The Russian REVOLUTION OVERVIEW PART II

1. The Russian REVOLUTION OVERVIEW PART II Mrs. Nicoloso

2. Karl Marx (1818 – 1883) • He wrote the Communist Manifesto • He envisions a world where basic needs are met and people work together for the greater good • He died long before the Revolution began, but his political ideas of communism lived on. • Considered father of communism • People of Russia who favored revolution adopted his ideas

3. Socialism and Communism Vladimir Lenin (“Builder of the Russian Revolution”) based his theories on Karl Marx (and Friedrich Engles) –both were German philosophers and the writers of “The Communist Manifesto.” SOCIALISM: Everyone owns/shares and is equal VOLUNTARILY COMMUNISM: The government owns everything and decides level of equality Friedrich Engels Karl Marx

4. While the Czar is Still in Power. . . Kark Marx • There was a group that followed the views of Karl Marx and they successfully established a following in Russia. They believed that the industrial class of workers would overthrow the czar. • Russian Marxists split into two groups. The more moderate Mensheviks wanted a broad base of popular support for the revolution. The more radical Bolsheviks supported a small number of committed revolutionaries that were willing to sacrifice anything for change. The leader of the Bolsheviks was Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, who had been exiled by the czar. Lenin

5. Who Were the Bolsheviks? • Bolshevik means "majority" in Russian. A Bolshevik was a member of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party, which was a Marxist political party. • They were led by Vladimir Lenin. Included in the Bolshevik party were Joseph Stalin, Vyacheslav Molotov and Leon Trotsky. • With Vladimir Lenin leading the way, the Bolsheviks successfully lead a revolution and overthrew the government. • They made lots of promises such as withdrawing Russia from WWI, they said they would give land and power to the peasants, and said that they would improve working conditions and lifestyles of those who worked in the industrial cities. This gave them popularity all over Russia. They believed in day to day practical issues. • They ruled Russia completely after the Russian Revolution. Bolshevik national flag, 1917

6. Nicholas II Abdicates • The March Revolution of 1917 quickly spread and resulted in Nicholas II abdicating his throne. • The Romanov family had ruled Russia for three centuries and was finally brought down. • In 1918, the Czar and his entire family, wife and five children, were assassinated by an execution squad set up by the revolutionaries • The entire family was killed because they feared one of them could rise to power again.

7. Provisional Government • Leaders of the Duma set up a provisional government or a temporary government, headed by a man named Alexander Kerensky. • Kerensky decided to continue fighting in World War I which lost him a lot of support. • Soviets, (local councils consisting of workers, peasants, and soldiers) formed, and they began to rule in place of the provisional government.

8. The Provisional Government The Provisional Government made Russia the freest country in the world on paper, with equality before the law, freedom of religion, the right to strike, and so on. The Provisional Government shared power with the Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies. Following the failure of Russia’s summer 1917 offensive, the army began to dissolve.

9. Vladimir LeninApril 22, 1870 – January 21, 1924 Lenin studied law at the University of Kazan but was banished from the school because of revolutionary activities. He completed his studies independently and practiced law briefly. He soon gave up his legal practice, and turned to studying the teachings of Karl Marx. Lenin was exiled to Siberia in 1895, his exile ended in 1900. Lenin is the founder and the guiding spirit of the Soviet Republics – He is considered a communist philosopher, ardent disciple of Karl Marx, leader of the Bolshevik Party and the mastermind of the 1917 October Revolution. Lenin played an enormous role in the history of the 20th century. He reshaped Russia and had millions of people bent to his will. Lenin applied communist ideas to real life and his “experiment” forever changed the face of the world.

10. Lenin’s Exile from Russia Ends Lenin, leader of the Bolsheviks, was living in exile when the February Revolution transformed Russia. Once the provisional government had taken over , Germany was shocked that Russia didn’t leave WWI. The Germans thought if Lenin returned to Russia he would gather his Bolshevik supporters and pull Russia out of the war. The Germans arranged for Lenin to be transported back to Russia on a secure train. He arrived in Petrograd in April 1917 and immediately got to work gathering supporters.

11. Lenin Returns to Russia • On April 3, 1917, Lenin arrived in Petrograd at the Finland Station. Tens of thousands of workers and soldiers had come to the station to greet Lenin. There were cheers and a sea of red, waving flags. Not able to get through, Lenin jumped on top of a car and gave a speech. Lenin at first congratulated the Russian people for their successful revolution. • However, Lenin had more to say. In a speech made just hours later, Lenin shocked everyone by denouncing the Provisional Government and calling for a new revolution. He reminded the people that the country was still at war and that the Provisional Government had done nothing to give the people bread and land.

