Those aristocrats had pleasant living conditions, supported the Nicholas II, and most didn’t want a revolution to occur. The Russian Revolution was "worth the trouble" because there was a general and real feeling tha the Czar's autocratic ways needed changing. It is evident from the discussion going on since the Russian Revolution that both the extreme reactionary and the ultra-radical have distorted conception of the unions: their origin, present and future functions and tasks. Lenin made agreements with peasants to permit them to keep or sell any food they hade left after the Red Army Soldiers had taken a specific amount. Russian Revolution of 1917 took place in two phases, the February Revolution and the October Revolution.While the February Revolution led to the end of tsarist autocracy in Russia with the abdication of Emperor Nicholas II, the October Revolution led by the Bolsheviks resulted in the establishment of the first Marxist state in the world with Vladimir Lenin as its leader. In order to spread the message of communism throughout the Soviet community, Lenin completely changed the way education, literature, cinema and music were portrayed. Many Kulaks opposed the idea of collectivism and many burnt their grain and killed their animals to avoid handing them over to the Government. Freedom was eradicated throughout Russia and the states took total control of the media this included, newspapers, cinema, and literature. Children learned communist ideas but they were still … As the Revolution ignited, the rest of Europe looked on in horror at the social and political upheaval. From simple essay plans, through to full dissertations, you can guarantee we have a service perfectly matched to your needs. THE first crucial reform he tried to implement was abolishing of serfdom. Before the 1917 revolution in tsarist Russia the majority of the population was made up of peasants living in rural backwardness, as they had done for centuries. One hundred years on from the Russian Revolution, three main lessons emerge from the 75-year Great Soviet Experiment. He claimed that it was necessary to catch up immediately if they were not to be crushed. Communists hijacked the russian revolution for their own dictatorships. However, with the revival strategies of Vladimir Lenin, Russia began to financially recover and by 1925, during the stir of Lenin’s NEP a ‘major transformation was occurring politically, economically, culturally and spiritually.’. Lenin became a darling of Russians because he guaranteed them total peace by ending the war. The author supports the concept of the «Great Russian Revolution», which unites these two events in a single process of revolutionary development. Very, very bad!!! Pre-Revolution Conflict. The revolution forced Nicholas II to resign and transformed the Russian Empire into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) or the Soviet Union. In 1917 the world saw the biggest change in the social, political and economic system of Russia. We already have the benefit of real revolutionary experience. Large amount of peasant finds jobs in cities, lead to low productivity in agriculture. Through the New Economic Policy, smaller factories were given back to their previous owners and because the farmers now had a choice to sell their harvest, they had an incentive to produce more grain. During the Russian Revolution, there was a substantial gap between the rich and poor. There was a huge demand for food. They lived in cheap wooden houses or dormitories, had very low wages, could only afford to eat black bread, soup, and vodka. Because of the strict censorship in Russia, the population simply saw any ideas of independence as being pointless. One of the second emperors named Peter II and only ruled the throne until his death of smallpox. Although the bourgeoisie’s living conditions were more than sufficient, they weren’t satisfied by the Tsar’s autocracy. The Russian Revolution of 1917 involved the collapse of an empire under Tsar Nicholas II and the rise of Marxian socialism under Lenin and his Bolsheviks. The Russian workers made their revolution to change the world, to turn exploitation and suffering into prosperity and decent lives for everyone. To achieve this, Lenin made the right to divorce, rights to maternity leave, voting, education, standing for office and abortion all legal practices for women within Russia. When the revolution become violent, members of France’s nobility fled the country to escape death. Industrialisation was brought in through Stalin’s Five Year Plans. Primary documents on the Russian Revolution. The Russian Revolutions of 1905 and 1917 were, in many respects, a consequence of Russian industrialisation. In November 1917, Lenin took over Russia and a series of reforms were introduced to institute a new social system in accordance with communist ideology. The Russian Revolution has gone down in history as the victory of the workers and peasants over the czarist rulers. For several years before 1905 and especially after the humiliating Russo-Japanese War (1904–05), They are not rocket science but worth re-stating. You can view samples of our professional work here. Copyright © 2020 IPL.org All rights reserved. It all went from this, To this!! The author draws attention to the following advantages of the concept under consideration. Several states also instituted child benefits to raise levels of child