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The Communist Manifesto
The Communist Manifesto is a short book, written by Karl Marx, proposing the theory of communism. This theory states the faults of capitalism, and the extent of the laborer’s or proleterait's pain from capitalism. However, with communism, this economic system would comprise the integrity of the proletariat by abolishing private trade and etc. Significantly, the Communist Manifesto inspired and dictated many of Lenin’s and Stalin's terrible choices in the future. -
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The Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War began from both Russia's and Japan's impearilistic motives of Pacific empire expansion. Most specifically, Russia sought the physical industrial wealth of Korea and Manchuria, however were thwarted by Japan. This served as humiliating experience for the Romanov dynasty and this event was the "last straw" for revolutionaries displeased by the Tsarist regime. This significantly led to the undermining of government political authority and need for political change.
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The Bloody Sunday
This affair initiated the Revolution of 1905 over the Tsarist regime. Tsarist troops opened fire on a group of protestors who sought for the Tsar's help. Overall, with 130 killed and hundred's wounded, this event significantly potrayed the utter incompetence of the goverment's dealings with dissatisfied populace. This eventually led to the further breaking of this government. Ironically, many workers who supported the Tsar joined the revolutionaries: the Bolsheviks, Mensheviks and Liberals. -
The October Manifesto
In response to the revolution, Tsar Nicholas II proposed the October Manifesto. This manifesto addressed the unrest in Russia and promised to grant civil liberties (such as personal immunity) and the creation of the assembly, Duma. However, the October Manifesto was not followed and the Tsar reneged on most of his promises (i.e: dismissed the Duma.) The failure of this manifesto significantly shows the Tsar's further downfall, and giving the opposition groups a focal point within the Duma. -
Rise of the Soviets
After Bloody Sunday, the Tsar attempted to give the unrest public (peasents, proleteraits, etc) few concessions. These "solutions" did not work and the revolution continued. Finally, experienced workers and peasent learnt some organinzation, successfully carried out the most successful general strike in history. This significanly rose the first Soviet formed in St. Petersberg. The Soviets were Marxist revolutionary workers that fundamentally takes part in Russia's upcoming politics. -
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The World War One
With Russia's participation in it's first international conflict, the war exagerrated their existing problems. The Tsarist regime took advantage of this great nationalistic cause in feeble attempt to forget about internal troubles. In the contrary, this event proved the government's incapabiltiy to organize an efficient war effort like managing the country's political and economic systems. The 1.5 million desertions by 1917, played an important part in the continuation of the revolutions.
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The First March Revolution
With the terrible Tsarist regime, there had been increasing strikes and widespread food shortages. Finally, 200,000 strikers joined women, waiting in bread lines, protesting the overthrow of the Tsar. In return, the Tsar ordered his top troops called Cossacks to fire upon them, but refused and instead joined the protestors. This act notably was the reason for the revolution's success. By the end of the day, the protestors controlled Petrograd. -
The Abdication of the Tsar Nicholas II
After the control of Petrograd, Moscow had fallen and the Tsar abdicated his throne. He measly gives his throne to his brother, but he refused. He is sent under house arrest in a cottage or dacha near Moscow. This refusal truly emphasized the ruling of an autocratic country with various of economic problems was proven difficult. This abdication led to Russia becoming a republic. -
The Provisonal Government
After the abdication of the Tsar, the Duma (created by the Tsar) and the Soviet (workers elected directly from factories) formed together the Provisional Government. The goals of this republic included forming a constituent assembly with a universal secret ballot and legalizing strikes. Significantly, this government was proof of the ending of Tsarism. Although this government had many weakness and shortcomings, like not geting Russia out of the war and lack the mandate to take action. -
Lenin's April Thesis
Lenin who had been exile for his revolutionary ideas was smuggled back to Russia through Germany. He was disturbed public's unwillingness to push revolution against the Provisional Government. Henceforth, Lenin gives his famous "April Thesis" in Petrograd. This is where he gives his slogan "Peace, Bread, and Land" adressing the problems facing Russia. This significantly formed the basis of the revolutionaries' fight and Lenin was gained recognition amongst the Bolsheviks and Soviets. -
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July Days
This is the first event leading to the last stages of the Provisional Government. Revolutionaries, such as radical soldiers, and other mobs tried with the Bolsheviks to seize power and overthrow the government. It failed, because the Soviet did not endorse the rebellion. This potrays the increasing strength of the Soviets.
