The Russian Revolution was inspired by the Communist Manifesto, written by Karl Marx in 1848. Marx was writing in response to the social injustices that he witnessed as a result of the Industrial Revolution. When Lenin and the Bolsheviks began their revolution in 1917, they were unable to follow the blueprint described by Marx 70 years earlier.
Students will analyze how and why ideologies change when they are put into practice in a T-Chart. The left column identifies elements of a communist society the way Marx envisioned them. The right hand column will be student-created. This column will show how closely Stalin followed the original intent of Marx’s Communist Manifesto. In most cases, the theory and the practice were far apart.
Extended Activity
This activity can be extended in a number of ways. Students could create a third column of cells about the realities of China under Mao. Students could also assess whether or not the changes that Lenin, Stalin, and Mao made to Marx’s original ideology were justified.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a T Chart comparing and contrasting the ideologies of communism and the way Marx's writings played out.
Encourage student engagement by organizing a classroom debate. Assign students to argue either the theory of communism as envisioned by Marx or the reality of its implementation in Russia under Stalin. This activity fosters critical thinking and helps students understand different perspectives.
Have students use excerpts from the Communist Manifesto and firsthand accounts from Stalin’s era to support their arguments. This deepens their understanding and builds research skills.
Establish time limits for each speaker, create guidelines for respectful discussion, and outline how rebuttals will work. This ensures a fair, orderly, and productive debate.
Ask students to evaluate their classmates’ arguments and provide constructive feedback after the debate. This reflection helps students refine their critical analysis and communication skills.
Facilitate a whole-class conversation to summarize key insights from both sides and connect the debate to broader historical themes. This step reinforces understanding and encourages thoughtful connections.
Marx's theory envisioned a classless, stateless society with shared ownership and true equality. In practice under Stalin, however, the Soviet Union maintained state control, significant government power, and did not fully eliminate class distinctions, resulting in major differences from Marx's original ideals.
Students can use a T-Chart by listing Marx’s original communist ideologies on one side and describing how those ideas were implemented by Stalin on the other. This visual comparison helps highlight key similarities and differences between theory and practice.
Important communist ideologies to examine include a classless society, elimination of private property, gender equality, social ownership of production, and the role of government. These points provide a basis for comparing theory and historical practice.
The Russian Revolution faced unique challenges and historical circumstances, leading Lenin and Stalin to adapt Marx’s ideas. Economic hardship, political opposition, and the need for rapid industrialization caused significant deviations from Marx’s original vision.
An effective activity is having students create a T-Chart comparing Marx's communist theory with how it was applied by Stalin. Students can use illustrations and real examples to deepen understanding of the gaps and overlaps between the two.