Russian Revolution

Goal of Today The goal of today will be to look at the factors surrounding Russia leaving WWI. We also will look at the revolution. Terms Nicholas II Rasputin Reasons for Russia’s difficulties in WWI Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

By the 20th Century A major crisis was due and had to happen Russia was an unfair society and needed social, economic and political reform. WHY????

Political Nicholas II (tsar of Russia)– autocratic and ineffective Ruled a country covering one-sixth of the earth’s total land surface Massive personal wealth Backed by an army of 1 million and secret police (OKHRANA) Political parties banned – critics ended up in prison or exile Press was censored

Yet Many Russians worshipped the Tsar and peasants typically had a picture of the Tsar on a wall of their hut.

Alexandra and Alexei The Tsar & His Family

SOCIAL

Russia was….. Only 40% ethnic Russians 80% were peasants – subsistence farmers 60%+ = illiterate Life expectancy = 40 Low tech and low investment Land ownership rare Land owned by OBSCHINA (Commune) It also organised taxes and allotted strips of land to each household

Peasants cont’d Peasants could not leave the commune without the consent of the elders Discipline and punishments harsh – even to exile in Siberia Drought and crop failure common 1891 = famine + cholera and typhus = 400,000 dead 1890 – 64 % of peasants called up for military service were declared unfit.

Industrial and urban Russia had grown industrially but living and working conditions were horrendous Average working day was 14 hours Trade unions banned but some strikes took place Potential for hotbed of political activism

Unrest prior to 1905 The passivity of the Russian people had limits May 1896 – riots in St. Petersburg 1902 - Street demonstrations in Rostov on Don 1901-1907 arson of manor houses in rural areas became commonplace 1904 – Viacheslav Plehve – Minister of the interior assassinated by Social Revolutionary

The 1905 revolution War with Japan Results Background Tsar becomes more unpopular Russia is humiliated Government seen to be weak and incompetent Conditions for the people get worse price rises food shortages and unemployment In 1904/05 Russia and Japan fought for control of Korea and Manchuria The Tsar expected a quick victory Russia suffered defeats on Land and sea. Japan destroyed the Russian Navy War with Japan

The 1905 Revolution Bloody Sunday Results Events Jan 1905 200,00 unarmed workers march to the Winter Palace Demands - Better living and working conditions - end to war - a parliament Soldiers fire on crowd killing 500 Tsar undermined in the eyes of the people Support grows for revolutionaries set off a wave of riots, strikes and murders Bloody Sunday

Results of 1905 Revolution The October Manifesto - promise of freedom of speech, right to form political parties Establish a Duma No new laws without consent of the Duma Broken Promises Voting system was unfair rich had more influence than the poor Duma had little influence over the Tsar and new laws First two Dumas were dismissed for demanding reforms Further changes introduced to excluded socialist

Part II: The February Revolution 1917 The fall of the Tsar

The impact of WWI Military Defeats Russian army was big but poorly equipped. As many as one- fourth of the Russian solders had no weapons of their own so they were forced to pick up guns of dead soldiers Transportation problems left many soldiers short on food Lost two major battles in 1914 Caused loss of civilian and military morale Tsar now held responsible for the defeats as he had taken charge of the army

Criticism of the Tsar Poor military commander Poor political leader Left the Tsarina in charge of the government Refused to accept advice from the Duma Criticism if the Tsarina Inexperienced and incompetent ruler Under the influence of Rasputin Unpopular because she was German Impact of WWI Role of Rasputin Claimed to be a healer. Disliked by many yet held influence over both the Tsar and Tsarina

The Tsarina Alexandra relied on Rasputin to treat her hemophiliac son, Alexei.

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

The Tsar with General Brusilov

Economic problems Over 15 million men joined the army Impact WWI Impact WWI Economic problems Over 15 million men joined the army not enough workers in factories and farms caused shortages of food and materials Railway system very poor could not supply the troops could not supply the towns food prices rose Every day of fighting in 1915 required an expenditure of 25.7 million roubles. In 1916 this sum had jumped to 41.7 million roubles.

Impact WWI Impact WWI Social discontent Food shortages and price rises caused widespread discontent The war had seen the population move from the countryside to the cities The cities soon became overcrowded and people lived in terrible conditions

Events of the Revolution 1917 Feb 22 20,000 steelworkers on strike Feb 23 Women take to the streets to demonstrate Feb 25 Now over half of Petrograd is on strike Feb 26 Tsar orders troops to fire on crowds- 40 killed

Events of the Revolution Feb 26 Tsar closes the Duma Feb 27 Soldiers mutiny and establish the Petrograd Soviet with workers and sailors Feb 28 Tsar returns to Petrograd March 1 Tsar loses support of army March 2 Tsar abdicates March 3 Grand Duke Michael refuses throne

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

Results of February revolution The Provisional Government 1. A 12 member government led by Kerensky 2. Planned to rule until elections could be held Dual Government The Petrograd Soviet A council of 2,500 deputies. Determined to share power with the Provisional Government

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

So How Was the War Going…

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

The Provincial Government also promised wholesale re-distribution of land to the peasants 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 Petrograd Soviet opposed the war, and called for its immediate end.

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."

October 1917 – The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power in Russia and began the communist revolution.

· Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk March 3 1918 with Germany and dropped out of the war. · Germany then sent their troops on the Eastern Front to the Western Front.