care and nutrition through general governmental revenues from taxation and other sources. Our academic experts are ready and waiting to assist with any writing project you may have. Q. RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: Following the November 1917 revolution what was the name of the government/philosophy that was introduced. The Russian Revolution is one of the most seminal events of the 20th century, ushering in a new form of politics to a major world power. Decades of War. Russia’s government was still do… Work was provided to maintain somewhat suitable lives and occasionally grant the prisoners scarce food Plus, Orphans were also an issue, but also a big priority to adult prisoners: “Orphans often lived on the streets, begging for bits of bread from others who had little or nothing to share. The Russian Revolution was a period of political and social revolution across the territory of the Russian Empire, ... At the same time, urban industrial life had its benefits, though these could be just as dangerous (in terms of social and political stability) as the hardships. The October Revolution (Nb. The revolution led to social benefits. Main Benefits of the Mexican Revolution . Some factors are caused by the people who live in that country, while other factors are due to the actual resources the country has, the economy of the country, and even social inequality. No plagiarism, guaranteed! As the Revolution ignited, the rest of Europe looked on in horror at the social and political upheaval. Thus the American Revolution produced refugees at almost four times the rate of the French Revolution. Timelines of the Russian Revolution are often confusing because up until February 1918 Russia used a different calendar than the rest of the Western world. Agricultural issue, due to the opening of market, small peasant economy is not able to compete with other big agricultural countries. Progress is an improvement upon something previously worse. There were also unsubstantiated rumours that Empress Alexandra, a German by origin, betrayed military secrets to the enemy. The first revolution overthrew the tsarist government and replaced it with a Provisional Government of Duma members (mostly members of the Cadet party), who allowed a Contact Commission of the Petrograd Soviet to advise the government. Its population exceeded 100 million people, including dozens of ethnic and language groups. The Russian Revolution of 1917 had an enormous impact on politics on a global scale for many decades. He gave bigger autonomy for Finland and Poland. At a Women’s Congress in 1918, he stated that ‘the experience of all liberation movements has shown that the success of a revolution depends on how much the women take part in it’ (Zetkin, 1920, The Women’s Question). This is not an example of the work produced by our Essay Writing Service. The Industrial Revolution, which took place from the 18th to 19th centuries, was a period during which predominantly agrarian, rural societies in Europe and America became industrial and urban. With them, they brought their wealth and education. Servants and slaves worked for rich nobles, performing simple household tasks. The Provisional Government was formed on March 1, 1917. The Industrial Revolution was a mixed blessing. In 1917, two revolutions completely changed the fabric of Russia. Russian in 1930 lived better than in 1910; and in 1960 or 1980 lived better than any time under Tzars and Stalin. Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (Ulyanov - 1870-1924). Do you have a 2:1 degree or higher? They cooked and cleaned, and they even bathed and dressed their masters. And while many émigrés eventually returned to France, very few Loyalists returned to the U.S. During the 1800s, Russia’s economy remained focused on agriculture and natural resources. Having debated through … They also worked the fields, dug canals, and worked in mines and. Workers in other countries must make their own revolutions. *You can also browse our support articles here >. If you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help! Anticipating an attack from Prussia and Austria, France preemptively declared war in 1792 kicking off the French Revolutionary Wars, followed by the Napoleonic Wars. The October 1917 Russian Revolution . Free resources to assist you with your university studies! There is no progress through change without deterioration. To establish this new legislation, Lenin ended the reign of oppressive Tsarist Russia, the Russian Provisional Government and placed the Bolsheviks in charge of what was now no longer Russia, but the Soviet Union. Some of the benefits that resulted from the Mexican Revolution are visible even today. Russian Revolution of 1905 . The annual economic growth had fell from 8% to 1.4%. Copyright © 2003 - 2020 - UKEssays is a trading name of All Answers Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales. According to Tsarist law, women were not much more than men’s slaves, and men had, by law, the right to beat their wives. Three years later, Lenin introduced free universal healthcare to all citizens of nation and it is clear that this would have made immediate positive effects on the quality of life for the Soviet community. His clothes, hair, chin, venue, even his drink, it's all soooooo Socialist?! He implemented liberal changes in universities, an in legal area. This is also a negative