Jewish “Emancipation”

We do see, beginning in the end of the 18th cent, a gradual acceptance and in some cases growing legalization of European Jews.

Yet, in most cases, though Jews may have been given freedoms, for the most part they were forbidden from becoming property owners.

In the far east, particularly Poland and Russia, there was little movement, and constant oppression of Jews.

Pogroms – organized govt. oppression of Jews, were common under the Tsars.

Do Now: 2/7/2011

I need letters to seal and send. Hand them in.Take a moment and read Thematic Essay

sheet.Exam on Thurs and Friday of this week.

MC on Thurs. Thematics on Friday.

Use Review/Text to study tonight.Will hand back old hmwk tomorrow.Vacation Schedule:

Feb: 22nd, 23rd & 24th. 9:00 – 11:00. (Tues, Wed, Thurs)

Jewish Citizenship

Mid-19th century, we see Jews gain citizenship in Italy, Germany and the Low countries

Jews could actually be elected to British Parliament by the 1860’s.

Most Jews in public life tended to be politically liberal.

We see a great migration of Jews to the Western Europe and the United States from the oppressive regimes of eastern Europe.

Ironically, in the last two decades of the 19th century, there was a precipitous rise in Anti-Semitism in Western Europe – which will lead to the birth of Zionism.

Labor, Socialism and Politics

Labor. Socialism and Politics leading to WWIBig Picture: We see a growing rise in the standard of living

for workers.We see a growth of unskilled labor, and a

reduction of the ranks of the artisansThese workers took less to the streets, and

instead went to the Unions for some manner of change and representation.

Hence, the “proletarian revolt”, predicted by Marx, would now take a different turn.

Unionism

We see governments in Western Europe legalizing unions, most probably because of the growing political influence of this political faction.

Unions were now directing their efforts toward the ranks of the unskilled, not the skilled worker

Hence, the “former proletarians” were now both legalized and represented.

Yet, most of the labor force in Europe remained non-union, but that should be of no surprise to us.

Growing Democracy?

Democracy and Political Parties.Big Picture: To what extent did the growth of

the electorate lead to a desire to democratize governments in Western Europe.

Germany, France, Spain, Belgium and Italy all created universal manhood suffrage by the beginning of WWI

And, as the franchise grew wider, politicians had no choice but to listen to the growing electorate,

Political Parties?

Think about what this means…Historically, the franchise was the province of

the wealthy landholders; since there was no broad franchise, there was no need to represent various views.

Hence, with the growth of the franchise, a political party became the “voice of the people”, and a concern for the office holder

And, we will see a growing socialist presence in political parties giving them power and a voice.

Socialism and Nationalism

Socialists opposed nationalism for obvious reasons…

Associating with a national agenda prevented a larger, multi-national workers movement.

Further, as the workers were more “legitimized and represented” would the revolution have to happen within existing political avenues…

Or, would there still be a hope for a wider and more “traditional” world-wide, revolution.

We will see important shifts in what is known as Marxism.

Marx and the First International

1864 – Br./Fr. Workers form the International Working Man’s Association – better known as the First International.

What was it?Socialists, anarchists and nationalists comprised it.Marx came to accept the attempts to reform

workers lives within the existing political economic processes.

Interestingly, the violence of the Paris Commune in 1871 gave “revolutionary socialism” a bad name, and many began to see the value of change within the system.

Changes in Marxism/Fabianism

So, while Marxism remains the most popular brand of socialism, just what kind of Marxism becomes a matter of great debate.

Ironically, the country that will have the most vibrant and impactful brand of socialism will be…

Great Britain!?!Let’s examine the socialist variation known as

Fabianism.

Social Reform in Great Britain

“Fabians” take their name from the Roman General Fabius Maximus, who used a very unique tactic of avoidance to eventually wear down the Great Carthaginian warrior Hannibal

British socialism’s – (not strict Marxist) – most influential group the Fabian Society- favored gradual, peaceful approach to social reform

This was called “Gas and Water” socialism, meaning that public utilities, run by the government, were a practical form of social change.

The Building of European Supremacy

Under Liberal Chancellor David Lloyd George, Britain regulates trade, provides unemployment benefits and health care

Conservatives – House of Lords upset with the spending of the Liberal- House of Commons in the Parliament lead to a conflict in Parliament.

This is similar to the constant arguing between the Democrats, who tend to favor social programs, and the Republicans, who call for smaller government.

French “Opportunism” Rejected

Opportunism – participation by socialists in the governmental cabinets is rejected by Second Internationale (Congress)

French socialists form their own partyFrench workers often voted Socialist, but

avoided political actionNon-socialist labor unions looked to strikes

as their main labor tactic, and avoided supporting the French Socialists.

Hence, France remains outside of the growth of mainstream socialism

Germany: Social democrats and “Revisionism”

German Social Democratic Party –SPD – is the most powerful socialist organization in Europe.

They help to keep Marxism alive, through changing the goal of it.

