The Russian Revolution Tsar Nicholas II Vladimir Ilyich Lenin V.

1905 Rehearsal Tsarist government won’t accept liberal ideologies Russo-Japanese war leads to hardships and embarrassing defeat Liberal and radical groups press for change January 22, 1905, workers gather to peacefully protest economic hardships Tsar’s troops fire on the crowd Bloody Sunday Anniversary Poster

Bloody Sunday (1905)

Outcome Demands for reforms spiral out of control (1825 Decembrist Revolt serves as a model) General strike paralyzes country in October Army is occupied with Russo-Japanese war Government falters Nicholas II issues a new manifesto promising civil liberties, a popularly elected Duma (parliament), legalization of unions Troops return, repression restores the old order by 1907

Countdown to Revolution August 1915, Nicolas II leaves to supervise WWI troops personally People blame the Tsar for heavy losses of trench warfare

Nicholas II Congratulating Soldiers

Countdown to Revolution Tsarina Alexandra comes under the sway of Rasputin (who claims to be able to heal her son) Even aristocratic supporters rebel at his access to the royal families, influence on policies Rasputin has a “hold” on the royal family

1917 Revolution Begins Cities face severe hardships due to WWI Women strike in March 1917, demand an end to high prices and the rule of Nicholas II Troops reluctant to fire on the crowd because of the presence of women Government falls March 12 – 1 st Provisional Government organized, Nicholas II abdicates

Provisional Government (March-May) Initial plan is for a modern constitutional parliamentary democracy, politicians from the upper classes Must share power with workers’ groups (soviets), which want socialist self-rule Government continues unpopular involvement in WWI Neither group can control the peasants, who hoard food, seize land, make shortages worse

Provisional Government (May- November) Initial leaders resign, moderate socialists (led by Kerensky) head the new government Bolshevik minority agitates for radical change Kerensky stays in WWI, throws Bolsheviks in prison, forces them to flee Alexander Kerensky

Petrograd Street Fighting (1917)

Lenin Sweeps Away Workers’ Enemies Nov. Revolution Threat of military coup forced Kerensky to release Bolsheviks to defend the capital Provisional government discredited Demonstrations on Nov. 6/7 cause Kerensky to flee Lenin takes control to “defend” the state

Bolsheviks Fulfill Promises (1918) March – Sign Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany, despite harsh terms Russia loses Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, and Georgia Much of the population no longer in Russia, ¾ of iron, 9/10 of Russia’s coal Begin to give power to the workers

Russian Diplomats at Brest-Litovsk

Civil War Begins , Civil War between Whites (aristocracy, supported by Allied Powers) and Reds (anticapitalist Bolshevik government) Reds see betrayal everywhere and try to spread revolution to Central Europe (where post-war instability makes it possible)

Red Army Soldier brandishing a sword over White Generals (1920)

Consolidation of the Russian Revolution: The USSR

Revolutionary Social Changes Abolish private property, nationalize factories, legalize universal suffrage Attempt to centralize agricultural production (seize grain to feed army and workforce) Not successful: industrial production at 13% of pre-WWI levels Famine strikes, peasants revolt, workers strike, sailors mutiny NEP (New Economic Plan) attempts to solve the problems in 1921 with its “compromise with capitalism)

NEP (1921) Peasants manage and sell their own crops Small amounts of private ownership are allowed Other countries become less threatened by Bolshevism and recognize Russia (except USA, which doesn’t recognize the USSR until 1933)

New Political Structures Communist Party becomes formalized (and all candidates must belong) Cheka (secret police, precursor to KGB) New structures promote totalitarian state, brutally suppress opposition.

Struggle for Power post-Lenin Lenin dies in 1924 – who is his heir? Most assume Trotsky (brilliant leader of the Red Army) Stalin posed as Lenin’s heir, led movement to deify Lenin Stalin brings new people into the Party Stalin uses control over Central Committee to seize power in 1928 Joseph Stalin

Stalin Transforms Russia Calls for rapid and massive industrialization Attacks the Kulaks who protest collectivization 5 Year Plan (1928) moves away from NEP toward original ideals “Mobilize for industrializaton” Consumer goods remain scarce

Totalitarianism Use Political Propaganda Engineered Famine Developed Cult of Stalin Eliminated Political Enemies through Purges ( especially) Millions executed or died in forced labor camps