effect because communism replaces czarist rule. Russian soldiers in the trenches of World War I. Schmoop Military Defeat in World War I . america had troops on Soviet soil after WW I figh ting for the "white russians" against the "red russians" Stalin was a brutal (insane?) A major reason for the higher numbers of female Russian revolutionaries had to do with the late arrival in Russia of a different “revolution,” specifically, the Industrial Revolution. Russian in 1930 lived better than in 1910; and in 1960 or 1980 lived better than any time under Tzars and Stalin. Registered office: Venture House, Cross Street, Arnold, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG5 7PJ. It was a defining event of the 20th century. The second consequence of the Russian Revolution was the rise of Lenin as a powerful leader. The welfare state took on measures such as unemployment and disability insurance, and special disability benefits for the blind, widows, orphans, and the elderly through pensions. ” (“Life in the Ghettos” B) Prisoners lived in unbearable conditions that took their sicknesses and starvation to the extreme. This was only the beginning of the rebellion and when Lenin’s successor, Stalin came into ruling the leader introduced even more sever censorship laws to further ensure that the government controlled the mind and the social development of the ‘communist citizen’. It sparked the beginning of a new era in Russia that had effects on countries around the world. This event is known as the Russian Revolution (or the Bolshevik / October Revolution). Poor living condition and Housing problems: The don’t get proper living conditions. They made explicit commitments to promote the equality of men and women. Though the Russian Revolutions had many benefits, the event brought along with it many social downfalls. After the revolution, Lenin created free education throughout Russia. One hundred years ago, in the fall of 1917, Communists known as Bolsheviks seized power in Russia. The Russian Revolution was a groundbreaking event that changed not only the course of Russia but also the world.. At the start of the 20th century, Russia was one of the world’s largest and most powerful empires. Poor living conditions of the majority of the Russian population was only one factor of the. Farmers struggled to make a living, and went underappreciated even though they provided food for all of Egypt. These people were known to not work as “for centuries together” they had spent their lives making this money, “However there were a number of [people] who [owned] large industries like mining or shipping, etc.”(Victorian Era and Social Structure 4) The people of this class were also known to be more “educated” than that of the classes that are beneath them. Importantly, Lenin transformed Russia into a communist party. In the end, the Russian Revolution was betrayed. Looking for a flexible role? This eventually led to the establishment of the Soviet Union, which lasted until its dissolution in 1991. In March 1921 he introduced the ‘New Economic Policy.’ His plan was to allow Russia to recuperate from the War Communism. The overhaul of the leadership of Tsar Nicholas II and his monarchy family and the entry of V. Lenin led to a series of social reforms that reflected the communist ideologies the country adopted. Its effects are still well felt in the world today, with Russia having never fully shed the effects eighty years of Communist Party rule and the autocracy that preceded it. First, it conceptualizes the revolution as a process contingent of a local and global historical context. Those who attempted to listen or read anything in a manner that did not glorify the Soviet, were severely punished. Russian Revolution, October 1917. For the sake of stability, tsarism insisted on rigid autocracy that effectively shut out the population from participation in government. Stalin’s use of Strong language shows us how truly serious the Soviet Union were going to be in promoting and carrying out their plans. One of the most important armed conflicts in Mexico is known as the"Mexican Revolution", in which the country was in a dictatorship under the military control of Porfirio Diaz , which later would be relieved by Victoriano Huerta. Historical Background. Rural Area issue, due to diminished productivity, lack of infrastructure and exploitation, and high taxation by local governments and corporations, peasants in rural areas are extremely poor. The food consisted of bland soups and stale bread; newcomers had trouble eating the unappetizing food. Peters reign on the throne lasted till 1725 and his empress Catherine continued until 1727. During this period of time, Russia’s traditional monarchy and Tsarist system was abolished and replaced with the world’s first Communist state. Church leaders were arrested, murdered and the USSR destroyed nearly 70000 churches as the Soviet leaders could not have anyone else being opposed to his position. The working class of society changed from being bitter poor to being moderately impoverished. The Russian Revolution of 1917 had an enormous impact on politics on a global scale for many decades. Soon after his reforms ‘women broadly participated in the Revolution and Civil War as militants, soldiers, police officials, and workers’ (Zetkin, 1920, The Women’s Question). The two Russian revolutions of 1917, and subsequent civil wars , not only caused