The Russian RevolutionA Country Falls Apart as the World Fights

Background on Russia

• Peter the Great made absolute monarchy for Romanov Dynasty and tried to modernize Russia

• Still 90% of Russians were farmers, 80% were serfs (people permanently obligated to a landowner), serfdom seen as biggest problem of Russia

Background

• After Peter the Great, Russia had series of czars – some welcomed improvements, other resisted change

• In 1861, serfs were finally freed and industry increased; but Russia was the less developed country in Europe

• Russia was embarrassed by defeat in the Russo-Japanese War

• In 1894, Nicholas II became czar, his son Alexei had hemophilia; relied on mystic healer Rasputin to keep son a live

• Russian people thought Rasputin had too much influence over Romanov family

• People begin to demand a constitutional monarchy

• Decemberist – army veterans who had seen advances in Europe revolted, but were put down

• Revolution of 1905 – workers demanded a new constitution with a democratic legislature; 500-1000 people were shot

Socialist Become Popular

• Many Russians turned to the idea of Socialism – government takes over control of economy and protects workers and farmers

• 2 Socialist groups merge:• Mensheviks – want to develop industry and large working

class before starting a socialist revolution• Bolsheviks – wants to use force to bring Socialism

immediately

• 1905, riots and strikes erupted across Russia; people demanded change, workers’ councils (called Soviets) were established by industries to hear workers’ problems

• October Manifesto – Czar Nicholas II responded by creating a duma (national legislature with elected officials) and accepted limitations by creating a constitutional monarchy

The Great War Destroyed Russia

• The Great War destroyed Russia: moral was low, no food, 25% of soldiers had no weapons, 76% of army killed or wounded

• People blamed czar and Rasputin for failures of military and economy

• March 8-12, 1917 – riots began; army joined and refused to stop rebellion

• Nicholas II went to the led his people in the Great War• He left domestic affairs to his wife, Alexandra.• She relied on the advice of an illiterate peasant and self

proclaim “holy man,” Gregory Rasputin

• People were shouting, Bread! Bread!” from the streets• The troops refused to fire upon the demonstration, so the

people saw this as weak, leaving the government helpless

• March 15, 1917 – Czar Nicholas II abdicated, ending 300 year-old Romanov Dynasty (entire Romanov family was later assassinated, seen as threat to Bolsheviks who took over)

• On July 16, 1918, Nicholas II, Alexandra, and their five children were murdered by revolutionaries

Provisional Government

• Provisional (temporary) Government was created and run by Alexander Kerenski (leader of the Duma); called for new elections to create permanent government

• Rivaled by Soviets (Council of workers) who wanted immediate withdrawal from WWI, land to peasants, control of factories by workers

Lenin the Leader

• Provisional Government did not withdraw from WWI; Government and Kerenski began to lose support

• Radical Bolshevics led by Vladimir Lenin felt time was good to seize power

• Lenin promised “Peace, Land and Bread,” Soviets should be models for the new government

• Lenin was born Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov• Adopted Lenin as new name at 17 years old• Brother was arrested and hanged as a government threat –

he plotted to kill the tsar• He was sent to Siberia for encouraging Socialist view

among factory workers• Upon his release he went to Switzerland• March 1917, Germany helped Lenin return

Bolshevic Revolution

• In Nov 1917 – Lenin led a coup d’etat call the Bolshevic Revolution

• Bolshevics claimed absolute power and got rid of the Duma; Created socialist government;• Government took over ownership of all properties,

factories, and mines• All people can now be equals

• Lenin and the Bolshevic promised “Peace, Land, and Bread”

• The Bolsheviks took the local government, Kremlin, within a week of fighting.

• Moscow became the new capital and Kremlin their headquarters

• A new flag with an entwined hammer and sickle symbolized union between workers and peasants

More Problems for Russia• Not everyone supported Bolshevik Revolution; from 1919-

1021, Civil War broke out between Communists (Reds) and Democratic Leaders of Duma (White)

• Allies supported Whites because they needed Russia back in Great War

• Red leaders Lenin and Leon Trotsky used force and education to defeat democrats

• Appealed to nationalism

Russia Exits the War

• Called themselves communist after Karl Marx’s ideas (equal society with no need for government); wanted to spread a peace with Germany, Treaty of Brest-Litovsk – Russia gave up lots of land and of its 1/3 population

Russia Under Stalin

• Communists used “war communism” – direct control of industry, food supply; executed czar and family; arrested, murdered political opponents

• 1922 – Communists rename Russia: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

• Lenin had plan to revitalize Russia – but he died in 1924 (54 years old)

• Constitution was produced that took on the democratic and socialist views – Supreme Soviet

• All political power, resources, and means of production would belong to workers and peasants.

• However, the Communist party, not the people, ruled

• Trotsky and Josef Stalin fought for control; Stalin won• Trotsky was a brilliant thinker and skillful speaker• Stalin was a shrewd political leader and isolated Trotsky• Trotsky was stripped of his party membership and fled

the country in 1929• Stalin had him murdered in Mexico in 1940• Stalin announced 5 year plan to bring agriculture and

industry under control