rusrev

Russian Revolution:
background, p.1

Moderate industrialization takes place in Russia, 1890-1914

small proletariat emerges in major cities (St. Petersburg, Moscow, etc.)

kulaks & large landowners maintain economic control of countryside

1890-socialist ideology is popular amongst students -

Plekhanov& Lenin emerge as leaders - creation of Russian Social Democrats (in exile is key point (1898)

Russian Revolution - background, p.2

Leninism: Marxism with a twist-role of party, peasantry are crucial

1905 Revolution: takes place in context of Russo-Japanese war, rising opposition to Czar (Nicholas II)

Duma est. 1906, though Russia still autocratic

1905-1914: Russian politics factionalizes, grows more divisive across spectrum

WWI begins - almost immediately disastrous for Russia

Russia & World War I

1914-1917: food shortages, increasing poverty at home parallels military losses

Czar’s government weakening under pressure of war & Rasputin

"First" revolution occurs - a democratic coup in 2/1917-est. provisional govt.

provisional govt.: coalition of groups-maintains war effort

"peace, land, bread" is rallying slogan for Bolsheviks through 1917 -

10/1917 -"October Revolution"-Bolsheviks sieze power -popular revolution (?)

Early USSR (1917-1924)

3/1918: Soviets sue for peace -lose major part of land in w. Russia

"war communism:" 1918-1921-USSR invaded by western powers, "whites" (counter-revolutionaries)

harsh measures imposed: collectivization, totalitarian system, state control of industry

USSR launches "internationale" - efforts to spread communism through industrial world

1921-1924: New Economic Policy (NEP) is implemented

1924-Lenin’s death leads to power struggle