great political and social upheaval, but also led to substantial changes in the way news was reported and disseminated. Russia industrialized much later than Western Europe and the United States. Russian Revolution, two revolutions in 1917, the first of which, in February (March, New Style), overthrew the imperial government and the second of which, in October (November), placed the Bolsheviks in power, leading to the creation of the Soviet Union. With all the human and material costs, it did benefited to the society. Progress is an improvement upon something previously worse. Registered Data Controller No: Z1821391. The widespread economic crisis had hit the people of Russia so hard that ‘sons of the family had to spend part of the year either working for hire on nobleman’s estates or labouring in factories’ (Classroom Video, 1998, The Russian revolution: from the last Tsar to Lenin). The after effects of the First World War, the Russian Revolution and the Russian Civil war, were devastating on Russia’s economy. In 1919, Lenin instituted free education throughout Russia. Learn more about the Russian Revolution … Lenin and his Soviet members also believed that the role of women would be critical for the success of revolution. The 1917 Russian Revolution took place in March (Gregorian Calendar). This philosophy had a huge impact on the economy. Its causes were not so much economic or social as political and cultural. It was meant to be a temporary body that would govern Russia in place of the Tsar until elections could be held. We've received widespread press coverage since 2003, Your UKEssays purchase is secure and we're rated 4.4/5 on reviews.co.uk. However, other Bolshevik leaders were not yet quite convinced. One hundred years on from the Russian Revolution, three main lessons emerge from the 75-year Great Soviet Experiment. Russia was also embroiled in World War I during this time, which only added to the unrest. All independent newspapers were closed down, and in June 1922 restriction of all publications and imagery was placed under the control of Narkompros but strangely enough the Publications of the Communist Party and its affiliates were exempt. Peter, I wanted Russia to refer to him as emperor since he thought that it would modernize their regime and gain more power over the church. The resources of poor people are very limited, and its effect can be seen in their diet. It was a thing where russia dropped out of the alliancce to make peace with germany dictator who caused the deaths of tens of millions of russians by starvation and secret police murder. The Russian Revolutions of 1917 saw the collapse of the Russian Empire, a short-lived provisional government, and the creation of the world's first socialist state under the Bolsheviks. In years from 1855 to around 1870 he tried to change the Russian backward Russia into powerful European country, which could be compared to the West. The Socialist Party had 100,000 members and many members elected to public office across the country. The 3rd Annual Conference of the Graduate School for East and Southeast European Studies headed by MARTIN SCHULZE WESSEL (Munich) and ULF BRUNNBAUER (Regensburg) focused on the Russian October Revolution of 1917 under four main aspects: the performance of the Revolution in films and on stage, the rhetoric and religious semantics of the Revolution, and its global implications, especially in … Moreover, Sanitation and food source was not common in the ghettos, prisoners had to strip themselves of their dignities in order to barely survive: “Life in the ghettos was usually unbearable. On the Reduction of Secondary Education (Circular on the Cook's Children) Russian Minister of Education Count Ivan Davidovich Delianov recommends conditions that exempt institutions of secondary and higher education from admitting the children of "coachmen, footmen, cooks, laundresses, small shopkeepers and similar people" with the exception of particularly … Russia entered World War I relatively underdeveloped. One positive outcome is that the czarist rule comes to an end and gives say to the workers and peasants. There were, of course, two revolutions that year. The Russian Revolution dramatically changed Russia from an autocracy to a communist system of government. By the Julian Calendar used in Russia at the time, the revolution took part in November 1917, and is therefore often referred to as the November Revolution) With Russian politics still in a state of constant flux Lenin realised that now was the time to capitalise on his party's popularity. There is no progress through change without deterioration. In such conditions the women were treated as the property of men. Reference this. Thus, Lenin helped lower the inequality between both genders. Those serfs had poor living conditions, and would support however proposed the best for them, as they wanted to get rid of the inequality between classes, and landlords, to own their land. Company Registration No: 4964706. Katie McElvanney explores how events of the Russian Revolution and civil wars were reported within Russia and abroad, and how the press was used to inform, persuade, or even repress, the masses. But masses were extremely impoverished to level, not seen in the Western world since medieval times. They fought and died for this. The 1917 Russian Revolution is a significant event in the Russian history, which saw the country