Stalin’s Soviet UnionHow did Stalin rise from an ordinary revolutionary to be the supreme leader of the Soviet Union?

Part 1

RecallUSSR (Russia) was not invited to the Paris Peace Conference as the rest did not trust themThey were COMMUNISTS

How did Russia

become Communist?

Map of Russian Empire

Russian EmpireVery very very LARGEStretched from Europe to AsiaMajority of population were Russian-speaking

Small groups of ethnic minorities

Ruled by monarchy (Romanov family) for 400 yearsRuled by the Tsar – Nicholas II

Russian EmpireEntered the war in 1914 on the Allies (Britain and France) sideBy 1917, Russia was struggling with a terrible winter and keeping up with war efforts

People were unhappy with the losses of war and poor economic and living conditions

They soon lost confidence in the government and the ruler

February Revolution 1917

Feb 1917, people started protesting and went on strikeWorkers refused to work

They were joined by the Russian Army

February Revolution 1917

Watch this video about the February Revolution

February RevolutionLost the support of the peopleNicholas II abdicated (give up power)Provisional Government came to power

Workers, soldiers, peasants still unhappy as they wanted change and powers of decision making

They formed their own group and called themselves SOVIETS

BUT

October RevolutionProvisional Government had refused to pull Russia out of WW1Unable to control the revolutionary forces

Overthrown by BOLSHEVIKS led by Lenin and Trotsky on 25th Oct 1917They wanted the soviets in power

Civil War 1917 - 1922

The RED ARMY

- Created by Bolshevik Government

- Supported by the peasants

- More support- Better military

skills- COMMUNIST

The WHITES

- anti-communists

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

Bolsheviks formally declared themselves USSR in 1922Bolsheviks change to Communist Party

Under Lenin ruled by one-party government

Feb 1917 –

People unhappy

with the Tsar.Protest and

Strikes Oct 1917 – People still unhappy. Lenin led

Bolsheviks to overthrow

government

Feb 1917 –

Tsar abdicated, Provisional

Government took over

Oct 1917 – 1922 Civil war. Reds VS Whites. Reds won.

Oct 1922 –

USSR formed

Timeline of events

Communism

USSR

CommunismA system of social organisation where ALL property is owned by the COMMUNITYEvery person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs.Every one is equal

Who are the main supporters of Communism?

Karl Marx’s TheoryPrimitive Communism

Shared resourcesHunting as a groupTribal, leader is strongest warrior

Slave SocietyLarger populationClass appears – ruling class and slave class

Karl Marx’s TheoryFeudalism

Aristocracy – ruled by kings and queensReligious ruleNation-state

CapitalismMarket economyPrivate propertyWagesParliamentary democracy (secretly controlled by the rich)

Karl Marx’s TheorySocialism

Workers overthrow capitalistsWorker awarded based on contribution

COMMUNISMStatelessnessClasslessness (everyone work for everyone)Propertylessness

China

North Korea

Vietnam and Laos

Cuba

Feb 1917 –

People unhappy

with the Tsar.Protest and

Strikes Oct 1917 – People still unhappy. Lenin led

Bolsheviks to overthrow

government

Feb 1917 –

Tsar abdicated, Provisional

Government took over

Oct 1917 – 1922 Civil war. Reds VS Whites. Reds won.

Oct 1922 –

USSR formed

Timeline of events

USSR (1919-1924 period)

Creation of the POLITBURO in 19197 people at the top of the Communist PartyKey-decision making team

Under Lenin and the Politburo, USSR underwent a process of centralisation and bureaucratisation

By 1924, centralised one-party authoritarian government

Centralisation

Politburo

USSRThe Communist Party controlled ALL aspects of governmentNationalisation and control of key industries, agriculture and railway systems

Think:Is

Nationalisation a good or bad

system?

Why?

USSRMeasures made to ensure complete control

Cheka (Secret police)Banned opposition parties, members arrestedControlled media through state-run newspaper PravdaBanned newspapers that criticised the state