1 / 21

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.

fay-hart
Download Presentation

The Russian Revolution: 1917-1921

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  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)

More Related