Russia’s Political Changes

Alaina Segura & Jill Maloney

From Empire to Constitutional Monarchy

• Before 1905, there was a period of economic unrest; the peasants (who made up over 75% of the population) were going hungry. Famine plagued Russia and the peasants wanted to own their own land. Others wanted political reform to check the power of the Tsars who were abusing their power. There was mass unemployment and the public was angry that Russia was dependent on French loans. These loans caused a huge inflation that hurt the economy. Workers wanted better wages, shorter workday hours, and better working conditions. The workers went on strike which affected Russia’s economy. In effort to turn attention away from himself, Tsar Nicholas II waged war against Japan in the Russo-Japanese War. The Tsar saw Japan as a weak opponent; however, Russia’s navy was promptly crushed by the Japanese. The public were outraged by the loss. Many Russian soldiers started to mutiny or desert due to their displeasure with the Tsar. The official start of the revolution came on Bloody Sunday. Many workers went to the Winter Palace to demand changes. The police opened fire on the protesters and killed over 1,000 people. All of these events and issues lit the way for the Russian Revolution of 1905.

Effects of RevolutionPolitical- The Duma is created, although the Tsar ultimately still holds the power and his command is above the will of the Duma. The Duma is a parliament institution that is supposed to reflect the wants of the People. People can now elect representatives to the Duma, although its power is very limited.

Intellectual- Revolutionaries accounted for a few intellectual innovations during this time. The intellectual class started many underground revolutionary groups. Populism was a new intellectual innovation that was supported by the peasants because it’s idea was that it would grand the serfs equal land. Nihilism was a idea that the church and the government had to be destroyed.

Religion- The religion of Russia was the Russian Orthodox Church. They were mostly Christians. The church was lead by the Tsar and he was assisted by the Holy Synod. During and after the revolution, many people grew angry with the church and called for changes to end corruption.

Art & Architecture- A lot of the Art was propaganda from the revolution. Most the architecture was in the style of Art Noveau, which was a stylistic movement at this time. After the revolutions art, especially music and opera, flourished in Russia.

Technology- Technology in Russia was still outdated. Most farming technology utilized no new machinery. Farmers used wooden plows in their fields. Russia realized it was still behind in military technology, which attributed to their embarrassing loss against the Japanese.

Economy- The economy was still in disarray. Peasants gained land but it affected the economy because they still had large debts to pay. The economy was still inflated. Russia also lost a lot of money because of the Russo-Japanese War.

Society- Rural areas experienced the most change. Peasants earned more freedoms and more respect from the higher classes. They also were allowed to form unions.

Chronology1904

February 8- Tsar Nicholas II tries to turn Russian attention from its economic issues by waging a war against Japan as they attempt to expand into Manchuria.

November 6- Ministers and nobles meet to attempt to compromise on rights and reforms with the Tsar.

November 9- The Tsar rejects the proposition.

December- A strike in the Putilov Plant in St. Petersburg creates a chain reaction as more and more workers begin to go on strike. The number of strikers goes up to 80,000.

1905

January 22- Orthodox Priest George Gapon leads a worker’s procession to the Winter Palace to hand over a petition to the tsar. Guards around the palace open fire on the protesters, killing over 1,000 people. Known as ‘Bloody Sunday’. This marks the beginning of the revolution.

Bloody Sunday

ChronologyFebruary 4: Grand-Duke Sergei Alexandrovich is murdered by an assassin. Protests

continue.

February 6- Eliel Soisalon-Soininen, the chancellor of justice, is assassinated.

February 18- Nicholas II calls for a report to form a constitutional monarchy. The public isn’t satisfied and nothing is really changed.

March 13- Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia is assassinated by revolutionary groups.

April 2- Dmitry Sipyagin, the Minister of the Interior, is assassinated.

May- The Russian navy is completely sunk by the Japanese. The public is restless and angry while the government is embarrassed by the quick defeat.

May 24- 3 meetings are held in Moscow calling for popular representation at the national level of government in Russia.

June 14- Soldiers on a Russian battleship mutiny because of their anger with the Russian Tsar. Many events similar to this one follow.

ChronologyAugust 6- Tsar Nicholas II agrees to create a state Duma, or parliament, for the

empire. However, it had little power and was very restricted. This leads to more strikes and protests.