The SPD had, since its inception, always been divided by those advocating reform, and those advocating revolution.

Bismarck will be especially harsh on these socialists

He believed that socialists would undermine his govt.

Social Democrats and Revisionism in Germany

Bismarck represses German Social Democratic Party (SPD) anti-socialist laws passed by Reichstag actually strengthen

the numbers of the (SPD) He passes programs such as accident insurance, disability

and old age pensions as a conservative alternative to socialist policies

The Erfurt Program – supported Marxist ideas of the collapse of capitalism, but wanted to pursue goals through legislative action, not revolution

Karl Kautsky – says capitalism will fall, and there must be socialist ownership of the means of production

However, this must be pursued through legal matters, and socialists should work to improve the lives of workers, not seek revolution.

Revisionism continued…what has changed?

There will be no revolution because…The Middle class was growing, not sinking into

the proletarian classThe extension of franchise meant that workers

had more of a voice.Hence, for Bernstein, parliamentary methods

might indeed lead to social change.Yet, many criticized him, saying that in a militarily

repressive Germany, unlike Great Britain, people like Bismarck and Kaiser William II would easily repress change in a weak “Reichstag”

Industrial Growth in Russia

Count Sergei Witte – first Russian minister of communications and later finance minister / wanted to modernize Russian economy through economic development protective tariffs high taxes Russian currency on gold standard

steel, iron, and textile industries expand as Trans-Siberian Railroad is completed (1903)

social unrest – growth of industry does not improve lives of the peasants, many who have to work on the land of prosperous farmers known as kulaks. (so much for free serfs)

liberal party formed by the local councils (zemstvos), wanted a constitutional monarchy to further civil liberties and social progress

Vladimir Lenin – future leader of the Communist Revolution

Led Social Democrats who rejected the German ideas of gradual socialism and called for a revolution

Social Democratic Party split into two: Lenin’s faction, the majority or Bolsheviks the moderate faction, the minority or the

MensheviksMensheviks wanted mass membership –

like the German SPDBolsheviks wanted elite professionals, a

centralized leadership, to lead the revolution.

The Building of European Supremacy

Lenin wanted a dual revolution of both urban workers and rural peasants.

He believed this was possible only through professional leadership.

The Bolsheviks separated themselves from the rest of European socialists.

The revolution of 1905 in Russia… Long and short term causes…

The Building of European Supremacy

Socialism does not lead to a revolution in Russia

1903 Witte is dismissed by NicholasRussia loses the 1905 war with JapanRussian Orthodox priest leads a workers

revolt for better conditionsThese workers are slaughtered in outside the

Winter Palace in St’ Petersburg.This is “Bloody Sunday”

The Revolution of 1905

Bloody Sunday – Tsar’s troops violently put down a protest leading to ordinary Russians no longer trusting the tsar

worker groups called the soviets, not the tsar, basically control city of St. Petersburg

Nicholas II issues October Manifesto promising a constitutional government

representative body, the Duma, put into place in 1907 – conservative in nature basically kept the power of the tsar in place

Stolypin and Rasputin P.A. Stolypin – replaced Witte as finance minister

represses socialist rebellion, including execution of rebellious peasants improves agricultural production by encouraging individual ownership assassinated by a Social Revolutionary

Grigory Efimovich Rasputin – replaced Stolypin because supposedly his wife could heal the tsar’s hemophiliac son / uncouth and strange, tsar’s power is undermined after 1911

Liberal leaders from the Zemstvos called for reform

Strikes broke out.Workers groups, “soviets” took control of the city.Nicholas panics, and promises constitutionalism.He forms a Duma, which is supposed to be a

representative assembly.Yet, these will be dissolved twice until they are

sufficiently conservative and submissive.

Revolution of 1905

The Revolution of 1905

Stolypin, appointed by Nicholas II, does the following:

Peasants determined to be part of the rebellion in 1905, are executed.

Payments made by serfs, still being made after their emancipation in 1861, are cancelled

Encourages farmers to join together in “mirs” – collectives

Yet, many conservatives still hated both he and the Tsar

1911 – Stolypin is assassinated, probably by a backer of more conservative forces.

We will see this push and pull between liberal and conservative forces in Russia lead inextricably to the Revolution of 1917.

Impact of Russian Revolution

The Building of European Supremacy

Wrapping up Chapter 23…Two contradictory threads can be seen.There is clearly growth in the industrial

sector, and positive changes in the lifestyle’s of those living in cities.

Growth in the middle class was not just an economic boon, but a political one as well.

Yet, at the same time, there is great growth in the forces of socialism and labor movements throughout Europe.

The Building of European Supremacy

Socialists called for a greater degree of social justice, and a more judicious distribution of consumer goods.

While some socialist forces worked within existing systems…

We see others, particularly in Russia, advocating revolution, albeit one not lead by “the masses.”

We see further, in Russia, the social unrest that can be caused by growing industrialism.

The Building of European Supremacy

Lastly, we cannot forget the growing movement of Women to gain political voice and social equality.