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AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES - RUSSIA

Rise of Communism

Impact of WWI and the TSAR

many protests on the streets

Russians wanted to end the war because of food and coal shortage

soldiers did not see the point of fighting

Farmers wanted land (fairer distribution)

Russians wanted food (Bread Riots) as most food were sent to feed the soldiers
instead

TSAR abdicated on 15th March after realising even his own soldiers did not
stop the protest (instead they joined in)

A Provisional Government was set up.

Failure of Provisional Government

Lasted only 8 months

Its main job was to govern Russia until it was ready for a NEW PARLIAMENT

FAILED. why?

Kept Russia in WWI

No Land reforms

Had to struggle for power with the Soviets

Thus, It was unable to solve the grievances of the people. People wanted CHANGE!

Task

Hold elections for Russians

grant a full and immediate amnesty to political prisoners and exile

coorperate with the committees of workers, peasants, soldiers (soviets)

October 17 Revolution

Led by Lenin although the Provisional Army ordered for his arrest

Lenin established the FIRST COMMUNIST REGIME!


Provisional Government latter depended on Bolshevik's help to fight the
Russian Army

On the 6th and 7th Nov, the red guards took over key buildings and arrested
members of Provisional Govt.

Bolshevik Victory in the Civil War

fought a bitter civil war

Lasted Three Years

reds(bolsheviks) vs whites(anti communists/tsar supporters/social


revolutionaries etc)

Reds led by Trotksy

in 1924, former members of the Russian Empire combined to form the Soviet
Union or USSR (Union of Soviet Socialists Republic)

IMPACT OF STALIN's RULE

Collectivisation

Riots and resistance

Stalin responded by killing 17 million horses to pressure people into the use of
tractors

Getting rid of people who oppossed collectivisation

sent to Gulags

Famine

Severe Food Shortages

USA offered help but Stalin rejected

Industrialisation

Poor Work Conditions

System of rewards/trainings

Changing living conditions

Rule of TERROR

Fear and suspicion

Anybody could denounce anybody and just report to NKVD

Mass Executions

20 million Russians became victims


Religious Persecutions

Stalin thought that religion promoted harmful superstitions

PURGES

wrongfully accused people to remove his threats

E.g Kamenev

Show Trials

confessed to charges as they were threatened and pressured from within

Tight control over culture

New node

Stalin's Plans (link)

Collectivisation (link)

Multiple Lands were joined and 90% of harvest given to the government while
they are allowed to keep 10% for themselves. The government would then
share the profits with everyone!

Industrialization

5 Year PLans

Total of Three 5 Year Plans wwere carried out

Rise of Stalin

Outwitted his rivals

No one expected him to take over Lenin

Lenin had wanted his will to be read out in which he expressed his views on his
possible successors but it was not done

Pretended to be Close to Lenin

tricked Trotsky into missing Lenin's Funeral

Gave him a wrong date

Many party members were angry with Trotsky for not appearing at the Funeral

Gave himself the role of the Chief Mourner in the Funeral.

Trotsky's weaknesses

Arrogant and compacent


did not see the need to gather and attract more support

had only a narrow base of support

only from soldiers/students and youths

his idea of world revolution did not go down well with the masses

The people were more concerned that the basic needs of the people were met first!

Made alliances

form alliances with other party members to drive his enemies out

Made use of Kamenev and Zinoviev to get Trotksy out.

He would later turned against them

Use his position as a General Secretary

had the power to appoint his own supporters as officials

Thus many officials owe their position to him thus was loyal

able to pack a 1925 meeting with his supporters - voted Trotsky out of the party!

controlled the local party committees

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