12. Bolsheviks Gain Strength • Once Lenin returned to Russia he began gathering the Bolshevik party together and gaining supporters. • The Bolshevik party had two messages, “Peace, Land, and Bread,” and “All power to the Soviets!” • Those messages were very appealing to a large number of people. • Lenin saw that the provisional government was weak, and saw his opportunity to take action.

13. The October 1917 Revolution • By September 1917, Lenin believed the Russian people were ready for another revolution. However, other Bolshevik leaders were not yet quite convinced. On October 10, a secret meeting of the Bolshevik party leaders was held. Lenin used all his powers of persuasion to convince the others that it was time for an armed insurrection. Having debated through the night, a vote was taken the following morning -- it was ten to two in favor of a revolution. • The people themselves were ready. In the very early hours of October 25, 1917, the revolution began. Troops loyal to the Bolsheviks took control of the telegraph, power station, strategic bridges, post office, train stations, and state bank. Control of these and other posts within the city were handed over to the Bolsheviks with barely a shot fired. • By late that morning, Petrograd was in the hands of the Bolsheviks -- all except the Winter Palace where the leaders of the Provisional Government remained. Prime Minister Alexander Kerensky successfully fled but by the following day, troops loyal to the Bolsheviks infiltrated the Winter Palace. • After nearly a bloodless coup, the Bolsheviks were the new leaders of Russia. Nearly immediately, Lenin announced that the new regime would end the war, abolish all private land ownership, and would create a system for workers' control of factories.

15. Leon Trotsky 1879-1940 Trotsky became involved in revolutionary activities in 1896, when he was introduced to Marxism. His talents and commitment quickly earned respect from the workers and other revolutionaries. He was elected the president of the Petrograd Soviet during the 1905 Russian Revolution (which failed). Trotsky was a member of the Bolshevik Party and led the Bolshevik Revolution with the help of Vladimir Lenin. He was elected head of the Soviet in 1917 for the second time. Trotsky founded and led the Red Army, saving the infant revolution from being crushed. He was a “pure communist” true to Marx’s ideas and wanted to improve life for all in Russia

16. Bolsheviks Have Power • After nearly a bloodless coup, the Bolsheviks were the new leaders of Russia. Nearly immediately, Lenin announced that the new regime would end the war, abolish all private land ownership, and would create a system for workers' control of factories. • Unfortunately, as well intended as Lenin's promises might have been, they proved disastrous. After Russia pulled out of World War I, millions of Russian soldiers filtered home. They were hungry, tired, and wanted their jobs back. • Yet there was no extra food. Without private land ownership, farmers began to grow just enough produce for themselves; there was no incentive to grow more. • There were also no jobs to be had. Without a war to support, factories no longer had vast orders to fill. • None of the people's real problems were fixed; instead, their lives became much worse.

17. Bolsheviks Have Power Lenin ordered that all farmland be divided up amongst peasants and that workers take control of the factories. He signed a truce with the Germans (Treaty of Brest-Litovsk) in March 1918. The treaty got them out of the war, but it also meant a large loss of land. This made many Russians angry and they disliked the Bolsheviks and their policies. In January 1918 the Bolsheviks dispersed by force the democratically elected Constituent Assembly, which was to write a constitution for Russia. The Bolshevik destruction of democracy led to civil war in Russia from 19181921.

18. Russian Civil War (1918-21) THE REDS (Communists or Bolsheviks) Goal: defeat anti-Communists and expand Bolshevik control over Russia . Gained peasant support by offering land reform . Trotsky led Red Army . Used so-called ”Red Terror” • murdered Nicholas II and family • established concentration camps Implemented ”war communism” • largest industries nationalized • most industries controlled by workers’ committees THE WHITES (anti-Communists) Goal: defeat Communists Whites made up of anti-Bolsheviks of many political persuasions • royalists • moderates • Mensheviks White military assisted by foreign countries: Japan, Britain, France, Czechoslovakia and the United States

