Web Explorations

In each section, the internet links will take you to Websites where you can find information and resources that will help you with the exploration questions.

1

The First Provisional Government

This site offers the text of the earliest decree of the Russian Provisional government.

http://www.dur.ac.uk/~dml0www/provgov1.html

Questions for further exploration:

Discuss how this document embodies the liberal agenda of the American revolutions and virtually all the revolutions of the nineteenth century Europe.

2

Orders from Lenin

This site offers a copy and translation of Lenin’s order for the execution of Kulaks in 1918.

http://metalab.unc.edu/pjones/russian/Kulaks.html

Questions for further exploration:

Why does Lenin seek to execute Kulaks? What do they symbolize to him? How does he wish them to be executed? Why is the manner of execution so important?

3

The New Economic Policy

Exploration of the change from “war communism.”

http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/~jobrien/reference/ob40.html

Questions for further exploration:

How is the change in policy from “war communism” explained? How is the New Economic Policy defended? What should be the communist view of capitalist incentives?

4

Leon Trotsky

This site offers an interesting essay examining the early career of Leon Trotsky.

http://art-bin.com/art/oluna2tro.html

Questions for further examination:

Compare and contrast the personalities of Trotsky and Lenin. Be sure to reference their views of themselves and their attitude toward political argument and debate.

5

Women and Socialist Revolution

This site offers an essay that traces the history of women in radical revolutionary movements.

http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/contemp/pamsetc/women/ws_6.htm

Questions for further examination:

Historically, what role did women play in the revolutions in Europe from 1789-1917? How did the Russian revolution offer what women had long wanted? How were these hopes to be disappointed?

6

Alexander Dubcek

This site examines the life of Alexander Dubcek and the movement known as the Prague Spring.

http://www.humanities.ccny.cuny.edu/History/coldwar/czech69.htm

Questions for further examination:

Who was Alexander Dubchek and what was his role in defining the parameters of Soviet power at the height of their European empire?

7

1989 and After

This site offers documents and analyses of the decision by Mikael Gorbachev in the Soviet Union to “open” the stultified and un-competitive Soviet Empire to reform. Afterward, he testified that he knew this decision might lead to ungovernable and far-reaching changes, but that change had to come.

http://mars.acnet.wnec.edu/~grempel/courses/wc2/lectures/rev89.html

Questions for further exploration:

What did the era of reform ushered in by Gorbachev seem like to the people of the Soviet Union’s Allies in Europe? What was their response? Did the events of 1989 lead to greater unity in Europe as Gorbachev hoped? What trends suggest that it has; what trends suggest that it has not? What role will the former East Germany and the youth of Europe play in the final outcome?


© 2000-2001 by Addison Wesley Longman
A division of Pearson Education