The Russian Revolution

The Revolution in a Nutshell… The Russian Revolution took place in 1917,

during the final phase of World War I. It removed Russia from the war and brought about the transformation of the Russian Empire into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), replacing Russia’s traditional monarchy with the world’s first Communist state. The revolution happened in stages through two separate coups, one in February and one in October. The new government, led by Vladimir Lenin.

Tsar Nicholas II

Russia’s Tsar Nicholas II and Czarina Alexandra with their children (L-R) Olga, Maria, Anastasia, Alexei, and Tatiana

Tsar Nicholas II

When Nicholas II himself became tsarin 1894, he used severe measures to subdue resistance movements, which were becoming bolder and more widespread every year.In person, Nicholas II was mild-mannered, even meek; lacking the personality of a leader, his rule was clumsy, and he appeared weak before the people. When it came to public opposition or resistance, he avoided direct involvement and simply ordered his security forces to get rid of any problem as they saw fit. This tactic inevitably resulted in heavy-handed measures by the police, which in turn caused greater resentment among the public.

Russia lost 1,650,000 men in WWI before the 1917 revolution. Here reservists, accompanied by relatives, are called up in St. Petersburg.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Lenin continues to gain support…

In 1887 (at age 17), Lenin was deeply affected by the execution of his brother for conspiring to murder the tsar. Lenin immediately joined groups of revolutionaries and eventually the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party.

In 1903, Lenin founded the Bolshevik Party.

In 1917, Lenin led the Bolsheviks in the October revolution to overthrow Tsar Nicholas II. He then took over power as the leader of what came to be known as Communist Russia until his death in 1924.

Inspired by Karl Marx, Lenin brought the idea of Communism to Russia. The revolution that Lenin led marked one of the most radical turning points in Russia’s 1,300-year history: it affected economics, social structure, culture, international relations, industrial development, and most any other benchmark by which one might measure a revolution.

Bolsheviks and Mensheviks

Russian Social-Democratic Labour PartyThe members of the party argued about theoretical issues of class leadership, class alliances, and bourgeois (middle-class) democracy.

The Bolshevik Party

“more or the majority”The Bolsheviks were an organization of professional revolutionaries under a democratic system with Lenin as “president.” They considered themselves the vanguard of the revolutionary working class of Russia

The Menshevik Party

“the minority”Founded by Julius Martov, the Mensheviks generally tended to be more moderate and were more positive towards the “mainstream” liberal opposition.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Lenin continues to gain support…

In 1887 (at age 17), Lenin was deeply affected by the execution of his brother for conspiring to murder the tsar. Lenin immediately joined groups of revolutionaries and eventually the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party.

In 1903, Lenin founded the Bolshevik Party.

In 1917, Lenin led the Bolsheviks in the October revolution to overthrow Tsar Nicholas II. He then took over power as the leader of what came to be known as Communist Russia until his death in 1924.

Inspired by Karl Marx, Lenin brought the idea of Communism to Russia. The revolution that Lenin led marked one of the most radical turning points in Russia’s 1,300-year history: it affected economics, social structure, culture, international relations, industrial development, and most any other benchmark by which one might measure a revolution.

“While the State exists there can be no freedom; when there is freedom there will be no State.”

“One man with a gun can

control 100 without one.”

“You cannot make a revolution in white gloves.”

Scene on the main street in St. Petersburg when the revolutionists turned on their machine guns, May 1917

--Vladimir Lenin

Armed revolutionaries are seen marching in Siberia.

Soldiers on their horses are seen riding down a street in St. Petersburg during the outbreak of the revolution

So as a recap, here are some things that led to the revolution…

Revolutionary Middle Class Nicholas II inability to allow any

form of reform and a refusal to abdicate Absolutism

Vladimir Lenin leader of the visionary Revolutionary class

The result… Revolution! Unexpectedly in February 1917

February Revolution 1917 Mass desertions in

army, riots in streets, labor strikes chaos. Soldiers sent by the tsar ended up joining with the rioters.

Nicholas abdicates on March 2, 1917

The “Provisional Government” established almost immediately

Lenin immediately started planning…

Pravda was publishing Lenin’s speeches calling for the overthrow of the provincial government, which had been running Russia in the interim.

From the moment of his return through late October 1917, Lenin worked for a single goal: to place Russia under Bolshevik control as quickly as possible.

October Revolution 1917

The revolution began on October 24 and ended on October 25.

There was little if any bloodshed, the provisional government barely tried to resist.

Lenin and the Bolsheviks took total control of Russia.

“Lenin and most of the other major revolutionary figures at his side believed sincerely in their cause and were not motivated purely by a thirst for power.”

The Rise of Two Differing ViewpointsAlthough the Bolsheviks were a powerful group with powerful ideas, it was also a

group made up of independent, revolutionary thinkers. A clash of ideals was inevitable…

Leon TrotskyProminent Bolshevik leaderTrotsky headed the Revolutionary Military Committee, which provided the military muscle for the October Revolution.More pragmatic. More of a problem solver and a thinker, although he did still believe that violence could solve a problem.

Joseph StalinProminent Bolshevik leaderAs Stalin was a member of an ethnic minority, Lenin appointed him commissar of nationalities.Stalin was very charismatic and a pretty good public speakerAlthough he was still a thinker, he was more of a man of action. He thought changes needed to be made and fast. He also believed that violence could solve a problem.

“Where force is

necessary, there it must be applied boldly,

decisively and

completely. But one

must know the

limitations of force; one must know

when to blend force

with a maneuver, a blow with an agreement.”

“There are no absolute rules

of conduct, either in peace

or war. Everything depends on

circumstances.”

“Education is a weapon whose effects depend on who holds it

in his hands and at whom it

is aimed.”

“Death is the solution to all

problems. No man - no problem.”

So weird that these

words bubbles just

keep appearing…

Russian Civil War

The devastation of the Russian civil war upon the Russian and Ukrainian people: a Ukrainian family, suffering from the emaciating disease typhus, sit by the wreckage of their house.

What happens?

Lenin dies of a stroke in 1924. Stalin and Trotsky compete for power. Stalin begins smear campaigns about Trotsky. Stalin eventually turns the public against

Trotsky and in 1929 he is exiled! While in exile (in Mexico) Trotsky was planning

his political comeback. Stalin heard of his discreet plan and had him assassinated.

On August 20, 1940 Trotsky is stabbed in the skull with an ice axe. He died the next day.

As a ruler, Stalin…

created a powerful secret police that hunted down opponents.

manipulated the public’s information.

gunned down the tsar and his family and buried them anonymously.

arrested thousands. sent many to exile or to have

killed.

Stalin Takes Over

Stalin built a command economy. This is an economy in which the government makes all the decisions about economic life.

As a result, there were shortages of food, housing, and clothing for many years.

Stalin also began a farming revolution. The government took control of people’s farms. It put them together into large, government-owned farms called collective farms.

Wealthy peasants called kulaks resisted. Millions were killed, and millions more were exiled to Siberia. Stalin got farm output to rise by using these brutal methods.

Pravda

Pravda was a legal daily newspaper subject to post-publication censorship by the tsarist authorities.

By 1933 the newspaper was Stalin's mouthpiece.

Throughout the Soviet era access to Pravda was a necessity for party members.

After the authorities closed the paper on July 21, 1914, it did not appear again until after the February Revolution of 1917.

Pravda reopened on March 5, 1917, and published continuously until closed down by Russian Republic president Boris Yeltsin on August 22,1991.

“Print is the sharpest and the strongest weapon of our party.”

--Joseph Stalin