Detailed notes from the Communism in Russia chapters, used as class notes and to prepare for examinations and essay writing for history at IEB syllabus.
Key Words
Communism The political and economic system
whereby an entire population is ruled
by one party government and treated
equally in a classless system. Land
and profit are divided equally
amongst the citizens as government is
in charge of the economy. Every
person works together for a beneficial
society as group rights are seen as
more important than individual rights.
Capitalism The economic system (often
politically tied to democracy)
whereby economy is controlled by
private ownership in which business
owners are allowed to do what they
want with profit earned. Individual
human rights are protected and taxes
are paid by private businesses to
government. Society is unequal and
divided into classes by wealth
Socialism A system in which all classes have
equal opportunities
Proletariat The urban working class
Propaganda Information used to promote a
political message or to influence
people
Coup A sudden, violent seizure of power
Totalitarian A state in which one party has total
control, autocratic, a dictatorship
, Timeline
Revolution in Russia Start of First World War
1905 1914
Start of Civil War February+October Revolution
1918 1917
End of Civil War, Kronstadt Russia is known as USSR
Mutiny and NEP
1922
1921
Stalin in Control of USSR Death of Lenin
1928 1924
First Five Year Plan Second Five Year Plan
1928-1932 1933-1937
German invasion of USSR Outbreak of WW2
1941 1939
, Key features of the theory of Communism:
Resources (land, mines, factories etc.) are owned by the state on behalf of
the people; no private ownership; all profits used for the benefit of society
as a whole
Greater equality; no class divisions caused by an unequal spread of wealth
Government control of the economy; all decisions to be centrally planned
by it (such as what should be made, which factory or farm should make it,
what price, who gets the job)
Housing, medical services, education system and all social services
provided free by the state
Equality and the common good are valued more than individual freedom
The writings of Karl Marx
Concerned about social inequalities resulting from Industrial Revolution
Believed that a capitalist system, wealthy individuals exploiting mass of
workers, was morally wrong
Marxism was based on struggle between wealthy and poor
Struggle between capitalists (owned factories, businesses and land) and
proletariat (labourers)
Believed proletariat would need to use an armed revolution to bring about
change and would not give up their control willingly; establish a
‘dictatorship of proletariat’
Nationalise everything and redistribute wealth
Proletariat Revolution to happen in Industrialised Country
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller studynotes2025. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R50,00. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
