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The Russian Revolution: 1917-1921

The Russian Revolution: 1917-1921. "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.“ – Karl Marx, Communist Manifesto , 1848. History progresses in 4 stages:. Stage 1: feudalism. Stage 2: industrial capitalism– rise of bourgeoisie.

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The Russian Revolution: 1917-1921

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  1. The Russian Revolution: 1917-1921

  2. "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.“ – Karl Marx, Communist Manifesto, 1848 History progresses in 4 stages: Stage 1: feudalism Stage 2: industrial capitalism– rise of bourgeoisie Stage 3: socialism– communal ownership of means of production Stage 4: communism– stateless, classless society Why was Russia an unlikely place for a communist revolution?

  3. Russian Empire in the 1800s • Demographics: • 60 nationalities • 100 different languages • Slavs, Europeans, Middle Easterners, & Asiatic peoples • A feudal agricultural economy (serfdom until 1861) • Autocracy • Government in which one person rules with unlimited authority

  4. Russia in the Early 1900s • Late 19th century– state-sponsored industrialization • Russo-Japanese War– national humiliation • Revolution of 1905– lack of real reform • Results: Alienation of the lower classes • Debts, taxes, & rent kept peasants & urban workers bound to poverty • Opposition: -- Mensheviks  When Russia has sizable working class = socialist revolution • Bolsheviks  Revolutionary leaders could bring socialist revolution

  5. Russia & World War I (1914-1917) • Military was ill-equipped & inefficient • Losses: • 1.7 million soldiers dead • 5 million soldiers wounded • 2 million civilians dead • Food supply within Russia scarce  soldiers & civilians starving

  6. Spring 1917 • Strikes and food riots break out in St. Petersburg • Soldiers & peasants protest & revolt • Czar fails to put down revolts, St. Petersburg soviet (workers council) takes over city • March 15, 1917 • Czar Nicholas II abdicated (step down from rule) • Romanov dynasty over

  7. The Provisional Government • Alexander Kerensky = prime minister • Continued fighting in WWI = very unpopular with the masses! • Failed to deal with social reform, land reform • Life in Russia did not improve!

  8. Response to Provisional Government • Rival Power: • Monarchists = return to czarist rule • Mensheviks = moderate Socialists • Bolsheviks (later “Communists” = Radical Socialists • Bolsheviks called for peace, land reforms, & better working conditions, but lacked organization…

  9. Lenin Biography • Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov = V.I. Lenin • Intelligent, radical, & passionate • Middle-class background (studied law) • Brother executed by czar in 1885 dedicated his life to radical revolution (Bolshevik) • Exiled for beliefs

  10. Return of Lenin • 1917  Lenin returns to Russia (escorted by the Germans) • Goals: • Organize Bolsheviks • Seize power from provisional government • “Peace, Land, and Bread”

  11. Bolsheviks Seize Power • Effects of World War I worsen • November 6, 1917 • Bolsheviks overthrow provisional government • “Bloodless” coup d’etat in St. Petersburg • Kerensky = resign; Lenin = assumes control • Bolsheviks assume absolute power by forcefully disbanding rival parties (e.g. Social Revolutionary Party) • Ruled country through local ‘soviets’

  12. A Socialist State • Bolsheviks become the Communists • End private ownership of property • Distribute land among the peasants • Workers control factories & mines • Officials: • Leon Trotsky = Foreign Affairs • Joseph Stalin = National Minorities

  13. Russia Leaves World War I • March 1918  Lenin seeks peace with Germany • Treaty of Brest-Litovsk • Loses Poland, Ukraine, Caucasus, etc. • Loses ¼ of land, ¾ of iron & coal, 40% of population

  14. Russian Civil War (1918-1921) • 1918  Political opponents contest Communists • Taking Sides: • Reds = Communists • Whites = Moderates (assistance from U.S., France, Britain, Japan) • Fighting destroys Russia for 3 years • Starvation & economic depression

  15. Outcome of Civil War • Lenin & Communists maintain power & defeat the Whites in 1921 • 1922  Communists rename Russia the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R. or Soviet Union) • Long-lasting distrust of Western nations • Communists remain in power until end of the Cold War (1989)

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