that was Russia change through the overthrowing of Tsar Nicholas II and his monarchy family, to transforming the country into a communist state under named the Soviet Union. In doing so, the Bolsheviks aimed at ‘eliminating the autonomy of universities, doing away with the university faculties, especially the humanities whose curricula would clash with communist ideology, to put an end to the ‘elitist’ character of higher education, to develop vocational education’ (Anonymous, Lenin’s Social Reforms 1917-1924). The benefits of the Bolshevik coup in 1917, can best be summarized as the following: 1, The overthrow of the Romanov Dynasty, and the extermination of the Romanovs, which took Russia into the 20th century as a republic and no longer ruled by inept monarchs or their feeble offspring. Russian Revolution of 1905, uprising that was instrumental in convincing Tsar Nicholas II to attempt the transformation of the Russian government from an autocracy into a constitutional monarchy. Money doesn 't makes you happy, money just gives you material stuff but not happiness. The wealthy land owners and nobles lived a luxurious life but were the minority and only made up 20% of the Russian Empire. Until the industrialization programs led by Stalin in the 1930s, Russia “…resembled pre-modern Europe at virtually every level of the social hierarchy” (7). These range from awareness of social rights to economic, cultural and political achievements. On October 10, a secret meeting of the Bolshevik party leaders was held. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of UKEssays.com. Those who attempted to listen or read anything in a manner that did not glorify the Soviet, were severely punished. However, religion was not the only thing abolished; many of Russia’s talented people had been executed as they were also seen as a threat to the reputation of the USSR. Nothing came close to it in importance – a fact recognised at the time and which continues to prove compelling a full century later. The Russian Revolution’s change was not progress, as disadvantages outnumbered advantages. There are many factors that make a country poorer than others. What role did women play in the Russian Revolution and civil wars? It had both advantages and disadvantages. Soviet Union - Soviet Union - The Russian Revolution: Sometime in the middle of the 19th century, Russia entered a phase of internal crisis that in 1917 would culminate in revolution. Nobles, who once had incredible power and prestige, were then stripped to single room houses and bitter cold because they had to money to buy coal. To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below: If you are the original writer of this essay and no longer wish to have your work published on the UKDiss.com website then please: Our academic writing and marking services can help you! VAT Registration No: 842417633. However, the majority of the population in Russia was the peasants. All independent newspapers were closed down, … Workers inside a St Petersburg factory in the early 1900s. This revolution changed the history in so mamy different ways due it bieng the collapse of the Russian empire and the birth of the USSR(Union of Socialist Soviet Republics). In 1917, four days after the October Revolution, Lenin incorporated the eight hour working day which dramatically improved the working condition of Russia’s population. Nothing came close to it in importance – a fact recognised at the time and which continues to prove compelling a full century later. First of all, eliminating the “Three Rural Issues” phenomenon s laborious. When it finally did, around the turn of the 20th century, it brought with it immense social and political changes. He was one of the most celebrated ones of the Romanov dynasty and influenced church’s, legislation and courts. With the Russian revolution conducted by Lenin, the USSR soon turned into a world superpower and the activist’s government style still influences communist governments today ‘ China, North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, and Laos. The Russian Revolution was, while a huge economic, social, and political change, the result of a number of different factors that built up over time, including economic, military, and political circumstances. None felt this more severely than Russia, which had entered the war confident but in a precarious political, economic and social state. This essay will observe the political, economical , and social conditions in Russia chronologically from before the 1905 Revolution to 1924, to finally determine the extent of change meaning progress. The February Revolution World War I weakened tsarism. Lenin sought to improve women’s rights and their social status. Focusing on the Russian Revolution in its widest sense, Fitzpatrick covers not only the events of 1917 and what preceded them, but the nature of the social transformation brought about by the Bolsheviks after they took power. In other words, the Russian Revolution, and the developments thereafter, cannot be viewed only as a product of Communist Revolution, but they also have to be viewed as a product of the social history of Russia, which was itself very brutal and oppressive. Three Rural Issues Due to population growth, taxes and crop failures, the pheasants lived in widespread poverty and famine. Despite being one of the most important events in Mexican history and which, unfortunately, cost