Chapter 27-4 The Russian Revolution

Nicholas II Peter Stolypin New Prime Minister Peter Stolypin New Prime Minister Tried to push through agrarian reforms Tried to push through agrarian reforms Designed to break down collective ownership of the mirs Designed to break down collective ownership of the mirs And encouraged enterprising peasants: Kulaks And encouraged enterprising peasants: Kulaks Much land transferred from communes to private ownership Much land transferred from communes to private ownership

Peter Stolypin 1911 was assassinated (probably instigated by nobles who believed his policies to be too liberal) 1911 was assassinated (probably instigated by nobles who believed his policies to be too liberal) Many industrial strikes and peasant violence Many industrial strikes and peasant violence Indications of dissatisfaction with Tsar’s regime Indications of dissatisfaction with Tsar’s regime Russia’s poor showing during WWI led directly to tsar’s downfall Russia’s poor showing during WWI led directly to tsar’s downfall

Socialism in Russia 1898 Vladamir Lenin founded the Social Democratic Workers Party 1898 Vladamir Lenin founded the Social Democratic Workers Party Was exiled to Switzerland Was exiled to Switzerland Lenin was the heir to Marx in Socialist thought Lenin was the heir to Marx in Socialist thought

Lenin’s Socialist Philosophy 3. Lenin believed a highly disciplined workers’ party, strictly controlled by dedicated elite intellectuals and full-time revolutionaries The above is where Lenin broke with Marx who believed that the revolution would be controlled by the workers

Three Basic Ideas Central to Lenin’s Philosophy: 1. Capitalism could be destroyed only by violent revolution He denounced revisionism He denounced revisionism 2. Socialist revolution was possible even in backward Russia (not yet capitalist) Peasants were poor…so potential revolutionaries Peasants were poor…so potential revolutionaries

By 1903 The Social Democratic Workers’ Party split Mensheviks (the minority) wanted to delay the revolution until after the evolution of capitalism and the proletariat. Mensheviks (the minority) wanted to delay the revolution until after the evolution of capitalism and the proletariat. They wanted a more democratic party with mass membership They wanted a more democratic party with mass membership Bolsheviks (the majority) followed Lenin Bolsheviks (the majority) followed Lenin

After the Revolution of 1905… The Bolsheviks in exile planned a revolution The Bolsheviks in exile planned a revolution Lenin and Leon Trotsky formed Workers’ Soviets: councils of workers, soldiers, and intellectuals Lenin and Leon Trotsky formed Workers’ Soviets: councils of workers, soldiers, and intellectuals The influence of the above increased prior to WWI The influence of the above increased prior to WWI

Causes for the overthrow of the Tsar Russia’s poor showing against the Japanese in the Russo-Japanese War Russia’s poor showing against the Japanese in the Russo-Japanese War The lack of reform after the Revolution of 1905 The lack of reform after the Revolution of 1905 The impact of WWI (the most important cause) The impact of WWI (the most important cause) Massive casualties, food shortages Massive casualties, food shortages Tsar’s leadership seemed incompetent Tsar’s leadership seemed incompetent Tsarina was a German Princess and widely hated Tsarina was a German Princess and widely hated The influence of Rasputin The influence of Rasputin

The February Revolution of 1917 Massive strikes in Jan. and Feb. led to food shortages Massive strikes in Jan. and Feb. led to food shortages Women rioted for bread in St. Petersburg and were supported by workers and soldiers Women rioted for bread in St. Petersburg and were supported by workers and soldiers Demonstrators demanded the overthrow of the tsar and the creation of a provisional government Demonstrators demanded the overthrow of the tsar and the creation of a provisional government

February Revolution Thousands of soldiers who were ordered to suppress the strike joined the revolution Thousands of soldiers who were ordered to suppress the strike joined the revolution March 2, 1917 Nicholas II abdicated March 2, 1917 Nicholas II abdicated The royal family was placed under house arrest The royal family was placed under house arrest March 12 th the Duma declared a provisional government March 12 th the Duma declared a provisional government

