1. Soviet Russia Under Lenin and Stalin
Soviet Russia: Part 1
Lenin
Soviet Russia Under Lenin and Stalin
Introduction:
WWI hastened the collapse of the tsarist regime in Russia. By the end of 1916, Russia was no longer capable of sustaining military operations against the Central Powers. The economy was in shambles, and the power of the government was pretty much no longer.
In March 1917, Tsar Nicholas II abdicated. The new Provisional Government failed to establish its effective control over the country. In the November Revolution, Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks took power, beginning their effort to create the world’s first Communist society.
Followin Lenin’s death in 1924, Joseph Stalin gradually established his authority. In the Five Year Plans, which began in 1928, Stalin sought to reorganize the country’s economy, eliminating capitalism and promoting the development of heavy industry and the collectivization of agriculture. Stalin’s rule was also marked by the Great Purge, the dictator’s attempt to eliminate any possible opposition to his absolute authority.

2. National Collapse Backwardness of Russia
Tsar Nicholas II took control of Army
Empress Alexandra/ Rasputin and Alexei.
National Collapse
For Russia, WWI was devastating. Russia’s backward agriculture and underdeveloped industry, transportation, and communications could not sustain a major war effort. In the autumn of 1915, Tsar Nicholas II, took personal command of his army, leaving the government in the hands of his wife, the Empress Alexandra. She came increasingly under the influence of the unscrupulous Grigori Rasputin, a self-proclaimed holy man who supposedly had the mystical power to stop the bleeding of the imperial couple’s hemophiliac son, Alexei. As Rasputin’s power grew, the prestige of the tsarist regime suffered. In December of 1916, a group of conspirators with close ties to the imperial family murdered Rasputin. The removal of one man, however, could not reverse the damage that had already been done and Russia’s collapse was imminent
"Rasputin listovka" by Anonimous. Original uploader was DonaldDuck at ru.wikipedia - Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons -

3. End of the Tsarist Regime
1917, Petrograd Strikes erupted- protests over war, shortage of food, runaway inflation and distrust of the Tsars govt.
Nicholas II ordered suppression of demonstrations/ Troops joined the demonstrations
Tsar Abdicates March 15
February Revolution
End of Tsarist Regime
In early 1917, spontaneous strikes and demonstrations swept the Russian capital of Petrograd (formerly St. Petersburg). The unrest resulted from war-weariness, shortages of food and other goods, runaway inflation, and distrust of the government. Tsar Nicholas II remained in the capital. On March 12, the Duma elected a committee to represent its interests.
As the chaos ensued, Tsar Nicolas II ordered troops to suppress demonstrations. Disobeying their orders, the troops joined the demonstrators. On March 15, the tsar abdicated. After 300 years of ruling Russia, the power of the Romanovs collapsed. (In 1917, Russia still used the Julian calendar, which, in the 20th century, was 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. By the Julian calendar, the disturbances in Petrograd intensified in late February. For that reason, the revolution is often referred to as the February Revolution. )

4. The Provisional Government
Duma becomes Provisional Government
Headed by liberals
Alexander Kerensky
P.G.- promised reforms including plans for a constituent assembly and new democratic constitution
The Provisional Government
The Duma committee became Russia’s Provisional Government, headed by Prince George Lvov, a liberal nobleman.
Alexander Kerensky, a member of the Socialist Revolutionary Party, was the only socialist to serve in the liberal-dominated government.
The Provisional Government promised reforms and announced plans for the election of a constituent assembly to draft a constitution for a democratic republic.
Their goal was to move the nation toward democracy and continue the war as a loyal western ally.
The Provisional Government was made up of middle-class and intellectual leaders and had little contact or sympathy with the problems or concerns of the workers or peasants.

5. The Provisional Government
Their goal was to move the nation toward democracy and continue the war as a loyal western ally.
The Provisional Government was made up of middle-class and intellectual leaders and had little contact or sympathy with the problems or concerns of the workers or peasants.
The Provisional Government
Their goal was to move the nation toward democracy and continue the war as a loyal western ally.
The Provisional Government was made up of middle-class and intellectual leaders and had little contact or sympathy with the problems or concerns of the workers or peasants.

6. Creation of Soviets
workers, soldiers, and sailors in Petrograd, responding to a call issued by socialist leaders, elected the Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies
Soviets took control of Petrograd city government
Initially supported the Provisional Government
Creation of Soviets
In the meantime, workers, soldiers, and sailors in Petrograd, responding to a call issued by socialist leaders, elected the Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies. (“Soviet” is the Russian word for Council).
They basically took control of the city government.
Although, the Petrograd Soviet was controlled by members of the various socialist parties, it gave tacit support to the Provisional Government.
Similar soviets were established in other Russian cities and towns.

7. Bolshevik Program Vladimir I. Lenin April Theses
All power to the Soviets
World Revolution against capitalism
Nationalize factories and banks
“Peace, Land and Bread”
Bolshevik Program
In April of 1917, Vladimir I. Lenin, the leader of the radical Marxist group known as the Bolsheviks, returned to Petrograd from his exile in Switzerland.
He presented his program, the April Thesis, to his Bolshevik followers, urging them to push for a proletarian socialist revolution. Lenin felt that the Bolsheviks should opposed the Provisional Government and support the theme “All Power to the Soviets.” He wanted the world war to become a revolution against capitalism, with all soldiers on both sides joining the struggle. He also called for the nation’s factories and banks to be nationalized, and the Bolshevik Party to call itself the Communist Party.
Initially, Lenin was rejected.
The Bolshevik and other socialists called for “Peace, Land, and Bread”: an end to the war, the confiscation of the land of the great landowners and its distribution to the peasants, and the seizure of food for the cities.

