The Russian Revolution War and Discontent Nicholas II was an autocratic ruler Russia not prepared for war Influence of Rasputin The March Revolution Problems in Petrograd March of the women, March 8, 1917 Calls for a general strike Soldiers join the marchers Provisional Government takes control Alexander Kerensky (1881-1970) Tried to carry on the war Soviets sprang up Bolsheviks under the leadership of Vladimir Ulianov, 1870-1924 Sent back to Russia in a sealed train by the Germans “Peace, land and bread”

Map 25.4: The Russian Revolution

Russian Revolution (cont) The Bolshevik Revolution Bolsheviks control Petrograd and Moscow soviets Collapse of Provisional Government, November 6-7, 1917 Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, March 3, 1918 Civil War Bolshevik (Red) army and Anti-Bolshevik (White) army Murder of the Tsar and his family (July 16, 1918) Disunity among the white army Communists and “War communism” Invasion of allied troops 19121: Communists victory

The 1905 Russian Revolution

Nicholas II: The Last Romanov Tsar [r. 1894-1917]

The Tsar & His Family

Hemophilia & the Tsarevich

Nicholas II & His Uncle, George V

Causes

1. Early 20c: Russian Social Hierarchy

2. First Stages of Industrialization An Early Russian Factory

3. Weak Economy 1905 Russian Rubles

4. Extensive Foreign Investments & Influence Building the Trans-Siberian RR [Economic benefits only in a few regions.]

5. Russo-Japanese War [1904-1905] The “Yellow Peril”

Russo-Japanese War [1904-1905]

Russo-Japanese War [1904-1905]

Russian & Japanese Soldiers

Russia Is Humiliated

Treaty of Portsmouth [NH] - 1905 President Theodore Roosevelt Acts as the Peacemaker [He gets the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.]

6. Unrest Among the Peasants & Urban Working Poor Father Georgi Gapon: Leader of the People OR Police Informer?

The Czar’s Winter Palace in St. Petersburg Bloody Sunday January 22, 1905 The Czar’s Winter Palace in St. Petersburg

The Revolution Spreads

Russian Cossacks Slaughter The People in Odessa Anti-Jewish Attacks

7. The Battleship Potemkin Mutiny [June, 1905]

Results

1. The Tsar’s October Manifesto

2. The Opening of the Duma: Possible Reforms? 1906 The first two tries were too radical. The third duma was elected by the richest people in Russia in 1907.

The Russian Constitution of 1906 Known as the Fundamental Laws [April 23, 1906]. The autocracy of the Russian Tsar was declared. The Tsar was supreme over the law, the church, and the Duma. It confirmed the basic human rights granted by the October Manifesto, BUT made them subordinate to the supremacy of the law.

3. Jewish Refugees Come to America in 1906

4. The Path to October, 1917

Why did the 1905 Revolution Fail?

The Russian Revolution Post 1905 Revolution of 1917

Our objectives are: You will be able to understand why the events of World War I hastened the outbreak of the Russian Revolution What was the ultimate fate of the Russian Royal Family—judge for yourself if they deserved their fate. In what ways did Lenin solve the erratic political situation that existed in Russia during the Revolution’s early months? You will be able to understand the deeper meaning of the slogan “PEACE, LAND, and BREAD.”

We have already learned that Marx published his Communist Manifesto in 1848.

Marx watched the events in Paris 1871 and the commune with interest Marx watched the events in Paris 1871 and the commune with interest. The commune in Paris did not succeed.

But the idea that revolution was needed to overthrow governments remained a key point of Marxist doctrine.

Marxism should have been just another ‘ism of the 1800’s.

But Marxism found fertile ground in the Russian state But Marxism found fertile ground in the Russian state. A country plagued by deep rooted societal, social and political difficulties.

Russia was ripe for revolution: A previous history of oppression A rising sense of Pan-Slavism: Russia has a unique destiny Local conflicts across the vast Russian empire.

A brief review: Alexander II freed the serfs. Alexander was assassinated by the “Peoples Will” His son, Alexander III is reactionary: drives revolutionaries and terrorists into exile.

We have already learned that war broke out in August 1914 after Russia mobilized to protect Serbian interest.

Peasants and ordinary workers were sent to fight the Germans Peasants and ordinary workers were sent to fight the Germans. Terrible disasters at Tannenberg and the Mausaurian Lakes, in the first month of the war, destroyed the Russian soldier’s confidence…

The Germans moved deep into Russia territory, and by 1915, over 2 million Russian soldiers had been killed, wounded, or captured.

The Middle class offered support to the government The Middle class offered support to the government. Business groups put factories into maximum production.

But life at court was bizarre…the Tsarina Alexandra relied on Rasputin to treat her hemophiliac son, Alexei.

All groups complained about the Tsar, the court, and while the nation was at war, the system seemed hopelessly “out of it.”

The Dumas reassembled in November 1916, and loudly protested conditions. The leader of the Dumas shouted out about the sinister influence of Rasputin.

In December 1916, Rasputin was assassinated by Prince Yssapov and others…

The Tsar had gone to the front to command the troops…

While in St. Petersburg, in March 1917, food riots broke out.

Crowds shouted “Down with the Tsar Crowds shouted “Down with the Tsar.” And, most important, the imperial troops refused to fire on the rioters.

Mutiny and insubordination spread throughout the city…

Middle class leaders demanded that a new ministry be formed with approval of the Dumas.

Tsar Nicolas retaliated by disbanding the Duma…the city of St Tsar Nicolas retaliated by disbanding the Duma…the city of St. Petersburg split into two factions—those who supported the Dumas…

And the other was the Petrograd Soviet, representing revolutionary forces.

