REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA Chapter 11.5

Focus Question How did two revolutions and a civil war bring about Communist Control of Russia.

 March Revolution Ends Tsarism 1913 marked the 300th anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty. Tsarina Alexandra felt they were loved by the people and would rule for years! But Russia was slow to industrialize and was ruled by landowning nobles, priests and a Tsar with unlimited power. Much of the peasant population was poor and hungry.

Tsar Nicholas had failed to solve Russia’s political, economic and social problems after the 1905 Revolution. He was an ineffective leader who used secret police to govern the people. The new working class proletariat made up of factory, mine and railroad workers thought that Revolution was the solution.

In March 1917, disasters on the battlefield combined with food and fuel shortages at home, led to unrest. A bread riot broke out and on the advice of his military, the Tsar abdicated. A provisional government was set up and in some cities, workers and soldiers set up soviets. V.I. Lenin stepped forward to be the leader of a new radical socialist group, the Bolsheviks.

 Lenin and the Bolsheviks Lenin was a young revolutionary who studied the socialist ideas of Karl Marx. Marx had predicted the urban working class would rise spontaneously to overthrow capitalism. Lenin adapted Marxist ideas to fit Russian conditions though, because Russia did not have a large force of urban workers.

Lenin wanted a small elite group to lead the revolution. Although they were a minority of the socialists, he gave them the name “Bolsheviks” meaning “majority.” To the hungry, war-weary Russian people, Lenin and the Bolsheviks promised “Peace, Land and Bread.”

The provisional government continued the war effort and failed to deal with land reforms. Troops began deserting and peasants seized land from landlords. Conditions were ripe for the Bolsheviks to make a move

In November, 1917 they attacked the government and seized power in cities throughout Russia. They made Moscow their HQ and designed a new flag representing the union between workers and peasants. (Hammer and Sickle)

Russia Plunges Into Civil War After the Bolshevik Revolution, Lenin sought peace with Germany. They signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March, 1918. Russia’s withdrawal affected the Allies and Central Powers.

Civil war raged for 3 years between the Bolsheviks, now known as “Communists” or “Reds” and those who opposed them, the “Whites.” The Allies helped the Whites, hoping they would overthrow the Communists and help fight against Germany. But the Reds grew stronger and took over. They shot the Tsar and his family and used terror against the people.

The Communists organized their own secret police known as the Cheka, who executed anyone who was anti-revolution. They took over banks and businesses and forced peasants to join the military. Commissars (party officials assigned to the army to teach party principles) were used to ensure loyalty.

Building the Communist Soviet Union Russia was in chaos. Millions had died in WWI and now millions more perished from famine and disease. In 1922, Lenin and the Communists united much of the old Russian empire into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or USSR. (Soviet Union) A new constitution was written and all citizens over 18 were given the right to vote. All power was given to the peasants and workers. Or was it?

In reality, the Communist Party, not the people reigned supreme. In 1921, Lenin adopted the NEP or New Economic Policy. It allowed some capitalist ventures and let small businesses reopen for private profit. Lenin’s compromise with capitalism helped the Soviet economy recover and the standard of living improve.

Lenin died in 1924, setting off a power struggle between communist leaders Stalin and Trotsky. Stalin threatened Trotsky, who fled to Mexico where an agent of Stalin hunted him down and killed him. Lenin was put on display when he died in 1924 and is still on display today! (Supposedly they will bury him in 2024.)