1 / 20

The Russian Revolution

Dive into the tumultuous events of the Russian Revolution of 1917, exploring the rise of the Bolsheviks, the fall of the Provisional Government, and the emergence of Soviet power under Lenin's leadership. Witness the struggle for power, the impact of war, and the decisive moments that changed the course of history.

fstamm
Download Presentation

The Russian Revolution

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 • Background: 1917 Revolution • Repressive autocratic empire; rapid industrialization -1900-1913, wretched conditions of workers and peasants • revolutionary ideas embraced by working class • middle class press for constitutional reforms

  2. Nicholas II - stubborn, incompetent, autocratic • 1905 Revolution - a dress rehearsal for 1917

  3. W W I and Revolution • Russia - challenge from Austria/Hungary; maintain Great Power status • brief patriotic support for war, followed by battlefield defeats • opportunity for centrist parties - progressive bloc formed, demanded a government responsible to the Duma

  4. Duma prorogued; Nicholas takes command of the army and creates new institutions - Union of Zemstvos • war leads to scarcity of food supplies at the front and in the cities; refugees; unrest in military and among minorities

  5. February Revolution 1917 • Petrograd - food shortages - women demonstrate - striking workers join in demonstrations call for general strike • soldiers fire on demonstrators; but following day join revolution • by 28th February tsarist ministers are under arrest • Nicholas dissolves Duma, then abdicates; offers crown to his brother Michael, but offer rejected • Duma returns - represents propertied classes

  6. intelligentsia and workers form “Petrograd Soviet of Workers, Soldiers and Deputies” - willing to support “bourgeois” stage of revolution • ‘dual power’ emerges - Duma and soviets; but Petrograd soviet issues ‘Order No. 1. Provided for soviet authority over army units

  7. Provisional Government established - includes Kadet party leader Miliukov and Kerensky, (SR) as Justice minister • program includes support for democracy, rights, autonomy for minorities, rule of law; new local government institutions • PG promises to recognize Poland’s independence

  8. by March 25th Provisional Government forced to adopt socialist policies - state regulation of the grain supply • war undermines ‘dual power’ arrangement - soviets reject government’s war aims and support “revolutionary defencism” • coalition between soviets and government following unrest in Petrograd

  9. April 1917 - Lenin returns from exile in Switzerland, with German assistance • rejection of “bourgeois” by radicals - Stalin willing to work with government and reconcile with Mensheviks

  10. Lenin • Lenin’s role is to prove decisive in the unfolding of the revolution • Lenin publishes his “April Theses” - slogans call for “Peace, Bread and Land” and “All Power to the Soviets” - calls for end to ‘dual power’

  11. Lenin’s vision - a complete transformation of Russia based on Marxist-Leninist principles • increased disagreements in coalition - regulation of economy, labor, land and minorities question • but war decisive - Bolsheviks present united front

  12. Orlovsky challenges interpretations of the revolution which denigrate the role of the working class - Pipes/Melia - conservative view influenced by Menshevik bias • workers not simply a “backward” class manipulated by Bolshevik ideology

  13. For Orlovsky collective action by workers profoundly shaped the revolution • radicalization of workers favors Bolsheviks over Mensheviks • widespread strikes show strength of opposition to the Provisional Government

  14. peasants demand redistribution of land • land question divides government • socialists divided - Mensheviks Vs more radical socialists • “July Days” - abortive insurrection by soldiers and workers - Bolsheviks blamed, but popular radicalism key factor • crisis in government - war, land seizures, autonomy for Ukraine -Kadet ministers resign • Kerensky succeeds as prime minister - inept

  15. Kornilov Affair - commander-in-chief • sought to end ‘dual power’ and anarchy of democracy - supported by industrialists, landowners • August - marched on Petrograd; aim to suppress the soviets; but betrayed by Kerensky • Kornilov defeated by ‘Red Guards’ • Kerensky installs himself as head of a new government, a “Directory”. Kerensky’s authority undermined by Affair and assisted in Bolshevik takeover

  16. October Revolution • by September widespread industrial unrest and increased levels of violence lead to breakdown of law and order • moderate left and center unable to command situation • Lenin revived slogan “ all power to the soviets” - calls on soviets to take power in the name of the working class • Lenin’s fears of German intervention or deal with Kerensky • divisions in Bolshevik ranks

  17. ‘Old Bolsheviks’ Kamenev and Zinoviev supported broad-based socialist coalition taking power • majority of Central Committee support Lenin - including Stalin and Trotsky • ‘Military Revolutionary Committee’ formed in Petrograd - significant for revolution

  18. problems, divisions in opposition facilitated Bolshevik seizure of power • October 24/25 Kerensky government falls - Winter Palace • Bolsheviks take power in the name of the soviets

More Related