civil war objectives: to understand why russia experienced civil war. key knowledge: reds v whites...

Civil WarObjectives:

To understand why Russia experienced Civil War.

Key Knowledge: REDS V WHITES

Key terms: Reds, Whites, Civil War, Lenin, Trotsky

Wednesday 23rd November 2011

Recap

What significant event happened during...

1905 1914

March 1917

April 1917

July 1917

October 1917

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

– Lost 1 mill sq km of land

– 50 million people– 27% farming land– Lost Ukraine, where

Russia got most of it’s grain from

– 74% iron ore and coal deposits

– Had to pay 3 bill roubles

What is a Civil War???

Causes of the Civil War• Opposition forces unite to form the Whites –

supported by foreign countries.• Increasing attacks/attempts to overthrow the

Bolsheviks -SRs tried to seize power of Moscow Soviet - several assassination attempts on Lenin

– 50, 000 Czech prisoners of war take over the Trans Siberian Railway

• Anger at the Treaty (directed at Trotsky)• Starvation meant growing opposition• National minorities seize opportunity to get

independence

Reds Vs Whites• Reds = Communist

(Bolsheviks)

• Whites = opponents (Tsarists and nobles, middle class constitutional democrats, Mensheviks, SR)

Aims

Stay in Power in order to build new Socialist society.

Different aims due to different interests.Common aim to defeat the Communists

Geographical factors

Held central area of west Russian – contained large industries.Controlled railways.

Scattered around outer perimeter of communist controlled Moscow. Communication difficulties.

Leadership and unity

Trotsky – true leader and courageousSpecial train

Lacked good leader to bring all the Whites together.Lack of trustInfighting within the armies

Lets take a further look at the Civil War

In pairs use the handouts 5 min

Note take on the paragraph ‘Foreign Intervention’

Complete the source activity on page 53.

Homework

• Complete questions on Handout

War Communism

Objectives:To understand the effects of the Civil War.To understand why the Bolsheviks won the war.

Key Knowledge: REDS V WHITES

Key terms: War communism, NEP, Death of the Tsar

Tuesday 29th November 2011

War CommunismWar Communism was a new economic policy introduced by

Lenin to ensure food supplies to the army.• All large factories were taken over by the government.• Production was planned and organised by the government.• Discipline for workers was strict and strikers could be shot.• Peasants had to hand over surplus food to the government.

If they didn’t they could be shot.• Food was rationed. Could only get a ration card if you were

working.• Free enterprise became illegal – all production and trade was

controlled by the state.• Money became worthless – wages ended up being paid in

food.

What were the consequences of War Communism?

A young girl describes food shortages in Moscow, 1921.

• “ Our staple diet when things were grim were potato peelings fried. One evening we found a large, black crow, frozen solid. Tousia, my sister, plucked it, cutting off its feet and its head…we now had the most magnificent chicken.”

A Russian doctor,1921.

• “ Sometimes a starving family eats the body of one of its junior members…sometimes parents at night take part of a body from the cemetery and feed it to their children.”

THE RED TERROR

• Following an assassination attempt on Lenin in 1918, a ‘RED TERROR’ was launched, using the Cheka.

• Mass executions.• Middle and upper class targeted-

automatically seen as disloyal.• 750,000 people murdered by the Cheka in the

3 years of Civil War.

Execution of the Tsar and his Family

• The Tsar and his family were in exile.

• Posed a threat to Communism especially if they fell into the hands of the Whites.

• On the night of 16th July 1918 the Tsar and his family along with their servants were shot in the cellar.

• Bodies were buried in a nearby forest but undiscovered till 1991.

The Kronstadt Mutiny – Memory exercise

The New Economic Policy

The NEP stated that:The requisition of grain was ended. Peasants who grew surplus food could sell the surplus for a profit and pay 10% tax to the government on any profit made.Factories with fewer than 20 workers were returned to private ownership to be run for profit.Private enterprise was allowed. Anyone could set up a shop or business for profit.Vital industries such as coal, iron, steel, railways, shipping and finance stayed in State hands. But experts were brought in on higher salaries, and extra wages were paid for efficiency.

• Lenin realised he needed to change his policy to avoid disaster.

• Peasants needed an incentive to produce more food – relax state control.

• Capitalism and free markets brought back in• Bitter humiliation for communist supporters.

Successes of the NEP

Once peasant and shopkeepers could work for profit, goods appeared for saleNew businesses and market stalls were set up – new class of people doing well, known as ‘NEP men’ Government kept control of the largest industries.1926-27 production had increased to pre-1914 levelsHelped stabilise the country and bring peace, particularly significant in the countryside where peasants disturbances became a thing of the past

The Death of Lenin

In May 1922, Lenin suffered a

stroke which was followed by two further strokes in December 1922 and March 1923. He was no longer able to play an active role in political life.Lenin died on 21st January 1924.

NO Homework –

taking in books

• Hot seating

Trotsky Objectives:

Key Knowledge: Civil War & Trotsky

Key terms: Civil War & Trotsky

Wednesday 30th November 2011

To explain who Trotsky was and evaluate his involvement in the Russian Revolution and the Civil War.

Source Analysis•Purpose – main message

•Provenance (origin, nature)

•Inferences – use details from the source to explain what the source is implying – use own knowledge.

Trotsky Facebook Page

• Use the information sheets to create a facebook page for Trotsky.

• Include:» His full Name» Date he was born » Family» Friends/ colleagues» Interests » Occupation» Contact information ( where he lived)» Recent activity

What have you learnt about Trotsky?

RevisionObjectives:

Key Knowledge: REDS V WHITES

Key terms:

Tuesday 6th December 2011