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The Russian Revolution

Explore the tumultuous events leading to the Russian Revolution, from the fall of Tsar Nicholas II to the rise of Bolshevik power. Understand the key players, ideologies, and societal changes that shaped this historic period in Russian history.

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The Russian Revolution

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  1. The Russian Revolution McKay 904-910, Palmer 18.93

  2. The Path to Revolution Fundamental Institutions Altered -Serfdom -Zemstvos Political Parties Form -Cadets- Constitutionalists --Mensheviks- Orthodox Marxist, want to gradually achieve Comm. Rev., love Proletariat , democratic --Bolsheviks- view Mir as paradigm, skip Ind. Rev., elitist, violent Feb. Rev. -Petrograd Food Riots Provisional Gov. v Petrograd Soviet -Treaty of Brest-Litosvk -Civil War erupts (Whites v. Reds) Nicholas II coronation 1861 1881 1894 1905 1914 1917 1918 1921 Bolsheviks win • Alexander III • -Stolypin Policies • -State sponsored Industrialization • -Mir Attacked • -Kulaks grow WWI Begins October Revolution (November 6) Bolsheviks seize power • -Russo Japanese War • -Bloody Sunday • -October Manifesto • -Duma

  3. Russia and the Great War • Russians enthusiastic for war • Sang “God save the Tsar” • Conservatives • Opportunity for expansion in Balkans • Liberals & Socialists • Alliance with GB and France would spawn democratic reforms

  4. Disaster of WWI • Nicholas attempted Total War mobilization • But less effective than Germany • Industry was unable to supply soldiers by 1915 • Soldiers sent to front without rifles • Battles of Tannenberg + Masurian Lakes led to 2 million casualties by 1915 • Middle class (in Duma) were supportive of war effort and organized war activities • Formed Commercial and Industrial Committee (in Petrograd) to increase production • Nicholas II • Devoted family man • But Poor leader in time of crisis • Held autocratic power (Could veto & dissolve Duma) • Retained belief in Divine Right • Duma • September 1915 called for new government responsible to the Duma • Tsar adjourned Duma and left for the Front

  5. “Our Dear Friend Grigori” • Tsarina Alexandra (German) • Took control of government • had contempt for Russians & Parliament • Under influence of Grigori Rasputin • Rasputin • self-appointed holy man from Siberia • Believed to possess supernatural powers and got friends appointed to prominent positions of power • Had apparent hypnotic power over sickly (hemophilia) Alexis • Rumored to be Tsarina’s lover • In letter to Nicholas from Rasputin • “If I die or you desert me, in six months you will lose your son and the throne.” • 3 aristocrats murdered Rasputin in December 1916 Clip for Clip (3/3) Click for Clip (2/3)

  6. The February (March) Revolution • Food shortages caused riots in February (March 8) 1917 in Petrograd • “Down with the tsar!” • Troops refused to fire on the rioters • Two competing authorities arose in Petrograd • Duma Committee Organizes • Moderate, constitutionalist • Petrograd Soviet organizes • Revolutionary (from below) • Socialists groups tried to win over the Petrograd • Duma set up Provisional Gov under Prince Lvov • Admitted Alexander Kerensky (moderate socialist) to new gov • Called for the abdication of Nicholas II • Army took the side of the revolution • Could not vouch for the loyalty of their men • March 17, 1917 Nicholas abdicated throne Alexander Kerensky (center, white), charter member of the Provisional Government and its head in September-October 1917, arriving in Moscow on or about 12 August 1917.

  7. Provisional Government (March-November 1917) • Provisional government made up of moderate liberals took over Russian Republic • Began to draft Constitution • Establish equality before law, freedom of religion, speech, assembly • Right to form unions, strike • Universal male suffrage • Fatal Mistakes • Not interested in social revolution • Refused to refused to redistribute lands for the peasants • Vowed to continued the war against Germany Alexander Kerensky is speaking at a meeting of the Provisional Government in the Library of Nicholas II

  8. Petrograd Soviet • Emerged as a competing government with Provisional gov • Comprised of factory workers, soldiers, radical intelligencia • Held mass meetings (2-3 thousand workers, soldiers, socialist intellectuals) • Army Order No. 1 • Stripped officers of their authority • Placed power in hands of elected committees of common soldiers • Meant to prevent counter revolutionary dictator from arising • Led to total collapse of army discipline • Officers murdered • “voting with their feet” Lenin • Many soldiers abandoned the army and seized land

  9. Russia (Feb.-Nov.) 1917Who is in charge? Petrograd Soviet -Workers, Social Democrats Provisional Governemt -Kadets, Octobrists, Liberals Bolsheviks