September 5- The Russo-Japanese War is ended with the Treaty of Portsmouth which gave Russian land to Japan. Russia lost the war that they were expected to win easily.

September 23- The beginning of the Russia general strike begins with the strike of the printers.

October 6- Railroad workers strike.

October 9- Telegraph workers strike.

October 15- The Soviet Union is formed. They call for more strikes and a boycott on taxes and banks.

October 21- The general strike is ended.

Chronology1906

March 4- The Provisional Rules, which allow the formation of political parties and the right to assemble, are enacted.

April 23- Fundamental Laws of the Empire are published. These laws officially create the Duma, but the way it is written allows for the Tsar to keep most of his power anyways.

April 26- Censorship is abolished.

April 27- The first Duma is opened.The Duma

Government Structure

Council of Ministers

Russia’s Empire (Tsar)Political and Religious

Head

Most Holy Synod

Russia’s Empire (Tsar)Political and Religious

Head

Council of Ministers

Most Holy Synod

The Duma

Major Engagements

Propaganda• Russian protestors turned to terrorism, strikes, and

propaganda during the revolution. Nihilist groups and a group called ‘The Black Partition’ tried to use meaningful propaganda to overthrow the Czars. Minorities in Russia also used propaganda to express their anti-Russia ideals. Many other groups turned to terrorism. The ‘Will of the People’ group was known for its offensive approach. They used assassins to kill many people including police and members of the government. They robbed banks as a scare tactic. It is reported that over 7,000 people were killed during acts of terrorism. The Russian Revolution of 1905 is often cited when discussing the rise of terrorism as a method of revolution. Worker strikes were also used during the revolution. Starting with the Putilov Plant’s strike, worker strikes spread all around Russia, even spurring general strikes. Taxes and banks were boycotted, and revolutionist members boycotted meetings with members of the empire. All of these methods helped attack and pressure the government into changing.

Comparison

-Emperor (Tsar) holds the most power.

-Tsar is political and religious leader.

-Council of Ministers assists Tsar.

-Religion remains the same.

-No revolutionary parties.

- No Duma or representation.

-Russian people had little civil rights.

-Effective Military.

Russian Empire

Constitutional Monarchy

-Duma “checks” tsar power.

-People elect Duma representatives.

-People have civil rights.

-Many underground revolutionary parties exist.

-Duma is still ineffective due to Tsar power.

From Constitutional Monarchy to Communism

• In the early 20th century, Russia were looking to expand territory into northeast Asia. The Japanese, who were also looking to expand, fought against them in the Russo-Japanese War. After facing a bitter defeat in 1905, the economy of Russia weakened because of war debts. The loss created many riots among the citizens.

• In 1914, Russia entered World War 1. After five million deaths and a large loss of territory, the government and economy were broken, creating mass shortages and hunger for the citizens. The people were angry with the failure of their tsar and sought to overthrow their ruler. When Marxism reached Russia, the population of Russia, 85% of which were in poverty, thought the idea of economic equality appealing. This started the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Chronology• January 9th 1917- Strikes begin in Moscow, Novocherkassk,

Voronezh, Kharkov, and Rostov-on-Don. These will continue for two months.

• February 10th 1917- Tsar Nicolas II is warned by his Councillor of State Mikhail Rodzianko. Rodzinako told the ruler of the large rebellion that was taking place, and advised him to strengthen the Duma, the legislative assembly of Russia. The advice is ignored.

• February 23rd – 27th 1917- The February Revolution occurs. It begins when the government announces bread rations. Women textile workers lead a massive strike in Petrograd. 128,000 ignited by International Women's Day. The Tsar’s Ministers are arrested. The tsar is abdicated, the Romanov dynasty ends, and Imperial Russia collapses.

• March 2nd 1917- The Provisional Government is formed in Petrograd. The country is ruled under Georgy Lvov.

• March 18th 1917- Stalin becomes a member of Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies.

• March 19th 1917- Although there is a large food crisis in the country, the Provisional Government refuses to pass an agrarian act.

• April 3rd 1917- After being exiled, Vladimir Lenin returns to Russia along with other Bolsheviks (members of the Russian Social-Democratic Labor Party who generally had Marxist ideals).

