Soviets for Dummies

Soviets is a word that refers to a specific group of people from a time long ago. Let's imagine going on a journey back in time, right to the early 20th century. During that period, there was a big and vast country called Russia, and the people who lived there were known as Russians. However, something interesting happened in Russia during that time. A big and important change occurred called the October Revolution, which led to the creation of a new kind of government.

Now, this new government was different from the ones we are familiar with today. Instead of having just one leader in charge, a small group of people ruled together. These people were called the Bolsheviks, and they believed in a type of government called communism. The Bolsheviks decided that the government should be run by councils, where different groups of workers and soldiers would come together to make decisions. These councils were called "soviets."

So, when we talk about "Soviets," we are referring to these councils in Russia that had an important role in governing the country. It was a way for the people to have a voice and make decisions together. The Soviets were made up of workers, peasants, and soldiers, who all had an opportunity to participate and contribute to the decision-making process.

As time went on, the Bolsheviks and the Soviets gained more power and influence. Eventually, the country's name changed from Russia to the Soviet Union, because the Soviets had become so central to the government. So when we say "Soviets," we are also referring to the people who were part of this new government and the country they lived in.

To summarize, the word "Soviets" means the councils that played a role in governing Russia during the early 20th century. It also refers to the people who were part of these councils and the country they lived in, which later became known as the Soviet Union.