The Provisional Government Was a dual government Was a dual government Constitutional Democrats and Liberals who wanted to continue the war was one part Constitutional Democrats and Liberals who wanted to continue the war was one part The Petrograd Soviet (the workers and soldiers who actually overthrew the tsar) were the other part…Mensheviks led the government The Petrograd Soviet (the workers and soldiers who actually overthrew the tsar) were the other part…Mensheviks led the government The Soviets accepted the above…temporarily The Soviets accepted the above…temporarily

Alexander Kerensky Kerensky was the leader of the provisional government but maintained his membership in the Soviet Kerensky was the leader of the provisional government but maintained his membership in the Soviet Wanted peace without losing territory to the Central Powers Wanted peace without losing territory to the Central Powers The government WAS NOT exclusively bourgeoisie…workers and soldiers too The government WAS NOT exclusively bourgeoisie…workers and soldiers too

Reforms Equality before the law Equality before the law Freedom of religion, speech, assembly Freedom of religion, speech, assembly The right to form unions and to strike The right to form unions and to strike Amnesty of political prisoners Amnesty of political prisoners Election of local officials Election of local officials 8-Hour work day 8-Hour work day

Kerensky Rejected outright social revolution Rejected outright social revolution Did not want to confiscate large landholdings and distribute to peasants Did not want to confiscate large landholdings and distribute to peasants

March 1, 1917 Army Order #1 : to replace officers loyal to the tsar with officers who were committed to the revolution Army Order #1 : to replace officers loyal to the tsar with officers who were committed to the revolution Placed power in the hands of elected committees of common soldiers Placed power in the hands of elected committees of common soldiers Big Mistake: soldiers were worried about possible future charges of treason Big Mistake: soldiers were worried about possible future charges of treason Army discipline collapsed Army discipline collapsed

The Allies Formally recognized the Provisional government in Russia in hopes that Russia would continue to fight in WWI Formally recognized the Provisional government in Russia in hopes that Russia would continue to fight in WWI BUT Russia plagued by anarchy: BUT Russia plagued by anarchy: Nationalities and local government took matters into their own hands Nationalities and local government took matters into their own hands Peasants took land (violently) from large landowners) Peasants took land (violently) from large landowners)

The October Revolution 1917 Resulted in a Communist Dictatorship Resulted in a Communist Dictatorship Germany arranged for Lenin to be transported back to Russia in a sealed RR car in April 1917 Germany arranged for Lenin to be transported back to Russia in a sealed RR car in April 1917 He hoped to get Russia out of the war by inciting a more radical revolution which would demand peace He hoped to get Russia out of the war by inciting a more radical revolution which would demand peace

The April Thesis Lenin rejected all cooperation with the “bourgeoisie” provisional government Lenin rejected all cooperation with the “bourgeoisie” provisional government Called for a socialist revolution and the establishment of a Soviet Republic Called for a socialist revolution and the establishment of a Soviet Republic He called for the nationalization of Banks and landed estates He called for the nationalization of Banks and landed estates “All power to the Soviets” “All land to the Peasants” “Stop the war now!” “All power to the Soviets” “All land to the Peasants” “Stop the war now!”

Lenin The Provisional government tried unsuccessfully to suppress the Bolsheviks The Provisional government tried unsuccessfully to suppress the Bolsheviks Lenin was forced to flee to Finland but continued to issue directives to the Bolsheviks while in exile Lenin was forced to flee to Finland but continued to issue directives to the Bolsheviks while in exile By Summer of 1917, the Bolsheviks gained a slim majority in the Petrograd Soviet By Summer of 1917, the Bolsheviks gained a slim majority in the Petrograd Soviet

The Kornilov Affair August 1917 Conservatives plotted the overthrow of Kerensky’s government Conservatives plotted the overthrow of Kerensky’s government They were unhappy with They were unhappy with His handling of the war His handling of the war His inability to suppress the Bolsheviks His inability to suppress the Bolsheviks The peasant seizures of land The peasant seizures of land

The Kornilov Affair The plot failed without bloodshed The plot failed without bloodshed BUT Kerensky lost credibility with the army BUT Kerensky lost credibility with the army AND the fear of right-wing counterrevolutionaries played into the Bolsheviks’ hands AND the fear of right-wing counterrevolutionaries played into the Bolsheviks’ hands They set themselves up as defenders of the revolution They set themselves up as defenders of the revolution