the lives of many people who fought for equality, the legacy of these people is still palpable. The Russian Revolution was, while a huge economic, social, and political change, the result of a number of different factors that built up over time, including economic, military, […] The middle classes were wealthy, and had good living conditions. Nonetheless, Vladimir Lenin was confident in the economic revival of the Soviet Union. Here are 17 facts about the Russian Revolution. The lower class, however, lived in poverty. A string of unsuccessful campaigns brought corruption to the monetary structure of Russia. Imagine people your age not having a place to live in, so they just sleep wherever they can, or imagine that children are sleeping with empty stomachs, almost starving, while you have so much food that you can’t even choose which one to eat now and which one to keep for later . The nobility, which made up a little over 1% of the population owned important portions of the land, were very wealthy. Change can only be considered progress when its overall beneficial consequences are superior than its disadvantages, both including short, and long term consequences. The workers on the contrary, had far worse living conditions. Poverty is when people cannot satisfy their basic needs, such as food and water. His major publications include Civil War in Siberia: The Anti-Bolshevik Government of Admiral Kolchak, 1918 - 1920 (Cambridge University Press, 1997) and The Russian Revolution … The Revolution started during World War I, and eventually the Soviet Union was formed. The humiliating defeats that the Russian army suffered at the hands of the Germans, who expelled it from Poland, lowered the prestige of the monarchy further. With that in mind, here’s a look at seven ways the Russian Revolution changed the world. The aim of these Five Year Plans was to rapidly change the Soviet Union’s economic output to be caught up with the other large economies such as the USA. Even though this was the case, Lenin was a pillar of Bolsheviks party that supported socialism. The 1917 Russian Revolution took place in March (Gregorian Calendar). 1. Oppression of women was widespread in the culturally … On the centennial of the start of the Russian Revolution, explore about the tumultuous events of 1917 as witnessed by Americans and other expatriates living in the capital They have to fight the hardship of poverty to secure food, clothes and shelter. Katie McElvanney explores how events of the Russian Revolution and civil wars were reported within Russia and abroad, and how the press was used to inform, persuade, or even repress, the masses. “Three Rural Issues” indicates the social problems of Chinese rural area, agriculture and peasant caused by the wealth gap, loss in rural population, etc. Many froze to death in the winter”(“Life in the Ghettos” B). On January 22,1905 a large strike took place under the leadership of the father Georgy Gapon. Its is a revolution that happened in russia and all of the social classes were in and everyone was affected in it. But today it is still possible to succeed. In just the Napoleonic Wars alone, over 3.7 million deaths are estimated. Stalin stated at a conference of the Union in February 1931 that Russia was ‘fifty or a hundred years behind the advanced countries’. Before entering the topic in particular it is important that you know briefly what the Mexican Revolution . This gives us an idea of how bad their situation can lead to. 1st Jan 1970 Russia industrialized much later than Western Europe and the United States. Wealthy peasants called Kulaks were stockpiling their grain holding up for higher prices so causing extreme food shortages. By the end of 1916, two years of total war had placed enormous strain on all combatant nations. First, the February Russian Revolution toppled the Russian monarchy and established a Provisional Government. Russia was extremely reactionary country during monarchy, were only handful aristocratic families lived really good. Politics Thus agricultural production increased greatly and finally the Russian economy began to recover. We're here to answer any questions you have about our services. The 19th century, the Julian calendar, used by Russia, was 12 days behind the Gregorian calendar (used by most of the Western world) until March 1, 1900, when it became 13 days behind. But nothing in history is inevitable. In the second year of his regime he signalized that necessity. Unemployment: Poor people move from villages to towns and form one town to another in search of employment/work. Though the Russian Revolutions had many benefits, the event brought along with it many social downfalls. Disclaimer: This work has been submitted by a university student. You should feel proud of who you are no matter. It can only be considered progress when it is beneficial for the majority of the population as change can be progress to some while being disadvantageous to others. WW1 had placed the people of Russia in a position where there was a major scarcity of resources, widespread famine and collapse in economy. By September 1917, Lenin believed the Russian people were ready for another revolution. Lenin used all his powers of persuasion to convince the others that it was time for an armed insurrection. Even before the Russian Revolution, the United States had a vibrant socialist left and radical labor movement.