Factors Leading to Socialism in Europe
* Liberals and radicals wanted change in the social structure.
* Conservatives realized that change was inevitable, however wanted it to be a gradual process.
* The industrial revolution led to the formation of new cities, industrial regions and the expansion of the railway.
* The working conditions were however quite poor.
Advent of Socialism in Europe
* Socialists were against the concept of private property.
* They believed that property needed to be owned collectively.
* Some of the eminent socialist thinkers were Robert Owen, Louis Blanc, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
The 1905 Revolution
* Russia was ruled by Tsar Nicholas II.
* Both peasants and workers were unhappy with the situation.
* Parties such as the Russian Social Democratic Workers Party and the Socialist Revolutionary Party were formed to help them.
* The RSDWP consisted of two groups – Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin and Mensheviks led by Julius Martov.
* In 1905 the Russians revolted.
* The Tsar finally relented and created the Duma.
* Russian Participation in the First World War
* Russia took part in the First World War.
* It suffered heavy causalities.
* While retreating the soldiers burnt crops and buildings rendering lots of people homeless.
* The Germans blocked the supplies coming to Russia through the Baltic sea.
* Labour shortages resulted in workshops shutting down.
* Shortage of grain resulted in bread riots.
The February and October Revolutions
* The February revolution saw the fall of the monarchy.
* A provincial government was formed headed by Kerenskii.
* The October revolution saw the fall of the Kerenskii government and the rise of the Bolsheviks.
The Civil War
* The Bolsheviks implanted the April Thesis ideas.
* The anti-Bolsheviks were not happy with some of the steps taken by the Bolsheviks.
* They, along with America, Britain, France and Japan tried to wrest power from the Bolsheviks.
* The Bolsheviks finally won the civil war.
* In 1905 the Russians revolted.
* The main outcome of the civil war was the creation of the Soviet Republic or USSR.
* Five year plans were made to ensure the growth of the Soviet Union.
Stalinism and Collectivisation
* There was an acute grain shortage in 1927.
* Farmers were not willing to sell at the government specified prices.
* Stalin introduced collectivization as a solution.