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The Fleeing of Lenin
After the failure of the rebellion taken place during July 16 and 18, Lenin was forced to flee to Finland from the angry Provisional Government. He was accused of being a German agent and was simply seen as a threat. Despite his circumstances, Lenin was still able to control the Bolsheviks in Russia. This significantly shows the influence and power that Lenin has towards the Marxist rebellion movement. -
The State Conference
This affair was commenced through the rebellions in the July Days. This included present and past leaders coming to meet to solve many of Russia's problems. However, this conference emphasised and stated the rift between Marxist and non-Marxist believers and the conference was in shambles. However, an alliance was formed between the Social Democratics (communists), led by Kerensky, and the Constitutional Democratics (liberals), led by General Kornilov. -
The Kornilov Affair/Conspiracy
With the recent alliance of Kerensky and Kornilov, they both agreed to dispatch troops to Petrograd through threats of the government. However, at the same time, Kornilov betrayed Kerensky (through the army) and wanted to replace Kerensky as prime minister. Kerensky appealed for help from Kornilov and was saved by the Red Guards/ Bolsheviks Significantly, it showed power they had and the influence of the army was reduced. This helped Lenin's reign, because he controlled the Bolsheviks. -
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The Bolshevik/October Revolution
With the gain of Bolshevik power with the Kornilov Affair and increasing political tension of Marxism (communism) from Lenin's rule, evidentally there would be a shift of power. The Bolsheviks gained control of Petrograd in October 13 and took Moscow in October 23. Lenin was returned from exile in the 23rd and together arrested the Provisonal Government and seized power in November 17. Importantly, the Russian government now followed Marxism led by Lenin and was no longer a republic!
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The New Government led by Lenin
Lenin finally had government leadership with fellow leaders Trotsky and Stalin. This new government was established under the Council of the People's Commissars and consisted of Bolsheviks with supreme power. Simply, Lenin led the country with his Marxism. The first two initiatives of this government included the war should end immediately, and peasents formally seize their own land. Significantly Lenin's government actually fufilled thier promises, unlike the Tsar. PIC -
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The Civil War
The Civil War consisted of Reds and Whites. The Whites intitally wanted to fight in WWI, but rose to challenge the Red (or Communist) control in Russia. The Whites drew strength from Tsarist Army Officers, for i.e, and the Reds were Lenin and the Bolsheviks. For the majority of this war, the Whites had support from allies of Japan, for i.e, to defeat the Reds. However, the allies did help them and the Reds won.
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Old Assembly's Last Attempt in Democracy
The old assembly of the Provisional government met in a last, desperate attempt to restore democracy in Russia's government. However, Lenin had the Bolsheviks or Red Troops disperse them. This is significant, because no form of military or police would support the assembly or stand up to the Red Troops. This showed the invicibiility of Lenin's recent government. -
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The War Communism
The War Communism was a method of economic recovery from WWI by Lenin's government. It consisted of 3 points: nationalization of industry- causing private industry to disappear almost, compulsory labour and the suppression of private trade- be replaced with rationing and government distribution of goods. This system did not please the peasents, because this system also introduced a unfairful food levy. This odred peasents to turn in their majority produce for the Red Army and "everyone".
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The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
This treaty was a peace negotiation with Germany to end their contribution in WWI. Lenin signed this treaty with their once enemy, because he believed that young government could not tackle the huge problems facing Russia and continue to fight in the war. In exhacnge for truce from Germany, Lenin only gave up huge parcels of land. Significantly this ended Russia involvement with the war. -
The New Economic Policy (N.E.P)
This was launched through the failure of War Communism and Lenin's felxibility with Marxism was tested in this new economic recovery method. This includes: some private trade was permitted, peasents were allowed to sell surplus and workers in small factories could have private ownerships. Notably, N.E.P had elements of capitalism. Lenin was fortunate to comprimise his Marxist ideals for what Russian's citzens wants. Also, this is the first successfull compromise of any government in Russia. -
The Treaty of Rapallo
Lenin's government when declined involvement in the Treaty of Versailles entered agreement with Germany.This was a healthy partnership for both of these countries, since they were the most affected economically in the WWI. It was agreed that Russia would manufacture illegal war matierals for Germany and it was agreed the Russia would receive steel manufacturing technology from Germany. This is significant, because under duress of Russian politics, Russia realized it needed to expand industrially -
The Death of Lenin
Previously Lenin had been shot in 1921, but never fully recovered. Henceforth he died shortly in 1924, said over work. This death significantly ensued the power struggle or conflict between his fellow leaders: Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. Either one of them would rule U.S.S.R (once know as Russia) till the Second World War -
Stalin vs Trotsky Power Struggle
