Soviet Russia Under Lenin

Time Line 1917The March Revolution leads to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. The Provisional Government is established. Soviets are elected in Petrograd and other Russian cities. The Bolsheviks take power in the November Revolution. 1918The Soviet government dissolves the constituent assembly.

Time Line 1918The Soviet government signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk The Reds defeat the Whites in the Russian Civil War.

The March Revolution National Collapse End of the Tsarist Regime

The March Revolution National Collapse WWI a devastating experience for Russia. Industrial inability to sustain a major war effort. Empress Alexandra ran the government when Nicholas took control of the army. Grigori Rasputin.

The March Revolution End of the Tsarist Regime Early 1917, strikes and demonstrations swept Petrograd. War weariness. Shortages. Runaway inflation. Distrust of government. Nicholas II dissolved the Duma. Nicholas ordered troops to suppress demonstrations. 3/15/17, Tsar Nicholas abdicated.

The Provisional Government Duma committee reorganized itself as Russia’s Provisional Government. Alexander Kerensky the only socialist to serve in the liberal-dominated government. Promised reforms. Announced plans for election of a constituent assembly to draft a constitution for a democratic republic.

The Provisional Government Creation of Soviets Bolshevik Program Policies of Provisional Government

The Provisional Government Creation of Soviets Socialist leaders in Petrograd call on workers, soldiers, and sailors to elect the Soviet Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies. Although socialist, soviet gave tacit support to Provisional Government. Similar soviets in other cities.

The Provisional Government Bolshevik Program 4/1917, Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the radical Marxist Bolsheviks, returned to Petrograd from exile in Switzerland. April Theses: proletarian socialist revolution. “Peace, Land, and Bread”

The Provisional Government Policies of Provisional Government Not prepared to authorize confiscation of land, nor seize food to meet the needs of the cities. Wanted to continue the war vs Central Powers. 7/1917, collapse of the Russian offensive against the Austrians.

The July Days Spontaneous revolt against the unpopular Provisional Government. Bolsheviks supported the revolt even though they thought it premature. Late July, Kerensky took control of the government.

The Kornilov Affair 9/1917, General L. G. Kornilov, commander of the Russian army, attempted a coup and military dictatorship. Provisional Government, with help from Bolshevik- led Petrograd Soviet, put down the threat. Provisional Government further weakened.

The November Revolution Late October, 1917, Lenin and followers begin plans to overthrow Provisional Government. 11/6-7, Red Guards seized strategic locations in the city. 11/7, Lenin announced a new regime, the Council of People’s Commissars. Leaders: Lenin, Leon Trotsky, Joseph Stalin. Bolsheviks took control in other cities and towns.

Lenin Youth and Early Career Leader of the Bolsheviks

Lenin Youth and Early Career Born Vladimir llyich Ulianov. Oldest brother, Alexander, involved in conspiracy to assassinate Tsar Alexander III. Brother executed in Self-taught lawyer. More interested in Marxism than the law. Arrested and imprisoned in Siberia for radical activities. 1900, went into exile.

Lenin Leader of the Bolsheviks 1898, a group of Russian Marxists established the Social Democratic Party. Lenin and radical Bolsheviks split from more moderate Mensheviks.

Early Measures of the Bolshevik Regime Bolsheviks called on peasants to seize land and workers to take control of factories. Reform Laws The Constituent Assembly Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Early Measures of the Bolshevik Regime Reform Laws Attempted to destroy Russian Orthodox Church. Replaced the Julian calendar with the Gregorian calendar. Simplified the Cyrillic alphabet. Titles of nobility abolished.

Early Measures of the Bolshevik Regime The Constituent Assembly Elections held in late November, Bolsheviks disappointed in results. 1/1918, assembly met in Petrograd. Bolsheviks dissolved the assembly after 1 session. Cheka. Bolshevik dictatorship.

Early Measures of the Bolshevik Regime Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, 3/1918 Negotiated between Lenin’s government and Germany. Russia accepted harsh German terms. Gave up Finland, Russian Poland, the Baltics, Ukraine. Believed they’d get all back as revolution spread. Treaty was nullified after Germany’s defeat by the Allies.

The Civil War Reds vs Whites Allied Intervention Soviet Territorial Losses

The Civil War Reds vs Whites Bolsheviks (Communists) had certain advantages. –Controlled heart of the country and industry. –Lines of communication and supply were short. –Leon Trotsky created an effective fighting force, the Red Army.

The Civil War Whites (anti- Communist forces) lacked coordination. –Fears that if victorious, return to old regime.

The Civil War 7/1918, Communists executed the former tsar and his family. French, British, and American troops intervened on behalf of the Whites, but to little effect. –Bolsheviks resented Western invasions of Russia , gradually the Reds defeated the major White commanders.

The Civil War Soviet Territorial Losses 1920, Poland invaded Russia. 3/1921, Treaty of Riga: –Poland annexed western Belorussia and the western Ukraine.

War Communism Nationalization of major industries, banks, and insurance companies. Private trade prohibited. Food requisitioned from peasants in order to feed the cities. Supreme Economic Council supervised operations of the Russian economy. Deeper economic chaos. Production declined. Transportation and communication systems collapsed. Shortages of food and fuel.