8. Policies of Provisional Government
P.G. conflicted in how to help peasants while recognizing private property
Continue war effort against Central Powers
Failed major offensive in 1917
Policies of Provisional Government
While the Provisional Government recognized the peasants’ need for more land, it also respected the rights of private property. Therefore, the government was not prepared to authorize the confiscation of land, nor was it willing to seize food to meet the needs of the cities.
The Provisional Government also wanted to continue the war against the Central Powers. Many in the government felt that the government had to stay in the war to maintain international credibility.
In July 1917, the Russian army launched an offensive against the Austrians in Galicia, on the eastern front, due to allied pressure. However, the offensive quickly collapsed. Many Russian soldiers deserted and the army began to collapse.
Russian soldiers running from Germans

9. The July Days July Days- Revolts against Lvov and P.G.’s failures
Lvov stepped down as Prime Minister over the land question.
Alexander Kerensky became the Prime Minister
Bolsheviks and Lenin go underground
The July Days
Even before the news of the events in Galicia reached Petrograd, the July Days insurrection broke out in the capital. The July Days represented a spontaneous revolt against the unpopular Provisional Government.
Prince Lvov stepped down as Prime Minister over the land question.
Alexander Kerensky became the Prime Minister and announced elections for a constituent assembly. Most of the leaders of the Petrograd Soviet opposed the insurrection, believing it was premature.
Although Lenin shared this view, the Bolsheviks nevertheless supported the July Days.
When the insurrection was suppressed, Lenin had to flee to Finland to escape arrest. Other Bolshevik leaders had to go underground or fled elsewhere after leading the demonstrations of more than 500,000 protesters. In the short run, the Bolsheviks were weakened by their support of the revolt. In the long run, however, this position won the Bolsheviks many new followers among the increasingly more radical workers, soldiers, and sailors of the capital.
The change in leadership from Lvov to Kerensky did little to strengthen the Provisional Government.

10. The Kornilov Affair
Bolsheviks orchestrate a general strike while Kerensky form a constituent assembly
Many conservatives turn to the PG commander in chief, General Kornilov, as their leader
Kerensky dismisses Kornilov
Kornilov Affair
The Kornilov Affair
Kerensky held meetings in Moscow in 1917 with people representing the old Duma, the military, the Soviets, the professions, and other groups to come up with a constituent assembly. The Bolsheviks opposed the meeting and had workers respond with a general strike trying to shut everything down.
The meeting demonstrated the growing differences between Kerensky and the conservatives, who looked to the Provisional Government’s commander-in-chief, General Kornilov, as leader. Kornilov represented elements who decried the collapse of military discipline. Kornilov and the conservatives were certain that Kerensky didn’t have the ability to restore order and stability to the nation or the army.
Kerensky had Kornilov dismissed, but Kornilov responded by ordering some of his troops to march on Petrograd to stop a Bolshevik coup and establish a military dictatorship. With the help of the Bolsheviks, who now controlled the Petrograd Soviet, the Provisional Government was able to turn back the threat and save the revolution and the new government.
The Kornilov Affair served to weaken further the Provisional Government. It helped legitimize further the Bolsheviks power.

11. The November Revolution
Provisional government continued to be unproductive
Bolsheviks saw their opportunity
Creation of a Politburo
Red Guard/ Leon Trotsky
The November Revolution
The Kornilov Affair and Kerensky’s failure to rebuild support for the Provisional Government convinced the Bolshevik’s two leaders, Lenin and Leon Trotsky, that it was time to seize power.
In late October, Lenin ordered his followers to begin the plans. Lenin returned from Finland to meet with the Party’s Central Committee to plan the coup. Though there was much disagreement and opposition to the plan, the Committee agreed to create a Political Bureau (Politburo) to oversee the revolution.
On the night of November 6-7, the Red Guards, an armed force organized by the Petrograd Soviet and Leon Trotsky, seized key strategic locations in the city. (By the Julian calendar, it was October 24-25, and even today the Soviets refer to the Great Socialist October Revolution)

12. The November Revolution
Kerensky moved to late against Bolsheviks
Kerensky attempted to form a 2nd constitutional assembly
Failed because moderates new Bolsheviks would dominate despite not being the majority.
Moderates walked out leaving power with Bolsheviks
New Regime
The November Revolution
Kerensky, who was well informed of Lenin’s actions, finally decided to move against the plotters on November 6. In response, Lenin and Trotsky ordered their supporters to seize the city’s transportation and communication centers. The Winter Palace was captured later that evening, along with most of Kerensky’s government.
There was an attempt to have a second congress or constituent assembly with moderates and the radicals working together. However, because the Bolsheviks dominated the new congress, many moderate socialists walked out against Lenin’s coup leaving the Bolsheviks in total control.
Lenin used this new rump Congress to launch his new regime. On November 7, Lenin announced the establishment of a new regime, which bore the revolutionary name of the Council of People’s Commissars.

13. November Revolution Council of People’s Commissars Lenin- Chairman
Trotsky-commissar of foreign affairs
Stalin- commissar for nationalities
On November 7, Lenin announced the establishment of a new regime, which bore the revolutionary name of the Council of People’s Commissars. Lenin served as the council’s chairman, while Leon Trotsky became commissar for foreign affairs. Joseph Stalin was commissar for nationalities.
In other major cities and towns, the Bolsheviks also took control, although fighting continued in Moscow for several days. While the Bolsheviks had seized power with relative ease and little violence, their new government confronted immense problems.