After Lenin's death two completely different leaders emerged to claim power. Firstly, Stalin was more patient in his approach for a communist state and Trotsky wanted the government to be completely communist. However, Stalin won over this power struggle, because Stalin was the General Secretary of the Bolshevik Party (led by Lenin) and was powerful enough to expell him from the party. This potrays the intial ruthless of Stalin and that in reality he was anything but a moderate commmunist. -
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The First Five Year Plan
This economic plan was introduced by Stalin and his government to force industrialization for the continuance of U.S.S.R's survival in it's own country and in world affairs. Theykey features of this plan includes: a command economy forcing the elimination of free market, collectivization of all peasent's farmland (solving disputes of them) and rearmanents. This plan notably showed Stalin's extent of what he would do to protect U.S.S.R from enemies (in cases of war)
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The Kellogg-Briand Pact
The Kellog-Briand Pact was one of U.S.S.R's first participation with Western affairs. This pact specifically encouraged collective security which joined many nations (Western and Eastern) in denouncing war as a method of solving disputes. Even though WWII arrose, significantly U.S.S.R was emerging out of political isolation. -
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Normalization
Normalization was plan of U.S.S.R's various signing of treaties or extended relatioships involving several Western European countries. This plan consisted of 5 points: the Keelog-Briand Pact, membership of the League of Nations, rapprochement, membership of the Seventh Congress of the Third International and a mutual relationship with Britain against Japan's expansion. This simply signifies Stalin's obssession with U.S.S.R's giantism in production, military and foreign affairs.
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Rapprochement
This phase of forming foreign affairs was purely based on expediency rather than mutual trust. The U.S.S.R signed a number of treaties including the non-aggression pacts with Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Czechoslovakia and Rumania. As well signed treaties of munutal assitance with France and Czechoslovakia. These relationships simply booasted U.S.S.R place in world power.
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The Slaughter of Kulaks
In the First Five Year Plan of Stalin's government's econmic plans, collectivization led to the slaughter of Kulaks. Kulaks were peasents who was not completely poor like other run-of-the-mill peasent in the U.S.S.R. They sold surplus, employed help and used machinery. This captialist actions was seen as threat to Communism, and the whole class was eliminated. Many were killed, or some fortunately went to prison camps. Evidentally they were a symbol of free enterprise.
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The Second Five Year Plan
There was a revision of the previous 1927 Five Year Plan. This was through the result of a mini-revolt amongst party officials against the harshness of the initial plan. This significantly shows the brutality of Stalin, because it was part officials that protested, unlike previous revolutiosn where it was peasents or labourers. Eventually it through this revision and the party officials' dominating power that Stalin had shot down their leader, Kirov. This was the beginning of the Purges.
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U.S.S.R Joining of the League of Nations
U.S.S.R finally joined the international League of Nations. This significantly added to development of Soviet foreign policy under Stalin's rule. Stalin is only concrened with the long-range survival of "Red" Russia of industrial means, for example. -
The Purges
Through fear of government overthrow, Stalin established his own secret police called the OGPU (later renamed NKVD) to eliminate his enemies of the Plan and threats.These purges were ironic, because old heroes of Revolutions were charged with treason of plotting the overthrow of his government, These killings would come back to haunt him, because significantly he killed his own generals before the start of another war. As well, there were "show trials" where his enemies would "confess". -
The Nazi-Soviet Pact
This was an agreement of neutrality between U.S.S.R's and Hitler's "secret talks".This importantly was the agreement of the division of Poland if war was to precipitate. Significantly, this was a foreign relationship cautious of WWII and simply the pact was just illusions. They hated each other. Ironically, the two countires that were "beaten up" from WWI was prepared for WWII. -
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The World War Two
World War Two was another global conflict many world countries including: Britain, France, Germany, U.S.S.R, U.S.A and Japan, for example. The war resulted in as 25 million died and entire cities were more or less destroyed. Simply the Soviets were under "total war" state. However, significantly, Soviet Union benefited from WWII by being victorious. This gave them international prestige and a top seat at the new United Nations - a seat on the Security Council.
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The Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact
The U.S.S.R and the empire of Japan signed a neutrality pact with benefits for both sides. This pact was signed in the duress of WWII. The U.S.S.R would mend its diplomatic relations in the Far East to safeguard its eastern border and sought the relationship with the U.S.S.R to improve its international standing and secure its northern frontier from them. This significantly eventually leds to the further action of the Soviets in WWII and war against Japan. -
Hitler invaded the Soviet Union
Despite the Nazi-Soviet pact formed in August 23, 1939, Germany invaded the Soviet Union in "Operation Barbarossa". This action brought the U.S.S.R into another world conflict, and Russia's economic, social and political stability would be tested once again.
