1. Introduction

The Russian Revolution


Key Question: Is resistance to liberalism justified?

Key issue: To what extent is communism a valid response to liberalism?


Duration: 3 blocks (80 mins each + homework)

As you learned in lesson two, Karl Marx was one of the most significant socialist thinkers, and he inspired socialist movements around the world.    His works, especially The Communist Manifesto, greatly influenced the development of communist ideologies, even long after his death.  Marx believed that through revolution people could move closer to a state of society called communism.  According to Marx, communism is a classless society in which all people share in the production of goods and no government is needed.  

During the 20th century, different forms of communism developed in different countries around the world based on different interpretations of Marxism.  In this lesson you will learn about why and how communism developed in Russia.

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