This week in discussion we talked about how Lenin and the Bolsheviks followed Marx's ideology and how they deviated from it.  We also talked about the issues that Lenin and the Bolsheviks used to gain the support of the peasants.  Also, we debated whether the Russian Revolution was really a Marxist revolution and whether it had more similiarities to than differences from other revolutions such as the French Revolution.
    Here are the three links I promised to include for anyone interested in addition material on the Russian Revolution:
        http://www.cybernex.net.au/school/laalib/russian_rev_timeline.htm  -- Russian Revolution timeline
        http://www.fbuch.com/posters.htm -- This site contains several posters printed in Russia between 1900 and 1929.
        http://csf.colorado.edu/mirrors/marxists.org/archive/lunachar/ -- On this site the students can read sketches about Lenin,
            Trotsky, and other revolutionaries written by Anatoly Lunacharsky, the Soviet Union's first Commissar of Education, in
            1923.
 

1.  According to History of the Communist Party... what is the importance of a revolutionary party of the proletariat?  What is the importance of the Marxist-Leninist theory?
    -revolution and dictatorship of the proletariat impossible without revolutionary party of the proletariat
    -proletariat needs leadership for revolution to succeed
    -Marxist-Leninist party of social revolution
    -revolutionary party cannot succeed unless it has mastered Marxist-Leninist theory
    -Marxist-Leninist theory allows party to understand the people and know what will happen
    -Marxist-Leninist theory equals science of development of society, science of working class movement/proletariat revolution
            *develops and perfects itself
    -Marxist-Leninist theory a guide to action
    -Lenin mastered and enriched Marxism
    -revolution possible in one country

2.  What is the idea of "dual power?"  What groups are included?  What should happen, according to Lenin?
    -Provisional Government and Soviets of Workers (revolutionary dictatorship)
    -Provisional Government should be overthrown

3.  What is the land question and what are the two sides?  Arguments?
    -peasants ---> "Land and Liberty;" want nationalization of the land, without reimbursement, and on the principles of equality
    -government ---> no arbitrary seizures; proper consideration

4.  Doees the revolution described by Lenin and Stalin sound like the revolution predicted by Marx and Engels?  Why or why not?
    -definition of proletariat?
    -stage of civilization?
    -leadership?
    -outcome?
 

Finally, here is the grade breakdown for the second exam.  As with last time, this includes all of my students and Brad's students.  If you have any questions at all about your exam or about what you need to do to improve on the next one come by my office.  I will hold an extra hour this Thursday from 12:30-1:30 and my regular hours Monday 12:30-2:00.  If you can't make those let me know and we can schedule an appointment.

        A -- 24
        B -- 72
        C -- 67
        D -- 14
        F --   7
  Total -- 184

        Average -- ~77.5