19. The Civil War • In June 1918, Russia broke out in civil war. It was the Whites (those against the Soviets, which included monarchists, liberals, and other socialists) against the Reds (the Bolshevik regime). • Near the beginning of the Russian Civil War, the Reds were worried that the Whites would free the czar and his family, which would not only have given the Whites a psychological boost but might have led to the restoration of the monarchy in Russia. The Reds were not going to let that happen. • On the night of July 16-17, 1918, Czar Nicholas, his wife, their children, the family dog, three servants, and the family doctor were all woken up, taken to the basement, and shot. • The Civil War lasted over two years and was bloody, brutal, and cruel. The Bolsheviks won but at the expense of millions of people killed. • The Russian Civil War dramatically changed the fabric of Russia. The moderates were gone. What was left was an extreme, vicious regime that was to rule Russia until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

20. Reasons for Bolshevik Success The Bolsheviks won the civil war for several reasons: They controlled the strategic center of the country. The White Army, the Bolsheviks’ opponents, was made up of different groups, some wanted the czar to return, some wanted a democratic government, and there were socialists who opposed Lenin’s form of socialism. The three groups didn’t get along very well, the only thing uniting them was their desire to defeat the Bolsheviks. Trotsky created a superior “Red Army” to fight against the White Army. The Bolsheviks mobilized the home front, introducing forced labor, grain requisitioning, and rationing. The Bolsheviks used terror to maintain discipline and subdue opposition. The Bolsheviks were realistic, practical and clever in setting their short term goals. They were organised and disciplined and had clear planned strategies. Lenin was an inspiring leader with vision, clarity and ability. Bolsheviks speaking at a meeting of workers and soldiers in Petrograd in 1917

21. After the Russian Civil War • During and after the Russian Civil War, Soviet Russia suffered great damage. In 1920 and 1921, there was little rain, which caused serious famine in 1921. • About one million Russians left Russia and went to other countries to live there on a permanent basis (not always voluntarily). Many of them were very educated and expert persons. Many former members of upper classes.

22. New Economic Policy • After the war the economy was a disaster. • In March 1921 Lenin began the New Economic Policy (NEP). • He allowed peasants to sell excess crops for profit instead of turning them over to the government. • Individuals were allowed to buy and sell goods for profit. • This went against the ideas of communism, but helped get the economy back on track.

23. Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin • In 1921, the White Army was defeated, leaving Lenin, Stalin and Leon Trotsky as the dominant figures in the new Bolshevik government. Although Stalin and Trotsky were rivals, Lenin appreciated their distinct abilities and promoted both. • Trotsky vs. Stalin • Trotsky was far more popular than Stalin, so Stalin was given the less public role of General Secretary of the Communist Party in 1922. Trotsky, who was a persuasive public speaker, maintained a visible presence in foreign affairs and was perceived by many as the next leader. • However, what neither Lenin nor Trotsky foresaw was that Stalin's position allowed him to build loyalty within the Communist Party, as essential factor in his eventual takeover. • Lenin advocated for Joint Rule

24. Joseph Stalin • His real name was Dzhugashvili (also spelled Dzugashvili or Djugashvili); he adopted the name Stalin ( "man of steel" ) about 1913. (Pronounced “dzoo-gosh-VEE-lee.") • not a good speaker, not educated • BRUTAL – ERRATIC – CRUEL - PARANOID • didn't follow and stay true to Marx's ideas • Power hungry - killed all that opposed him • used KGB against the people • allowed “church” but propagandized it • Minimum of 15 million deaths attributed to Stalin – counting starvation upward of 33 million • Hated to be questioned about anything

25. Stalin Comes to Power Tensions between Stalin and Trotsky increased when Lenin's health began to fail in 1922 with the first of several strokes, raising the difficult question of who would be Lenin’s successor. From his sickbed, Lenin had advocated for shared power and maintained this vision until his death on January 21, 1924. Stalin Comes to Power Ultimately, Trotsky was no match for Stalin because Stalin had spent his years in the party building loyalty and support. By 1927, Stalin had effectively eliminated all of his political rivals (and exiled Trotsky) to emerge as the head of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Stalin's willingness to use brutality to achieve political aims was well established by the time he took power; nevertheless, the Soviet Union (as it was known after 1922) was unprepared for the extreme violence and oppression that Stalin unleashed in 1928. This was the first year of Stalin's Five Year Plan, a radical attempt to bring the Soviet Union into the industrial age.