Nicolas II, the last tsar of Russia

Chronology• April 4th 1917- Lenin delivers his April Theses, a series of

directives that was mainly aimed towards his fellow Bolsheviks. It advised them not to cooperate with the Provisional Government and to create new communist policies.

• April 18th 1917- Foreign Minister Miliukov secretly agrees to continue with Russia’s participation in World War I.

• April 20th 1917- Miliukov’s Note, which states Miliukov’s agreement to stay in World War I, is leaked. There is a mass uproar among the citizens. After large demonstrations and strikes, the First Provisional government falls.

• May 5th 1917- The First Coalition Government is formed. Socialists enter the cabinet. Alexander Kerensky is named minister of war and navy.

• June 3rd 1917- The First All-Russian Congress of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies opens in Petrorgad. The Congress almost unanimously votes to pull out of World War I. Bolsheviks insist that all power goes to the Soviets.

• June 10th 1917- The government bans the planned Bolsheviks demonstration.

• June 16th 1917- Kerensky orders an offensive against German and Austro-Hungarian armies. This causes a significant decline in support from citizens. Alexander Kerensky

Chronology• July 2nd 1917- The offensive ends unsuccessfully.

• July 3rd-4th – July Days begin. Because of the failure of the offensive, workers and soldiers hold demonstrations that lead to violent riots. The government blames the Bolsheviks. Lenin goes into hiding.

• July 6th 1917- Germany and Austro-Hungary counter-attack Russia.

• July 7th 1917- Lvov resigns and asks Kerensky to become the Prime Minister and form a new government.

• July 24th 1917- The Second Coalition Government is formed by Kerensky. August 31st 1917- The majority of the Petrograd Soviet approve an all-socialist government.

• September 1st 1917- Russia is declared a republic.

• September 25th 1917- The Third Coalition Government is formed with a Bolshevik majority.

• October 25-26th 1917- The October Revolution is led by the Bolsheviks in Petrograd. Kerensky flees the city. The Second Congress of Soviets approves a transfer of authority into it’s own hands. Lenin is named chairman. This new government sets up the foundation for the Soviet Union, which would be officially created five years later.

Vladimir Lenin

Conflict in Russia circa 1917

Communist Propaganda

• The communist party created propaganda through radio, posters, and cinema.

• The poster on the right is called Tsar, Priest, Rich Man. It depicts the tsar, priest, and a man of the upper class being carried by the heavy-burdened laboring people. Since the majority of the Russian people were in the laboring class, this poster appealed to the general public by putting the upper classes in a bad light, as if they are to blame for all of Russia’s problems.

Effects of RevolutionPolitical- The tsar is no longer the autocratic ruler of Russia. The first communist leader was Vladimir Lenin. Under communism, the government owns and controls all economic transactions. This lays the foundation for the creation of the Soviet Union.

Intellectual- Communist influenced new intellectual innovations in Russia. Vladimir Lenin, for example, developed Leninism. Leninism is a reverse form of communism. In communism, it is believed a change in economy will cause a change in government. In Leninism, it is believed that a change in government will cause a change in economy.

Religion- The Russian Orthodox Church supported the White Army (anti-communists) during the revolution. After the communists took over, religion was greatly suppressed. The government stole church property, used atheist propaganda, and harassed many believers.

Art & Architecture- The revolution inspired artists to create art that embodied a hopeful future and peace within their nation. Festivals were held to share works and public buildings were covered with symbolic paintings.

Technology- When the Soviets took over, they put a large emphasis on their desire to advance Russia technologically. They built an assembly of research institutes, educational programs, design bureaus, and production enterprises.

Economy- Economic inflation occurred because of the need for goods and food during war. The majority of jobs, if not all, were government created. The money that was printed had almost no value. Essentially, the economy was destroyed.

Society- Communism equalizes all social classes by paying and taxing citizens equal amounts. Because of the Russian Revolution of 1917, the small population that were wealthy also came into poverty.

ComparisonConstitutional Monarchy

-The tsar is in power.

-The Russian OrthodoxChurch was accepted.

-The Duma are a lower parliament.

Communism

-Soviets are in power with a chairman at the head.

-Religion is oppressed.

-The Duma eventually

dissolves after combining with the Petrograd Soviet.

-The economy is badly damaged.

-The majority of the population is in poverty.

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