Russia Revolution
Introduction The Russian Revolution was like a firecracker with a very long fuse. The explosion came in 1917, yet the fuse had been burning for nearly a century. The cruel, oppressive rule of most 19th-century czars caused widespread social unrest for decades.
Czars Resist Change In 1881, revolutionaries angry over the slow pace of political change assassinated the reform-minded Czar, Alexander II. Russia was heading toward a full-scale revolution.
Czars Resist Change In 1881, Alexander III succeeded his father to become czar. Alexander III institutes autocratic rule, a form of government in which he has total power He suppresses all opposition
Czars Resist Change Government censors written criticism; secret police monitor schools Non-Russians living in Russia are treated harshly Jews become target of government backed pogroms (organized persecutions) Police and soldiers do nothing as Jewish homes and businesses are looted and destroyed.
Czars Resist Change In 1894, Nicholas II becomes czar and continues autocratic ways
Russia Industrializes Number of factories doubles between 1863 and 1900, but Russia still lags behind other European countries. In late 1800s, new plan boosts steel production and a major railway begins By 1900 Russia becomes worlds fourth largest producer of steel behind United States, Germany, and Great Britain Trans-Siberian Railroad completed in 1916 connects European Russia to ports of Pacific ocean in the east
Russia Industrializes Industrialization breeds discontent over working conditions and wages. Working conditions horrible Government outlaws trade unions, as a result of these factors several revolutionary groups form.
Russia Industrializes A group following the views of Karl Marx establishes a following in Russia In 1903 these Russian Marxist form two groups The moderate Mensheviks The radical Bolsheviks The main leader of the Bolsheviks is Vladimir Lenin Lenin flees to Switzerland to avoid arrest by the Czarist regime
Crises at Home and Abroad In late 1800s Russia and Japan compete for control of Korea and Manchuria The two nations sign agreements over territories. Russia breaks agreements and Japan retaliates Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War in the early 1900s causes unrest in Russia.
Crises at Home and Abroad Bloody Sunday In 1905, 200,000 workers march on the czar’s palace to demand reforms The army fires into the crowd, killing many Massacre leads to widespread unrest; Nicholas is forced to make reforms
Crises at Home and Abroad The Duma, Russia’s first parliament, created in October of 1905 First Duma meets in May of 1906. Czar is unwilling to share power, dissolves the Duma after only 10 weeks
World War I: The Final Blow Heavy losses in World War I reveal government’s weakness Russia unequipped to fight German military. Economic cost takes toll As in the Russo-Japanese war, Russia’s involvement in World War I reveals Czar’s inability to lead and military leadership Nicholas goes to war front; Czarina Alexandra runs government in his absence
Crises at Home and Abroad Czarina Alexandria falls under the influence of Rasputin—a mysterious “holy man”—who she believes has the power to heal her son Alexandria allows Rasputin to make political decisions Rasputin killed by group of nobles that fear his new found political power
March Revolution In March 1917, women textile workers in Petrograd lead a citywide strike; riots flare up over shortages of bread and fuel Soldiers are ordered shoot obey at first but then refuse and join with them March Revolution—protests become uprising; Nicholas abdicates throne Duma establishes provisional, or temporary government headed by Alexander Kerensky Soviets—committees of Socialist revolutionaries—control many cities
Lenin Returns to Russia In April 1917, Germans aid Lenin in returning from exile to Russia (pictured in disguise with his goatee shaved and wearing a wig) Germans believed Lenin would stir unrest and hurt war efforts against Germany
Bolshevik Revolution In November 1917, armed factory workers stormed Winter Palace in Petrograd calling themselves Bolshevik Red Guards Bolsheviks take control of the government
Bolshevik Revolution Bolsheviks and Lenin give land to peasants, puts workers in control of factories Bolsheviks sign treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany to end fighting in WWI; Russia looses territory Many Russian people outraged over treaty Civil War between Bolsheviks’ Red Army and loosely allied White Army White Army made of three different groups; those who support Czar, those who want democratic government, and socialist that oppose Lenin Red Army wins three-year war that leaves 14 million dead
Lenin Restores Order In March 1921, Lenin launches New Economic Policy (NEP); capitalist policy In 1922, country renamed Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) NEP and peace restore economy shattered by war and revolution By 1928, Russia’s farms and factories are producing again
Lenin Restores Order Lenin creates self-governing republics under national government Communist Party—new name taken by Bolsheviks from the writings of Marx
Stalin Becomes Dictator Lenin suffers stroke in 1922 and dies in 1924 Revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin—cold, hard Communist Party general secretary compete to replace Lenin. Stalin wins and assumes control of communist party Joseph Stalin
Totalitarianism
Stalin Becomes Dictator Joseph Stalin takes over after Lenin dies. Original name was Dzhugashivili but he changed it to Stalin, which meant “Man of Steel.” Stalin’s personality was cold, hard, and impersonal.
Totalitarian State Stalin’s main focus was on Russian development. To improve Russia, he needed to build a totalitarian state. Totalitarianism -- a government that takes total control over every aspect of public and private life.
Stalin takes Control of the Economy He created a Command Economy -- a system in which the government made all economic decisions. Stalin wanted to modernize the Soviet State ushering revolutions in Industry and Agriculture.
Stalin’s Industrial Plan 1928, Stalin introduced the first of several 5 year plans for the economy. Industrially the Soviet Union was 50-100 times behind advanced countries. Needed to increase the output of steel, coal, oil and electricity. Gov’t controlled every aspect of the worker’s life. They chose workers, assigned them jobs, and determined their working hours. Secret police was ready to imprison anyone who did not conform. Stalin’s grim methods produced fantastic results Industrial production eventually increased by more than 25%.
Stalin’s Agricultural Plan Agricultural revolution was also a success but was met with more resistance. Gov’t seized over 25 million privately owned farms and combined into collective farms. Hundreds of families worked on these farms producing food for the state. Peasants resisted fiercely. Many killed livestock and destroyed crops in protest Secret police killed between 5 and 10 million; others were sent to Siberia. Resistance was especially strong by the Kulaks, a wealthy group of peasants. Gov’t executed thousands and others were sent to work camps. Agriculture more than doubled in production.
Weapons of Totalitarianism Dictators use terror and violence to force obedience and to crush opposition. Stalin’s “Secret Police” Used tanks and armored cars to stop riots They monitored telephone lines, read mail, and planted informers everywhere. They arrested and executed millions of so-called traitors.
Great Purge In 1934, Stalin launched the Great Purge -- a campaign of terror. In other words, eliminated anyone who threatened his power. When the Great Purge ended in 1939, Historians estimated that Stalin was responsible for 8 to 13 million deaths.
Indoctrination & Censorship Indoctrination -- mold people’s minds to government’s beliefs (brainwashed). Censorship -- government controlled all newspapers, motion pictures, radio, and other sources of information.
Successful? By the mid-1930s, Stalin had forcibly transformed the Soviet Union into a totalitarian regime and an industrial and political power. He had total social control and ruled successfully by terror.