In March, 1917, the Duma’s committee set up a Provisional Government.

The Tsar tried to return from the front, but his train was turned back by troops. Nicolas abdicated the throne.

He also abdicated the throne for his heir, the hemophiliac Alexei, and his brother, Michael, also refused the throne.

On March 17, 1917, Russia became a republic, and the 300 year old Romanov Dynasty came to and end. The Royal Family was held at their residence, then a year later, they were assassinated at Ekaterinburg, Siberia.

The Provisional Government immediately promised elections by universal male suffrage

They also arranged to prepare a constitution for the new regime They also arranged to prepare a constitution for the new regime. Then, it tried to continue the war against Germany…

In July 1917, a new offensive was mounted against the Germans---but the Germans struck back, hard.

Things fell apart: the armies at the front “melted away” and made their way home to make sure they got their share of this land redistribution.

The Provincial Government also promised wholesale re-distribution of land to the peasants.

The Petrograd Soviet opposed the war, and called for its immediate end.

Much of the intelligentsia that is kicked out of Russia will come back with revolutionary ideas. Many “underground” groups will form.

One of the Intelligentsia was Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924)

Lenin’s brother had been executed as an auxiliary member of the plot to assassinate Alexander III.

Because of this, Lenin was unable to attend law school Because of this, Lenin was unable to attend law school. He eventually engaged in revolutionary activities and was sent to Europe. He did not return until 1917—the year of the Russian Revolution

So what did Lenin believe in? that the rich abused the poor that anybody making a profit was abusing everybody else that everybody was equal wanted a government that truly represented the people wanted the overthrow of the Russian government that kept the huge majority of Russian people in misery

Vladimir Lenin arrived in Petrograd on April 3, 1917 aboard a sealed train that had taken him from Switzerland through Germany. At the Finland Station he issued a speech denouncing both positions and demanding the elimination of dual power by the transfer of "all power to the soviets."

Now, in July 1917, there was a rebellion against the Provisional Government by some soldiers and sailors. Lenin was blamed for this, and he had to “temporarily” flee to Finland. He would return just a few months later and this time, he would take control of the city.

Now, in July 1917, there was a rebellion against the Provisional Government by some soldiers and sailors. Lenin was blamed for this, and he had to “temporarily” flee to Finland. He would return just a few months later and this time, he would take control of the city.

The Provisional Government tried to maintain popular support by naming Alexander Kerensky as its head.

Now, a military commander, General Kornilov, who was defeated in his efforts to overthrow the government. However, the Bolsheviks continued to press for control of the government.

Kerensky lost support. The food situation worsened Kerensky lost support. The food situation worsened. The war front was now in a state of collapse.

WHO WAS GOING TO TAKE POWER?

Lenin proposed to end the war, redistribute land, and provide work by transferring ownership in factories to the workers themselves.

Lenin promised PEACE, LAND and BREAD

This slogan was repeated in pamphlets dispersed throughout the city.

Most of the intelligentsia yearned for an over throw of the government, so they could skip the problems of Capitalist Industrial Europe.

Lenin raised the cry “All power to the Soviets” to crush Kerensky Lenin raised the cry “All power to the Soviets” to crush Kerensky. Kerensky struggled to control the Provisional Government.

Lenin judged his hour had come Lenin judged his hour had come. He was backed up by Trotsky and Stalin, both emerging leaders in the Bolshevik party.

Lenin returned in October, inspiring an armed revolution with the slogan "All Power to the Soviets!" against the Provisional Government. His ideas which called for a new form of government based on workers' councils, or soviets. In this work he also claimed that ordinary workers should, in principle, be capable of running a factory or government. He emphasized, though, that to be able to govern the state, a worker should "learn communism." He furthermore insisted that a member of the government should be paid no more than the salary of an average worker

Troops around St. Petersburg (Petrograd) voted to support the Soviets in their takeover…

On the night of November 6-7th, 1917, the Bolsheviks took over the… Telephone exchanges (communication) Railway stations Electric power stations A warship turned its guns on the Winter Palace where Kerensky’s government sat.

The Soviets now proclaimed that they were the new government The Soviets now proclaimed that they were the new government. the Council of People’s Commissars. Lenin was the head Trotsky was in charge of foreign affairs Stalin was in charge of domestic affairs among the various Russian states. Kerensky fled to the U.S. and died in 1970!

Lenin introduced two resolutions: To negotiate a just democratic peace To abolish all landlord property immediately and without compensation. The vast landlord estates were now given to peasants to provide a base of support for the Bolsheviks

Just a side note: This November revolution is actually called the October revolution, or October 1917, because the Julian calendar was used in Russia until 1918—and the Julian calendar was a month behind the Gregorian calendar.

The long awaited constituent assembly met in January 1918, after 36 million persons had voted for it. But, when the votes were counted: 9 million had voted for the Bolsheviks 21 million had voted for Kerensky Lenin broke up the assembly by having armed sailors surround it.

Thus, Lenin did not favor majority rule Thus, Lenin did not favor majority rule. He decided that the Bolsheviks would make the decisions. Two months later, the Bolsheviks named themselves the Communist party.

The Russian Revolution would now continue with a Civil War between those that supported the Tsar (the whites) and those that supported the Communists (the Reds). It took years before Russia was stable. Stay tuned…

Russia began to pass through the industrial revolution during this agitated time…but most of the money came from Europe.

They wanted industrialization—but industries owned by the state, and not by some rich smug factory owner who exploited his workers.