist Party: The ruling party of the Soviet Union, significant for its authoritarian policies and ideology.

  • Joseph Stalin: Leader after Lenin, known for his totalitarian regime and rapid industrialization.

  • Great Purge: A period of political repression in the late 1930s marked by the persecution of dissenters within the Communist Party.

  • Command economy: An economic system where the government makes all economic decisions; key to the Soviet Union's structure.

  • Five-Year Plan: A series of nation-wide centralized economic plans in the USSR aimed at rapid industrialization.

  • Collective farm: Government-managed farms aimed at consolidating individual landholdings; significant in Soviet agriculture policies.

  • Iron curtain: A term used to describe the division between communist and non-communist countries in Europe during the Cold War.

  • Containment: A U.S. strategy to prevent the spread of communism abroad, significant in defining Cold War policies.

  • Truman Doctrine: U.S. policy to support countries resisting Soviet influence; marked a shift towards active containment.

  • Marshall Plan: U.S. program providing aid to Western Europe post-WWII to prevent the spread of communism by stabilizing economies.

  • Cold War: A state of political tension between the Soviet Union and the Western powers after WWII, characterized by ideological, military, and economic rivalry.

  • NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization): Military alliance formed in 1949 for mutual defense against aggression; significant in Cold War dynamics.

  • Warsaw Pact: A military alliance of communist nations in response to NATO; further entrenched the divide in Europe.

  • Brinkmanship: The practice of pursuing a dangerous policy to the limits of safety before stopping, common during Cold War crises.

Big Questions

CH30.1
  • Autocratic methods of Alexander III: Used oppressive measures, censorship, and political repression to maintain control.
  • Economic changes under Nicholas II: Attempted industrialization led to social upheaval and economic strain; ultimately failed to address the needs of the populace.
  • Causes of unrest in Russia: Poverty, rapid industrialization, political repression, and military failures contributed to popular dissent.
  • Crisis preceding the March Revolution: Factors included military defeat, food shortages, and public discontent with the monarchy.
  • Bolshevik Revolution: Overthrew the Provisional Government through an organized coup, leading to the establishment of a socialist state.
  • What happened after the Bolsheviks took power?: Sought to consolidate power, implement reforms, and faced civil war; maintained power ultimately through significant control measures.
  • Events of 1917-1920: Included the October Revolution, civil war (Red vs. White Armies), and international isolation.
  • Industrialization and the revolution: Industrial growth produced a working class that became a catalyst for revolutionary thought and actions.
  • Who was Lenin?: Key revolutionary leader whose ideas and actions shaped the early Soviet state with his policies of socialism and state control.
  • Lenin’s reforms: Instituted peace, land, and bread slogan, nationalization of industry, and redistribution of land.
  • Stalin’s rise to power: Through political maneuvering, purges, and role as General Secretary, he outmaneuvered rivals.
CH30.2
  • Stalin’s goals: Rapid industrialization and collectivization of agriculture to transform USSR into a global power.
  • State-controlled economic programs: Included centralized planning, Five-Year Plans, and collectivization aiming for self-sufficiency.
  • Consumer goods production limits: Focused resources on heavy industry, neglecting consumer needs, which led to shortages.
  • Revolutionary education under Stalin: Promoted state ideology, patriotism, and technological advancement; education was a tool for indoctrination.
  • Maintaining power: Used terror, purges, propaganda, and control of the Communist Party to suppress opposition.
CH33.1
  • End of US-Soviet alliance post-WWII: The ideological divide deepened over the fate of Europe; mistrust and competition emerged.
  • Outcomes: Formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact; the onset of the Cold War, with an arms race and proxy wars.
  • Soviet domination of Eastern Europe: Established communist governments in Eastern European countries to create a buffer zone against the West.
  • Russia's stance on Germany reunification: Fears of a strong, united Germany aligned with Western powers; aimed to maintain control over Eastern Europe.
  • Arms race impact: Increased military tensions and the threat of nuclear war characterized the relationship between the USSR and the US.