Communist Revolutions in Russia and China

Before the revolutions – monarchs from a long lasting dynasty• QING – 1644-1912• Romanov Tsars – 1300s to 1918

PROBLEMS – economic, social class tensions, rebellions

Revolution part 1 – Dynasty fell and a provisional government took over

Problems continue, Provisional government fails, radicals gain power

Civil War – Communists win 1921-1991 Soviet Union 1949 - ? Peoples Republic of China

-Socialism – The means of production (businesses and services) are

owned by the “public” and operated for the good of all. The government controls key industries and thus parts of the economy.

-Marxism / Communism - A radical type of socialism based upon the belief that: the working class majority would unite and forcibly take

the political and economic power from the wealthy minority—who took advantage of them.

The working class would then control the government, industry and agriculture.

Worker councils would govern “democratically”. Goods and services, profits and benefits would be shared equally. Eventually, a classless society would develop.

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Communism_vs_Fascism

Russian Revolution & Communist

Russia

Russia = Soviet Union = USSR

THE FALL of TSAR’s Government

PROBLEMS in Russia: lack of freedom, poor leadership, major economic problems, & food shortages.

EVENTS that challenged the Tsar’s authority: westernization, defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, “Bloody Sunday”, 1905 Revolution, & losses during World War I.

Stages of Russian Revolution1916-1917 Soldiers, rural and urban

workers, & intelligentsia lead protests.

Bloodless Revolution in March 1917: the Tsar abdicated the throne and a PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT was set up.

PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT failed as Russian losses in WWI and economic problems continued

Radical movements gained support and momentum.

The BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION

1917 The Bolsheviks (one of the radical communist groups) and their leader, Vladmir LENIN, gained enough support and power to seize control of the government “on behalf of the people”

The BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION

CIVIL WAR: 1918 - 1920

Civil War began as forces against the communists fought back.

Red (Bolshevik) Army vs. White (anti-Bolshevik) Army

CIVIL WAR: 1918 - 1920

The Tsar and his family were executed before the communists won and took complete control of the country.

COMMUNIST RULE Land was redistributed(collecti-vization)

Industrialization(5-Year Plans)

Women gained status

Military was built-arms race

A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic. Joseph Stalin

A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic. Joseph Stalin

A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic.

Joseph Stalin

The Great Terror 1937-38• Arrests - about 7 million • Executions - about 1

million• In prison or camps in

late 1938 - about 9 million

• Gulags in Siberia• Died in camps - about 2

million

There’s Trotsky at a Lenin speech.

Where’d he go?

There’s Trotsky again with Lenin.

Where’d he go?

Original cosmonauts

The guy in the back fell out of favor. Where’d he go?

Psycho!

“To choose one’s victims, to prepare one’s plan, to quench a strong desire for vengeance, and then to go to bed . . .there is nothing sweeter in the world.”

Josef Stalin