The Russian The Russian RevolutionRevolution

Mr. BachMr. Bach

Accelerated World HistoryAccelerated World History

Pre-Revolutionary RussiaPre-Revolutionary Russia

Majority of Majority of Russians are Russians are peasants (who peasants (who had just been had just been freed in 1861)freed in 1861)

Jewish Russians Jewish Russians are persecuted are persecuted by the Tsars in by the Tsars in pogromspogroms

The Last Tsar – Nicholas IIThe Last Tsar – Nicholas II

Incapable and Incapable and disconnected disconnected ruler.ruler.

Problem #1: Industrial GapProblem #1: Industrial Gap

Cannot industrialize like Cannot industrialize like EuropeEurope–All industries are state-All industries are state-ownedowned

Problem #2: Russo-Japanese Problem #2: Russo-Japanese WarWar

Humiliating Humiliating defeat for defeat for Russia at the Russia at the hands of the hands of the JapaneseJapanese

Displays the Displays the weakness of weakness of the Tsarthe Tsar

Problem #3: Bloody SundayProblem #3: Bloody Sunday

Tsarist soldiers Tsarist soldiers kill hundreds of kill hundreds of peasants in a peasants in a peaceful protestpeaceful protest

Leads to the Leads to the creation of the creation of the Duma Duma (parliamentary (parliamentary body)body)

Problem #4: World War IProblem #4: World War I

Casualties and Casualties and economic damage economic damage of WWI will of WWI will greatly weaken greatly weaken the Tsarist regimethe Tsarist regime

Tsar increasingly Tsar increasingly ignores the Duma ignores the Duma – angering the – angering the aristocracyaristocracy

Problem #5: RasputinProblem #5: Rasputin

Tsar leaves his Tsar leaves his wife in charge with wife in charge with the “mad monk” the “mad monk” Rasputin ruling Rasputin ruling behind the throne.behind the throne.

Further Further undermines undermines confidence in the confidence in the Tsarist Tsarist governmentgovernment

The Murder of RasputinThe Murder of Rasputin

Rasputin is Rasputin is murdered by murdered by members of members of the aristocracythe aristocracy

Tsarist Tsarist government in government in shamblesshambles

March Revolution (1917)March Revolution (1917)

In response to In response to bread riots in St. bread riots in St. Petersburg, the Petersburg, the Duma declares a Duma declares a Provisional Provisional Government.Government.

Nicholas II Nicholas II abdicates (end of abdicates (end of Romanov Romanov Dynasty)Dynasty)

Provisional GovernmentProvisional Government

Decides to Decides to continue in WWI.continue in WWI.

Must share power Must share power with the strong with the strong Petrograd SovietPetrograd Soviet

Army Order No. 1Army Order No. 1

Petrograd Soviet gives common Petrograd Soviet gives common soldiers control over the Russian soldiers control over the Russian army.army.

Undermines the ability of the Russian Undermines the ability of the Russian army to continue the war.army to continue the war.

Peasants start to desert the army Peasants start to desert the army and seize land from the weak and seize land from the weak aristocracy.aristocracy.

The Return of a The Return of a RevolutionaryRevolutionary

Lenin is sent Lenin is sent back to Russia back to Russia (by Germany) (by Germany) to undermine to undermine the Provisional the Provisional Government. Government. Had been Had been exiled.exiled.

Marxism -> LeninismMarxism -> Leninism

#1: Socialism can ONLY be #1: Socialism can ONLY be established through VIOLENCE.established through VIOLENCE.

#2: A socialist revolution could #2: A socialist revolution could occur in an undeveloped country occur in an undeveloped country (Peasant Army)(Peasant Army)

#3: The leadership must be a #3: The leadership must be a group of elitist intellectuals to group of elitist intellectuals to protect the revolution.protect the revolution.

Split in Russian SocialistsSplit in Russian Socialists

Bolsheviks = believe in a party of Bolsheviks = believe in a party of intellectual elitesintellectual elites

Mensheviks = believe in a Mensheviks = believe in a massive party of popular massive party of popular representationrepresentation

Bolsheviks seize control of Bolsheviks seize control of Petrograd Soviet (Red October Petrograd Soviet (Red October 1917)1917)

November 1917November 1917

Bolsheviks overthrow Bolsheviks overthrow Provisional Government and Provisional Government and seize control of country.seize control of country.

Lenin promises “Peace, Lenin promises “Peace, Bread, and Land.”Bread, and Land.”

Bolsheviks renamed the Bolsheviks renamed the Communist PartyCommunist Party

Lenin’s Right Hand ManLenin’s Right Hand Man

Leon TrotskyLeon TrotskyOrganizes Organizes

the military the military branch of the branch of the Communist Communist Party (Red Party (Red Army)Army)

Treaty of Brest-LitovskTreaty of Brest-Litovsk

Lenin creates “hard” peace Lenin creates “hard” peace with Germany and loses 1/3 with Germany and loses 1/3 of its population.of its population.

Communist seizure of power Communist seizure of power and harsh peace create and harsh peace create Russian Civil War.Russian Civil War.

White Russians vs. Red White Russians vs. Red RussiansRussians

1918 - 19201918 - 1920

Cheka – Secret PoliceCheka – Secret Police

Lenin uses the old Tsarist Lenin uses the old Tsarist Secret Police to eliminate Secret Police to eliminate enemies of the revolution and enemies of the revolution and secure power.secure power.

End of the RomanovsEnd of the Romanovs

Red Russian VictoryRed Russian Victory

Creation of a Creation of a new nationnew nation

Union of Soviet Union of Soviet Socialist Socialist Republics Republics (USSR)(USSR)

Problem: Who Will Take Problem: Who Will Take Over?Over?

OR

Ravages of the Civil WarRavages of the Civil War

Civil War destroys the Soviet Union Civil War destroys the Soviet Union and creates starvation.and creates starvation.

Lenin creates New Economic Plan Lenin creates New Economic Plan (NEP)(NEP)– Peasants can sell surplus on a free Peasants can sell surplus on a free

marketmarket

Rise of StalinRise of Stalin

Takes over by killing off all rivals Takes over by killing off all rivals (especially Trotskyites)(especially Trotskyites)

End of NEP - 1927End of NEP - 1927

Stalin creates 5 Year PlansStalin creates 5 Year Plans– Return to “pure” socialismReturn to “pure” socialism– Need to catch up with WestNeed to catch up with West

Collectivized AgricultureCollectivized Agriculture– Need to guard against the growth of Need to guard against the growth of

wealthy peasants.wealthy peasants.

Kulaks and the Ukrainian Kulaks and the Ukrainian FamineFamine

Kulaks = “wealthy” peasantsKulaks = “wealthy” peasants– Stalin targets them for “liquidation”Stalin targets them for “liquidation”

Ukrainian FamineUkrainian Famine– Man-made famine in the Ukraine caused Man-made famine in the Ukraine caused

by Stalin’s agricultural policiesby Stalin’s agricultural policies– 6 million die6 million die

The GulagsThe Gulags

Political enemies Political enemies sent to forced labor sent to forced labor campscamps

Rise of the Totalitarian StateRise of the Totalitarian State

KGB – Secret PoliceKGB – Secret Police Heavy propaganda and censorshipHeavy propaganda and censorship State controls all business, education State controls all business, education

– basically everthing.– basically everthing.