26. Stalin’s Five Year Plans • Stalin's Five Year Plans Caused Famines • In the name of Communism, Stalin seized assets, including farms and factories, and reorganized the economy. However, these efforts often led to less efficient production, ensuring that mass starvation swept the countryside. • To mask the disastrous results of the plan, Stalin maintained export levels, shipping food out of the country even as rural residents died by the hundreds of thousands. • Any protest of his policies resulted in immediate death or relocation to a gulag (a prison camp in the remote regions of the nation). • The Disastrous Effects Kept Secret • The first Five Year Plan (1928-1932) was declared completed a year early and the second Five Year Plan (1933-1937) was launched with equally disastrous results. A third Five Year began in 1938, but was interrupted by World War II in 1941. • While all of these plans were unmitigated disasters, Stalin’s policy forbidding any negative publicity led the full consequences of these upheavals to remain hidden for decades.

27. Paranoid Leader? • With Stalin holding one of the highest positions in Russia, paranoia soon set in. • Stalin began to think that others would take his position away from him, one way or another. • In order to prevent mutiny he would falsely accuse people of crimes, expel them from the Bolshevik party, banishment, labor camps or execution. • Trotsky strongly disagreed with Stalin’s leadership methods. • Of course, Stalin took this as a threat and soon took actions against Trotsky. Trotsky and Stalin

28. Disagreement • To destroy Trotsky’s popular reputation among the people, Stalin and his team succeeded in damaging Trotsky’s military reputation so much that he was forced to resign his high position within the Bolsheviks in 1925. • Trotsky was then expelled from the Communist Party and deported from the Soviet Union. Trotsky was banished three times from three places • 1st : Expelled from Moscow • 2nd: Expelled from the Communist Party • 3rd: Expelled from Russia in 1936 • Trotsky fled to Mexico City in 1936 in efforts to be safe from Stalin’s charges.

29. NKVD Secret Police Kill Trotsky • Finally, in 1940, the NKVD, the secret police, under orders from Stalin arranged for Trotsky to be murdered. • Posing as a supporter of Trotsky, one of the Secret Police’s agents talked his way into Trotsky's heavily guarded house, pulled out an ice-axe from beneath his coat and buried its point in Trotsky's skull. • Trotsky died of his wounds a day later, on 21 August 1940. 

30. Trotsky Gets the Blame • During Stalin’s rule: • Russia’s economic system failed • Violence, fear, and starvation occurred throughout the country • Trotsky was blamed for it all • This is called “Trotskyism” • Trotsky was blamed even after his assassination • Those who were associated with Trotsky were executed • In all, over 20 million citizens were purged (killed, imprisoned, or severely made to change)

31. The Great Terror: The Purges • Few leaders have culled their ranks as dramatically as Stalin did in during the Great Terror of the 1930s. He targeted members of his cabinet and government, soldiers, clergy, intellectuals, or anyone else he deemed suspect. • Those seized by his secret police would be tortured, imprisoned, or killed (or a combination of these experiences). Stalin was indiscriminate in his targets, and top government and military officials were not immune from prosecution. In fact, the Great Terror eliminated many key figures in government.

32. The Great Terror’s Effects Widespread Paranoia During the Great Terror, widespread paranoia reigned. Citizens were encouraged to turn each other in and those captured often pointed figures at neighbors or coworkers in hopes of saving their own lives. Ridiculous show trials publicly confirmed the guilt of the accused and ensured that family members of those accused would remain socially ostracized - if they managed to evade arrest. Thinning Out Military Leadership The military was particularly decimated by the Great Terror since Stalin perceived a military coup as the greatest threat. With World War II on the horizon, this purging of the military leadership would later prove a severe detriment to the Soviet Union’s military effectiveness. Death Toll While the estimates of death tolls vary greatly, the lowest numbers credit Stalin with killing 20 million during the Great Terror alone. Beyond being one of the greatest examples of state-sponsored murder in history, the Great Terror demonstrated Stalin's obsessive paranoia and willingness to prioritize it over national interests.

33. Stalin’s Rule • Under Stalin’s rule Russia suffered through a famine in the early 1930s, killing 5 to 10 million people. • Another famine in 1946 – 1948 killed 1 – 1.5 million people. • Nearly 700,000 people were killed during the purges. • 3.3 million people were deported between 1941 – 1949. • Stalin ruled as absolute dictator throughout WWII and until his death on March 5th, 1953.

34. NOW YOU YOU HAVE THE BACKGROUND TO RECOGNIZE THE ALLEGORY and SATIRE…. ANIMAL FARM By GEORGE ORWELL

35. YOUR VIEW • George Orwell’s Animal Farm is based on this Russian Revolution. • How do you think Orwell will compare a farm to Russia? • What do you think is Orwell’s view on Stalin and his rule over Russia? • Why do you think he chose to use animals to represent the people of the Russian revolution?