Chapter 15 – Revolution in Russia

Section 1 – Two Revolutions in Russia

Setting the Scene

Geography had long favored the growth of the Russian empire. The vast plains stretching from

Moscow had few natural obstacles to halt the advance of Russian armies. For nearly four

centuries, the empire grew steadily and by 1897, more than half the people under czarists rule

were not Russians. Nationalism led to the rise of new political parties among these peoples. In addition to social and economic reforms they

hoped for self-rule and independence, revolutionary ideas that contributed to unrest in

the Russian empire.

I. The March RevolutionIn 1914, Russia was a unindustrialized country dominated by nobles, priests, and an autocratic czar

I. The March RevolutionAfter the Revolution of 1905, czars made some reforms and established an elected Duma

Bloody Sunday 1906 – The First Duma

I. The March RevolutionMarxists revolutionaries tried to stir up revolution among the working-class proletariat

I. The March RevolutionWWI drained Russia’s resources and in 1915 Czar Nicholas II went to the front to take charge

I. The March RevolutionNicholas left control of domestic affairs to the czarina Alexandria, who knew little about government

I. The March RevolutionGerman-born Alexandria was distrusted by the Russians and began to rely on the advice of Gregory Rasputin

I. The March RevolutionRasputin’s negative influence weakened the government and in December1916, a group of nobles killed him

I. The March RevolutionIn March 1917, Czar Nicholas abdicated and the Duma set up a provisional government

Newspaper Headline Source: The Age Date: 17 Mar 1917

I. The March RevolutionRevolutionaries set up democratic soviets, but radical socialists called Bolsheviks soon took control

One of the 10,000 Soviets

II. Lenin and the BolsheviksThe Bolshevik leader was V.I. Lenin, a Marxists who had been exiled and then returned to Russia by the Germans

II. Lenin and the BolsheviksLenin adapted Marxist ideas to fit Russia and believed only revolution could bring about changes

Long Live World October [revolution]! The workers conquered power in Russia and will conquer power in the entire world

III. The November RevolutionIn November of 1917, Lenin, Leon Trotsky and the Bolshevik Red Guards overthrew the provisional government

The "Red Guard" of the Petrograd Soviet

III. The November RevolutionThe Bolsheviks distributed land to the peasants and gave control of the factories and mines to the workers

IV. Russian Civil WarLenin sought peace with Germany and signed the treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918

A treaty was signed between the central powers (Germany, Austria, Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria) and the Soviet government. Under the terms of the agreement, Russia lost Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine, most of Byelorussia, and Russian Poland. The treaty was annulled under the terms of the German armistice.

IV. Russian Civil WarCivil war raged for 3 years between the Reds (communists) and the Whites (czarists), along with other national groups

"Did you volunteer?" -- a Red Army recruiting poster

Russian Civil WarWhite Army recruitment poster

IV. Russian Civil WarBrutality was common and the communists assassinated Czar Nicholas and his family

IV. Russian Civil WarThe Allies sent troops to support the Whites, but the Russians united and drove out the invaders

IV. Russian Civil WarThe Communists adopted a policy of “war communism” – the taking over of the economy by the state

IV. Russian Civil WarTrotsky organized the Red Army into an effective force under the control of political commissars

IV. Russian Civil WarBy 1921, the Communists had won the civil war but Russia remained in chaos