Aftermath of the Russian Revolution

1. CONSEQUENCES AND SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

2. SIGNIFICANCE
 One of the most
remarkable events in
human history since it set
up a new way of living and
thinking
 Dr. J.E. Swain said,
"Nothing has so
completely challenged
orthodox theories, since
the French revolutionists
overthrew the Bourbons.
The Russians, in a few
years, have set up
standards for a new way
of living and thinking."

3. INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE
 It struck terror in the minds
of the capitalists all over
the world as the Revolution
made an irresistible appeal
to the proletarians.
 Invited the labouring
people all over the world to
unite against the capitalist
class.
 A war was declared
between totalitarian
dictatorship and
democratic socialism,
between Marxism and
capitalism.

4. SIGNIFICACNE
 Brought the Czarist regime to an end. In its place a
Republic was established.
 The Revolution threw a challenge to the:
 values of western culture
 fundamental principles of trade and industry
 well-established systems of government
 social, economic and political institutions and the
methods of diplomacy
 Thus the world was forced to re-evaluate the
western values of democracy.

5. THE SOVIET ECONOMY
 The Soviet economic
planning was directed
towards the realization of
three well-defined social
goals:
1. the promotion of the
material and moral
conditions of the
proletariat
2. the realization of the
social or the common
good of society by and
through society
3. the securing of equal
social obligations and
rights.

6. GLOBAL IMPACT
 The character of the nationalist revolutions in the
colonial world were given a new social and
economic content.
 Politically, the cult of the ’common man’ was a
major result of Soviet democracy.
 In the economic field, the conception of economic
planning (Five-Year Plans) and the idea of central
direction of the national economy emerged.
 E.H. Carr declared, "If we are all planners now, this
is largely the result, conscious or unconscious, of
the impact of Soviet practice and Soviet
achievement."

7. CONSEQUENCES
 Divided the world into two diametrically opposed
power blocs; one being the communist bloc led by
the Soviet Union and the other being the anti-
Communist bloc, under the leadership of the U.S.
 The Revolution of 1917 transformed a poverty-
stricken Czarist Russia into a super power, under
the guiding spirits of Lenin, Stalin and other
leaders.
 The Bolshevik Revolution is still going on. It
continually demonstrates the values that
transformed a backward and decadent state into a
super power of the world, within the short span of
sixty years. It attracts many more millions of
Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

8. BUT... WHY DID RUSSIA LOOK SO
DIFFERENT FROM MARX’S IDEAS?

9. MARXISM VS. LENINISM
 Believed humanity was changing, Industrialization was to
blame. Horrified by working conditions.
 Capitalists were getting richer than workers creating a
significant gap between the two
 Believed one of the following would happen:
 Rich must distribute wealth
 A worker led violent revolution

10. MARXISM VS. LENINISM
 Lenin was fascinated by industrialization, wanted to
bring that to Russia
 Differed from Marx in his belief that the world wide
communist revolution had to be led by a power elite
forcing it forward – not just the common man.
 Communist Party was the only party allowed.
 The use of force and terror through the secret
police (Cheka) was necessary and good for the
cause
 Used slogans, include “Bread, Land, Peace and All
Power to the Soviets.”

11. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE
REVOLUTION?

12. LENIN’S DEATH
 Died in January 1924.
 Believed Leon Trotsky should replace him as
leader. Trotsky had successfully lead the Red Army
against the White Army. Had a vision of the Soviet
Union in line with Lenin. He wanted to focus on
agriculture.
 Lenin believed that Stalin could not handle the
power that came with leadership. Stalin believed in
the industrialization of the nation.

13. STALIN’S RISE TO POWER
 Lenin wrote his Last Testament and wanted it to be
read at the Twelfth Party Congress to delegitimize
Stalin
 Stalin and his allies had it blocked
 Blamed the death of a higher up official on Trotsky
and purged the country of his supporters and any
other enemies, leaving him in power
 Trotsky would flee to Mexico where he would
continue to criticize Stalin from afar and it is
believed that Stalin had him assassinated in 1940

14. SOURCES
 http://www.slideshare.net/dmcdowell/russian-
revolution?from_search=1
 http://www.pinkmonkey.com/studyguides/subjects/w
orldhis/chap12/w1212301.asp