The Russian Revolution in February 1917 and the October Revolution in October 1917 brought an end to the Rule of Tsars in Russia, In it's place came a new system of government called Communism.

The End of the Tsars The Tsars traditionally rulled the Russian State. They were autocratic which means that they held all power in their own hands and shared it with no others. Russia grew into a huge empire but it was very backward. There was little industry and 95% of the population were poor farmers known as peasants.

The last Tsar Nicholas II

Since there was no legal way of questioning the autocracy, the opposition had to be in secret. As it proved to be impossible to reform the system, opponents concluded that they must overthrow it. They became revolutionaries. In the First World War nearly two million Russian soldiers died. By 1917 the cities were starving. In February 1917 bread riots in Petrograd led to a general strike and in March 1917 the Tsar abdicated.

Karl Marx's Theory of Revolution: The communist challenge Karl Marx (1818-1883) was a German Philosopher and founder of modern communism. Marx believed that there was a struggle for power between two social classes. The Bourgeoisie = capitalists, landowners, wealthy The Proletariat = the workers According to Marx the Proletariat would eventually rise up and overthrow the Bourgeoisie, and a Communist Society would emerge: the ideal society, where everyone is equal, and A class-less society.

The Russian Communist party in the early 20^th Century was weak. It was small most of it's members were in exile and it was split between the Mensheviks and the more extreme Bolsheviks

Lenin and the October Revolution Following the February revolution which overthrew the Tsar a number of revolutionaries returned to Russia, among them was Lenin who with the Bolsheviks called for immediate revolution. By late 1917 he had the support of the majority of the party and his close ally Leon Trotsky had won over the support of the Army. On 27 October 1917 a new workers and peasants government was established, led by Lenin.

In the Period 1918-21 a civil war followed as the communists fought to stay in power.
The Reds (Bolsheviks) vs. the Whites (anti-Bolshevik) who were supported by the West. They felt threatened by the potential spread of Communism and angry at the murder of the Russian Royal Family.

Key Terms and Definitions

Politburo
The central group of leaders of the Communist Party and Government.

Comintern
An organisation designed to assist Communist parties throughout the world 1919-1943.

Kulak
A peasant considered wealthier than other peasants.

Iron Curtain
The border between Eastern (communist) and Western Europe.

Cold War
A political and ideological struggle between the Communist bloc and the Western Alliance led by the USA.

Bolsheviks
Marxists who favoured a sudden and violent overthrow of the government by a small, dedicated group of revolutionaries.

Gulag
The Russian prison camp system.

Planned Economy
A system where the type and amount of what is produced is determined by the state.

Soviet
A Workers' and Soldiers' Council

Purge
To purify or get rid of harmful elements.

Cult of Personality
Worship or devotion of a particular person.

Destalinisation
Criticism of Stalin and changing of his policies after his death.

Chronology

1922	Stalin appointed General Secretary
1923	NEP (New Economic Policy)
1924	Lenin dies and power vacuum results - power struggle intensifies USSR formed
1925	Trotsky resigns as Commander of Red Army
1926	Left opposition defeated
1928	Stalin launches collectivisation
1929-33	1st 5Year Plan
1929	Right opposition defeated
1930	'Dizzy with success'
1932-33	Famine Stalin's wife suicide
1933-37	2nd 5Year Plan
1934	Kirov's murder
1936-38	The Great Purge - show trials - NKVD has new leader - Beria
1938-42	3rd 5Year Plan
1939	Non-Aggression Pact with Hitler
1940	Assassination of Trotsky War with Finland
1941	Operation Barbarossa - Hitler invades
1941-45	The Great Patriotic War
1942-44	The siege of Leningrad
1942	The Battle of Stalingrad
1943	Comintern abolished - Tehran Conference
1944	D-Day Invasions - Warsaw uprising
1945	Yalta Conference - Red Army enters Berlin
1945-47	Famine in the Ukraine
1946-50	4th 5Year Plan
1947	Cominform established
1948	Communist Coup in Czechoslovakia - Yugoslavia expelled from the Cominform Death of Zhadanov
1951-55	5th 5Year Plan
1953	Doctor's Plot Death of Stalin Beria Shot
1955	Warsaw Pact established
1956	De-Stalinisation - Khrushchev denounces Stalin Hungarian uprising Suez crisis