The fall of the provisional government Was largely due to Kerensky’s determination to continue the war Was largely due to Kerensky’s determination to continue the war AND his inability to prevent anarchy AND his inability to prevent anarchy

The Politburo Was formed to organize the Bolshevik revolution Was formed to organize the Bolshevik revolution Led by Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin, Zinoviev, Kamenev and Bukharin Led by Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin, Zinoviev, Kamenev and Bukharin October 25, 1917 Trotsky (leader of the Red Army and the Petrograd Soviet) overthrew the Provisional government October 25, 1917 Trotsky (leader of the Red Army and the Petrograd Soviet) overthrew the Provisional government

Opponents of the Bolsheviks Were arrested…including many Mensheviks Were arrested…including many Mensheviks The Cheka (secret police) was created to deal with opposition…had absolute power and were universally feared The Cheka (secret police) was created to deal with opposition…had absolute power and were universally feared New elections to the new Constituent assembly New elections to the new Constituent assembly Lenin’s campaign “Peace, Land, Bread” Lenin’s campaign “Peace, Land, Bread” Bolsheviks lost…had only 29% of the vote Bolsheviks lost…had only 29% of the vote But took power anyway by Jan But took power anyway by Jan. 1918

The Communist Party The new name for the Bolsheviks The new name for the Bolsheviks Though they were a minority, the Bolsheviks were able to maintain power Though they were a minority, the Bolsheviks were able to maintain power

Lenin’s Reforms Lenin gave the land to the peasants (though they had already taken it) Lenin gave the land to the peasants (though they had already taken it) But by doing this he was perceived as a friend to the peasants But by doing this he was perceived as a friend to the peasants Lenin gave direct control of the factories to committees of workers Lenin gave direct control of the factories to committees of workers Lenin took Russia out of the war Lenin took Russia out of the war

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk March 1918 March 1918 Lenin wanted peace at any price Lenin wanted peace at any price Russia lost 1/3 of its population and 25% of its land to Germany Russia lost 1/3 of its population and 25% of its land to Germany Also lost Baltic lands: Poland, the Ukraine, Finland Also lost Baltic lands: Poland, the Ukraine, Finland Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was nullified with Germany’s defeat Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was nullified with Germany’s defeat

The Russian Civil War Reds (Bolsheviks) v Whites (many different groups claiming to represent the “real” interests of Russia and old army officers) Reds (Bolsheviks) v Whites (many different groups claiming to represent the “real” interests of Russia and old army officers) Both sides brutal Both sides brutal Civil War caused over 2 million people to leave Russia Civil War caused over 2 million people to leave Russia

Allies sent troops to help Whites Archangel Expedition in Murmansk tried to keep military supplies from going to the Reds Archangel Expedition in Murmansk tried to keep military supplies from going to the Reds U.S. contributed about 5,000 troops U.S. contributed about 5,000 troops Allies also sent troops to Siberia to save marooned Czechs who tried to prevent Bolsheviks from gaining supplies AND to prevent Japan from taking Siberia Allies also sent troops to Siberia to save marooned Czechs who tried to prevent Bolsheviks from gaining supplies AND to prevent Japan from taking Siberia

War Communism Bolsheviks applied concept of Total War to the Civil War Bolsheviks applied concept of Total War to the Civil War Declared that all land was nationalized Declared that all land was nationalized State took control of heavy industries and ended private trade State took control of heavy industries and ended private trade Above caused a huge decline in production Above caused a huge decline in production Peasants were forced to deliver food to towns Peasants were forced to deliver food to towns

War Communism The Cheka hunted down and executed thousands of opponents The Cheka hunted down and executed thousands of opponents They executed the Romanovs They executed the Romanovs By 1921 the Reds were victorious By 1921 the Reds were victorious Communists were highly organized and disciplined Communists were highly organized and disciplined The Whites were divided and poorly organized The Whites were divided and poorly organized Trotsky was awesome with the army Trotsky was awesome with the army

The USSR 1922 The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was created 1922 The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was created The world’s first communist country The world’s first communist country The Russian Revolution: The Russian Revolution: 15 million died 15 million died Economy ruined Economy ruined International trade gone International trade gone Millions of workers fled the country Millions of workers fled the country