CONTENTS
1. UNIT PRESENTATION: THE INTERWAR YEARS 1919-1939
2. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION OF 1917
A. INTERACTIVE TIMELINE
B. THE IDEOLOGY BEHIND: MARXISM/COMMUNISM
The Communist Manifesto (MArx, 1848)
Written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1848, is one of the
most influential political documents in history. Its main points include:
1. Class
Struggle as the Driving Force of History
- History is a series of
struggles between social classes.
- In capitalist societies, the
main conflict is between the bourgeoisie (owners of production) and the proletariat
(working class).
- The
bourgeoisie exploits the proletariat for profit.
2. Criticism of Capitalism
- Capitalism is an unstable
system that concentrates wealth in the hands of a few.
- It leads to the alienation of
workers, who lose control over their labor and its products.
- Capitalism is inherently
exploitative because workers receive only a fraction of the value they
produce.
3. The
Need for a Proletarian Revolution
- The working class must rise up
against the bourgeoisie.
- A revolution will overthrow
capitalism and establish a classless society.
- Workers must seize political
power to reorganize society.
4. Abolition of Private Property
- Private property, as controlled
by the bourgeoisie, is a tool for exploitation.
- The manifesto does not advocate
abolishing personal possessions but aims to eliminate capitalist control
over land, industry, and production.
5. Role
of the State and Temporary Dictatorship of the Proletariat
- The state is an instrument of
class oppression.
- After the revolution, a
temporary "dictatorship of the proletariat" is needed to
dismantle capitalist structures.
- Once class distinctions
disappear, the state itself will "wither away."
6. Global Revolution
- Communism is internationalist:
workers across all nations must unite.
- "Workers of the world,
unite!" is the rallying cry, emphasizing solidarity beyond national
borders.
7. Key
Measures for Transition to Communism
Marx and
Engels list 10 immediate measures to move toward communism, including:
- Abolition of land ownership by
landlords.
- Heavy taxation on the wealthy.
- Centralization of banking and
communication under state control.
- Free education and the
abolition of child labor.
- Equal obligation of all to
work.
8. The
Ultimate Goal: A Classless, Stateless Society
- After the transition phase,
class differences disappear.
- The state dissolves, and people
live in a communist society where resources are shared according to needs.
Legacy of the Communist Manifesto
- Inspired socialist and
communist movements worldwide.
- Influenced revolutions,
including the Russian Revolution (1917).
- Remains a reference for
critiques of capitalism and calls for social justice.
C. THE IDEOLOGY BEHIND: MARXISM/COMMUNISM
Historical documents analysis
Excerpt 1: Bolshevik Manifesto (1917)
"Workers,
peasants, and soldiers! The moment has come when the fate of the revolution and
the fate of the people is being decided. The Provisional Government, which has
refused to give land to the peasants, which continues the imperialist war, and
which is controlled by the bourgeoisie, must be overthrown..."
Excerpt 2: Lenin’s Speech: Call to Power (October 24, 1917)
"Comrades,
the workers’ and peasants’ revolution, which has been spoken of so long by the
Bolsheviks, has arrived. The Provisional Government is no more... We shall
retain power, because we are giving the land to the peasants, the factories to
the workers, and peace to the people..."
Answer these questions :
- What were the main criticisms of the Bolsheviks towards the Provisional Government?
- What were the Bolsheviks' demands for peasants and workers?
- Why do you think the Bolsheviks gained so much support among soldiers and peasants?
- What was Lenin’s main message in his speech?
- Why do you think he emphasized workers' control over factories and land redistribution?
- Reflection: Do you think the revolution succeeded in fulfilling these promises? Justify your answer.
D. ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY
- Duma
- Soviets
- Bolcheviques
- Provisional Government
- Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
- War Communism
E. COMMUNISM TODAY. A FAILED SYSTEM
2. ECONOMY: FROM PROSPERITY TO CRISIS AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION
WwII INTERACTIVE TIMELINE
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