  10. Lenin (1870-1924) • Devout Marxist ‘revisionist’ • Exiled to Siberia for socialist agitation • Lived in western Europe (17 years) and revised Marxism • Marxist-Leninism • Lenin’s version of Marxism applied to Russia • Stressed that capitalism could be destroyed only by violent revolution • Denounced social democratic/Lassalian parties • Seduced by meager concession by bourgeoisie government • Supported the war effort • Lenin hoped for Russia’s defeat • Communist revolution was possible in agrarian country • Peasant were poor and revolutionary • Rejected Marxist determinism • Small dedicated professional revolutionary could ‘cause’ the revolution • Not seduced by short-term gains

  11. The Bolsheviks • Lenin arrived in April and sided with the Soviets • Condemned any cooperation with the “bourgeois government” • All Power to the Soviets • All land to the peasants • Stop the war now • “Peace, Land, and Bread” • Peace with the Central Powers • Redistribution of Land and Bread • Transfer of factories & mines to committees of workers • Recognition of the Soviets as the supreme power (not ProvGov)

  12. Trotsky • Lenin’s promise of “all power to the Soviets” was meant to crush Kerensky and the Constituent Assembly • Kerensky (PM), General Kornilov (War hero), fought each other & weakened Provisional Gov. • Kerensky tried to convoke a ‘preparliament’ but it was too late • October 1917 the Bolsheviks gained a majority in the Petrograd Soviet • Leon Trotsky • Convinced Petrograd Soviet that German/Counterrevolutionary plot was in works • Got himself elected to head revolutionary committee with power over Petrograd's military

  13. The October (November) Revolution • November 6-7, 1917 Bolsheviks took over telephone exchanges, RR, electrical power stations in Petrograd • Congress of Soviets pronounced Provisional Gov over and named Council of People’s Commissars (Lenin at the head) the new government • Lenin called for the peace and redistribution of property • Constituent Assembly (21 mil had voted for) was surrounded and dissolved • Majority rule was replaced with Class rule • Dictatorship of the proletariat was established • Bolsheviks renamed themselves the Communist party • Why (did they succeed)? • Democracy became anarchy • Lenin and Trotsky were superior leaders • Bolsheviks appealed to many with “Peace, Land, and Bread”, “All the power to the Soviets.” Lenin sweeping Russia clean of monarchist & capitalists

  14. Bolsheviks • Most amazing aspect of Bolshevik coup was that it lasted • How? • Lenin took credit for granting Peasants’ Land • A “Russian 1789” (Great Fear) was already under way • Peasant were seizing land and could not be stopped in 1917 • Made peace with Germany • Brest-Litovsk ended war with the West • Gave Germany Baltic provinces, Poland, Ukraine • Russians were tired of war • Promised freely elected Constituent Assembly • Socialist Revolutionaries (Peasants Party) won major victory • Lenin disbanded them by force after only 1 day (1/18/1918)

  15. Whites v. Reds (1917-1921) Trotsky slaying the Reactionary Dragon: The picture alludes to an icon of St. George slaying a dragon, popular in the Russian Orthodox church. The inscription on the worm says Counter-revolution • Civil War began • “Long live the Soviets, down with the Bolsheviks.” • Whites • Tsarist reactionaries, liberals, bourgeois, zemstvos, Constitutional Demo, Mensheviks, and Social Revolutionaries • United by their hatred of Bolsheviks • Reds • Bolsheviks (Lenin & Trotsky) Propaganda poster from the era (1919), depicting a caricature Leon Trotsky (as a large demon like figure with bright red skin.

  16. Whites v. Reds • 18 self proclaimed competing governments competing with Lenin • White Army closed in on Reds in Autumn of 1919 • Yet by 1921 the Bolsheviks had prevailed • How? • Whites • Strategically disorganized • Politically undefined & divided • Labeled conservative

  17. Why the Bolsheviks Won • Clearly defined political beliefs • Strategically united • Superior Army • Trotsky • Organized Red Army • Drastic discipline (deserters shot on sight) • Utilized former Tsar officers • War Communism • Total War concept to a civil war • Nationalized banks, industry • Authorized labor unions to take food from the farmers • Rationed vital resources • Revolutionary Terror • Cheka(Extraordinary All-Russian Commission of Struggle Against Counterrevolution, Speculation, and Sabotage) secret police • Executed “class enemies” • Killed circus clown who poked fun at Bolsheviks • Silenced political opposition The first questions you should put to the accused… To what class does he belong, what is his origin, his education, profession? These should determine the fate of the accused

  18. Click for Clip (8:09)

  19. Anna Anderson Anastasia Romanov Anastasia Romanov

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