RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

Economic Background Political Background The Revolutions of 1917 The Aftermath

Economic Background Mongols’ control Early industry Lack of capital

Industrial Growth

Political Background Alexander II—freed serfs and allowed for elected local governments Murdered Alexander III—reactionary Nicholas II—continued father’s programs

Marxists Exploited Situation Socialist Revolutionary Party Peasants Some socialists Some liberals Social Democratic Party Bolsheviks Lenin-controlled Mensheviks Party democracy

Revolution of 1905 Bloody Sunday (1/9/1905) 1,000’s of workers Led by Father Gapon Petition for: 8-hr day Better wages Bill of rights Education

"Oh Sire, we working men and inhabitants of St. Petersburg, our wives, our children and our parents, helpless and aged women and men, have come to You our ruler, in search of justice and protection. We are beggars, we are oppressed and overburdened with work, we are insulted, we are not looked on as human beings but as slaves. The moment has come for us when death would be better than the prolongation of our intolerable sufferings. We are seeking here our last salvation. Do not refuse to help Your people. Destroy the wall between Yourself and Your people."

Approximately 100 killed Strikes, mutinies, violence Led to October Manifesto

"The present ruler has lost absolutely the affection of the Russian people, and whatever the future may have in store for the dynasty, the present tsar will never again be safe in the midst of his people." The American consul in Odessa

October Manifesto (1905) Freedom of conscience, speech, assembly & press All laws approved by Duma (consultive body) Soviets developed Committees of workers Lenin did NOT make them, just used them

So a constitution is granted. Freedom of assembly is granted but the assemblies are surrounded by the military. Freedom of speech is granted, but the censorship exists as before. Freedom of knowledge is granted, but the universities are occupied by troops. Inviolability of the person (freedom from arbitrary arrest and imprisonment) is granted, but the prisons are overflowing with the incarcerated.... A constitution is given, but the autocracy remains. Everything is given— and nothing is given.” Leon Trotsky

WWI (1914) Nicholas entered WWI Bolsheviks gradually took control of Petrograd Soviet German army at Petrograd in 1917 Petrograd asked Soviet to protect it

The Revolutions of 1917 First Revolution Kornilov Insurrection Second Revolution

The Romanovs

Rasputin Starets = Holy man Presented to Alexandra in 1905 “Healed” the tsarevich, Alexis

Rasputin "The tsar's ministers … have been turned into marionettes, marionettes whose threads have been taken firmly in hand by Rasputin and the Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna — the evil genius of Russia and the tsaritsa... who has remained a German on the Russian throne and alien to the country and its people." Duma member, 1916

Rasputin Murdered December 17, 1916 I write and leave behind me this letter at St. Petersburg. I feel that I shall leave life before January 1st. … If I am killed by common assassins, and especially by my brothers the Russian peasants, you, Tsar of Russia, have nothing to fear, remain on your throne and govern, and you, Russian Tsar, will have nothing to fear for your children, they will reign for hundreds of years in Russia. But if I am murdered by boyars, nobles, and if they shed my blood, their hands will remain soiled with my blood.… Brothers will kill brothers, and they will kill each other and hate each other…. Tsar of the land of Russia, if you hear the sound of the bell which will tell you that Grigory has been killed, you must know this: if it was your relations who have wrought my death then no one of your family, that is to say, none of your children or relations will remain alive for more than two years. They will be killed by the Russian people...I shall be killed. I am no longer among the living. Grigory Rasputin in a letter to the Tsarina Alexandra, 7 Dec 1916

First Revolution February/March, 1917 Nicholas abdicated in favor of his brother, Michael on March 2 nd

In agreement with the Imperial Duma We have thought it well to renounce the Throne of the Russian Empire and to lay down the supreme power. As We do not wish to part from Our beloved son, We transmit the succession to Our brother, the Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich…. We direct Our brother to conduct the affairs of state in full and inviolable union with the representatives of the people … –Nicholas’ abdication

The next day... A heavy burden has been laid on me by my brother's will in transferring to me the imperial throne of All Russia at a time of unprecedented war and unrest among the people…. I have taken the hard decision to accept supreme power only in the event that it shall be the will of our great people, who in nationwide voting must elect their representatives to a Constituent Assembly… –Michael’s response

Provisional Government Prince George Lvov Alexander Kerensky Royal family arrested Summer, 1917 deported to Yekaterinburg

Kornilov Insurrection August/September, 1917 General at front Saw chaos of Russian war effort Led right-wing coup in Petrograd Revolt stopped with Bolsheviks’ aid

Kerensky lost status Hadn’t: Dealt with land reform Gotten Russia out of WWI Needed Western money STATUS

Second Revolution October/November,1917 Lenin and Bolsheviks

April 3, 1917 Lenin and other revolutionaries arrived German sealed train from Switzerland to Russia Took advantage of chaos in Russia “Peace, land, and bread”

November 6-7, 1917 Kerensky ordered the arrest of Bolsheviks Aurora in Petrograd harbor Took: Telephone exchanges Bank Railway stations Electric plants

Kerensky fled Eventually to the US Died in 1970 in NYC January, 1918 Constituent Assembly Long-awaited Elected by the people Bolshevik candidates—9 million votes SR candidates (Kerensky’s party)—21 million votes

2nd day of meeting Surrounded and broken up by soldiers of the people’s commissars Lenin decided it should NOT exist because it would be... “compromising with the malignant bourgeoisie” March, 1918—Communist Party created Dictatorship of the proletariat was established

The Aftermath

Civil War Mid-1918 to end of 1919 Reds—Bolsheviks Whites—anti-Bolsheviks Pro-tsar Allies from WWI

Why Bolsheviks Won Held critical industrial areas “Patriots” because didn’t depend on foreigners Superior capacity for organization Peasants fear of White restoration (loss of land) more than they hated Bolsheviks

The entire royal family was murdered July 16, 1918

Taken in 1920 Used in 1924 Lenin Withdrew from WWI Treaty of Brest- Litovsk December 20, 1917 Created NEP Propaganda

Where’s Waldo? (Trotsky)

Died January 21, 1924 Assassination attempt in 1918 Strokes in 1922/23 Semi-paralyzed Unable to speak or write

Warned comrades to depose Stalin as Party Secretary

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION