2. The Russian Revolution -Key Concepts-

3. I. Pre-Revolutionary Russia Only true autocracy left in Europe Only true autocracy left in Europe No type of representative political institutions No type of representative political institutions Nicholas II became Tsar in 1884 Nicholas II became Tsar in 1884 Believed he was the absolute ruler anointed by God Believed he was the absolute ruler anointed by God Revolution broke out in 1905 Revolution broke out in 1905 --Russo-Japanese War (1904)

4. II. The Revolution of 1905 The creation of a discontented working class The creation of a discontented working class Vast majority of workers concentrated in St. Petersburg and Moscow Vast majority of workers concentrated in St. Petersburg and Moscow Help from the countryside: poor peasants Help from the countryside: poor peasants No individual land ownership No individual land ownership

5. II. Revolution of 1905 (cont) Russia industrialized on the backs of the peasants Russia industrialized on the backs of the peasants Tremendous historic land hunger among peasants Tremendous historic land hunger among peasants Real winners of the 1905 Revolution: Middle Class Real winners of the 1905 Revolution: Middle Class --Constitutional Democratic Party (Cadets) --Duma

6. IV. Alexandra: The Power Behind the Throne Even more blindly committed to autocracy than her husband Even more blindly committed to autocracy than her husband The influence of Rasputin over Alexandra The influence of Rasputin over Alexandra Origins of Rasputin’s power Origins of Rasputin’s power Scandals surrounding Rasputin served to discredit the monarchy Scandals surrounding Rasputin served to discredit the monarchy

7. Alexis: Alexandra’s Son with Hemophilia

8. V. World War I: “The Last Straw” War revealed the ineptitude and arrogance of the country’s aristocratic elite War revealed the ineptitude and arrogance of the country’s aristocratic elite The Russian “Steam Roller” The Russian “Steam Roller” Corrupt military leadership and contempt for ordinary Russian people Corrupt military leadership and contempt for ordinary Russian people Average peasant has very little invested in the War Average peasant has very little invested in the War

9. V. World War I (cont) Poorly supplied troops Poorly supplied troops Result: Chaos and Disintegration of the Russian Army Result: Chaos and Disintegration of the Russian Army --Battle of Tannenberg (August, 1914) Spreading Discontent Spreading Discontent

10. VI. The Collapse of the Imperial Government Nicholas leaves for the Front— September, 1915 Nicholas leaves for the Front— September, 1915 Alexandra and Rasputin throw the government into chaos Alexandra and Rasputin throw the government into chaos Alexandra and other high government officials accused of treason Alexandra and other high government officials accused of treason

11. VI. The Collapse of the Imperial Government (cont) Rasputin assassinated in December of 1916 Rasputin assassinated in December of 1916 Refusal to receive assistance of the Russian Middle Class Refusal to receive assistance of the Russian Middle Class Complete mismanagement of the wartime economy Complete mismanagement of the wartime economy

12. VII. The Two Revolutions of 1917 The March Revolution (March 12) The March Revolution (March 12) The November Revolution (November 6) The November Revolution (November 6)

13. VIII. The March Revolution Origins: Food riots and strikes Origins: Food riots and strikes Duma declared itself a Provisional Government on March12th Duma declared itself a Provisional Government on March12th Tsar abdicated on March 17 th Tsar abdicated on March 17 th Composition of the Provisional Government Composition of the Provisional Government --Alexander Kerensky Very Popular Revolution Very Popular Revolution The Petrograd Soviet The Petrograd Soviet --Order #1

14. IX. Soviet Political Ideology More radical and revolutionary than the Provisional Government More radical and revolutionary than the Provisional Government Most influenced by Marxist socialism Most influenced by Marxist socialism Emulated western socialism Emulated western socialism Two Factions Two Factions -- “Mensheviks” -- “Bolsheviks”

15. X.Founder of Bolshevism: Vladimir Lenin His Early Years His Early Years --Exiled to Siberia in 1897 Committed to Class Struggle and Revolution Committed to Class Struggle and Revolution Moved to London in 1902 and befriended Leon Trotsky Moved to London in 1902 and befriended Leon Trotsky What is to be Done? Tract What is to be Done? Tract

16. X. Lenin (cont) Key role of the Party in the revolution Key role of the Party in the revolution -- “Dictatorship of the Proletariat” Bolsheviks split from the Russian Socialist Party in 1912 Bolsheviks split from the Russian Socialist Party in 1912 Character of the Bolshevik Party Character of the Bolshevik Party --Joseph Stalin

17. XI. Vacuum of Leadership in Russia Petrograd Soviet dominated by Mensheviks Petrograd Soviet dominated by Mensheviks Failure of the Provisional Government Failure of the Provisional Government Workers refusing to work and soldiers refusing to fight Workers refusing to work and soldiers refusing to fight Peasants were expropriating the land outright Peasants were expropriating the land outright Power was literally lying in the streets of Petrograd Power was literally lying in the streets of Petrograd

18. XII. Lenin Steps into This Vacuum Amnesty granted to all political prisoners in March of 1917 Amnesty granted to all political prisoners in March of 1917 Lenin’s arrival in Petrograd Lenin’s arrival in Petrograd A tremendously charismatic personality A tremendously charismatic personality “Peace, Land, Bread” “Peace, Land, Bread” “All Power to the Soviets” “All Power to the Soviets” Bolshevik party membership exploded Bolshevik party membership exploded Consolidation of Bolshevik power Consolidation of Bolshevik power

19. XIII. The November Revolution The events of November 6 The events of November 6 Council of People’s Commissars Council of People’s Commissars All private property of wealthy was abolished and divided among the peasantry All private property of wealthy was abolished and divided among the peasantry Largest industrial enterprises nationalized Largest industrial enterprises nationalized

20. XIII. November Revolution (cont) Political Police organized: CHEKA Political Police organized: CHEKA Revolutionary army created with Trotsky in charge Revolutionary army created with Trotsky in charge -- “Red Army” Bolshevik Party renamed Communist Party in March of 1918 Bolshevik Party renamed Communist Party in March of 1918 The Treaty of Brest- Litovsk negotiated with the Germans The Treaty of Brest- Litovsk negotiated with the Germans Terms of the Treaty Terms of the Treaty

21. XIII. November Revolution (cont) Humiliating Treaty would be nullified since all of the west was on the verge of revolution Humiliating Treaty would be nullified since all of the west was on the verge of revolution Civil War fought between 1917-1920 Civil War fought between 1917-1920 -- “Reds” versus “Whites” Complete breakdown of Russian economy and society Complete breakdown of Russian economy and society

22. XIV. Interpreting the Russian Revolution The official Marxist Interpretation The official Marxist Interpretation --The importance of a permanent international revolution Function of Russian History and Culture Function of Russian History and Culture Imposed Revolution on an unwilling victim Imposed Revolution on an unwilling victim A Social Revolution A Social Revolution

23. How did Lenin impose Communist control in Russia between 1917-1924 ?

24. Factors that helped Lenin impose Communist control in Russia 1917-1924. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 1918 The Civil War 1918- 1921 The execution of Tsar Nicholas II 1918 Success of the New Economic Policy The Cheka The abandonment of the Constituent Assembly The Kronstadt Revolt 1921 War Communism

25. Straight after the October Revolution of 1917, Lenin promised to hold elections for a Parliament to be known as the Constituent Assembly. Lenin renamed the Bolshevik Party as the Communist Party in order to win wider support. However, the Communists only won 175 seats out of 700, not enough for a majority. Therefore Lenin shut down the Constituent Assembly after only one day- the first step in setting up a Communist dictatorship. The abandonment of the Constituent Assembly 1917

26. The Cheka (or secret police) In December 1917 Lenin set up a secret police force known as the Cheka. Cheka agents spied on the Russian people in factories and villages. Anyone suspected of being anti-Communist could be arrested, tortured and executed without a trial. When opponents tried to assassinate Lenin in 1918, he launched the Red Terror campaign against his enemies. It is said that 50,000 people were arrested and executed in this period.

27. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 1918 In March 1918 Russia signed a humiliating peace treaty with Germany. Russia lost a huge amount of land in the West. This included about one-sixth of the population (60 million people), three-quarters of its iron and coal and over a quarter of the best farmland in Russia.

28. The Civil War 1918-1921 The opponents of the ‘Reds’, Lenin and the Communists, were known as the ‘Whites’. The Whites were a mixture of aristocrats, royalists, churchmen, army officers and many others. The Whites were supported by Britain, France, Japan and the USA, countries that were alarmed at the possible spread of communism. At the same time, Lenin fought a war against Poland, a new country formed by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Although in a very dangerous position, the Communists were able to win the Civil War. This was because the Whites were divided, while the Reds controlled the key cities, industrial centres and communication links

29. Allied armiesWhite Russian armiesPolish armies Japanese armiesFinns Communist Russia besieged during the Civil War 1918- 1921 Moscow Petrograd Czechs (ex-prisoners of war)

30. The execution of Tsar Nicholas II July 1918 After his abdication in March 1917, Tsar Nicholas II and his family were arrested and sent to Siberia. In July 1918, the Romanovs were in Ekaterinburg, with a White army closing in on the town. Local communists were worried that the Tsar might be a rallying point for the Whites. As a result, Tsar Nicholas, his wife, their five children and four attendants were shot and bayoneted.

31. War Communism To win the Civil War and impose Communism in Russia, Lenin needed a strong Red Army supplied with weapons and food. The state took control of the factories and appointed managers to run them. Work was hard and long, food was rationed to only those who worked and trade unions were banned. To get enough food, the Cheka seized all surplus grain from the peasants. The peasants hid food or preferred to grow less rather than give it away free to feed the towns. Drought and famine hit Russia in 1921 – over 4 million people died.

32. The Kronstadt Revolt 1921 War Communism made Lenin’s government very unpopular. Discontent amongst the peasants led to violence in the cities. Workers went on strike, in spite of the death penalty for striking. The most serious opposition to Lenin’s government came in March 1921. Sailors at the Kronstadt naval base near Petrograd revolted. They accused Lenin of breaking his promise to help the workers. Lenin ordered the Red Army to put down the revolt. This caused 20,000 casualties and the leaders of the revolt were executed. However, the mutiny was a warning to Lenin that he might have to relax War Communism.

33. Success of the New Economic Policy 1921 To regain popular support, Lenin relaxed War Communism with the New Economic Policy (NEP). Smaller industries were returned to private ownership and peasants could sell their surplus on the open market. This was a return to capitalism and competition. Lenin hoped that NEP would give Russia ‘a breathing space’ to get back on its feet. Most of the Communist Party saw the need for NEP, but some were against it. On the whole NEP was a success. But it did create some problems. Some peasants, the Kulaks, became rich, while ‘Nepmen’ or businessmen made a profit in the towns. Some saw NEP as a betrayal of communism and return to the old system.

34. But, Lenin failed to provide a clear successor on his death. This led to four years of bitter struggle. When Lenin died in 1924, he had been very successful in imposing a communist dictatorship in Russia. He had defeated all of his opponents and established a strong communist government. As each of the areas formerly belonging to the Tsar came under communist control, they were turned into socialist republics. In 1923 these became the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

35. Who would succeed Lenin? Trotsky – Red Army Commander and Commisar of Foreign Affairs Stalin – Commisar for Nationalities OR