Revolution in Russia

1. Revolution in Russia

2. National Collapse • World War I was devastating for Russia • Russia’s lack of industrial development made it incapable of sustaining a modern war effort. • With Tsar Nicholas’ failure as a war leader and Tsarina Alexandra ineptitude leading the country at home (coming under the influence of holy man Rasputin) he prestige of the regime was in question. Gregori Rasputin

3. End of the Tsarist Regime • In early 1917, strikes sweep Petrograd (St. Petersburg) • Unrest results from war-weariness, famines, and runaway inflation. • The tsar dissolved the Duma in March. • Nicholas sent troops against the demonstrators, but they joined them. • The Tsar abdicated on March 15 (February Revolution)

4. The Provisional Government • The Duma now became the government, under the leadership of Prince Lvov. • The liberal dominated Provisional Government promised reforms, elections, and a constitution to create a republic. • The government continued the war against the Central Powers. • Meanwhile, socialists creates soviets (councils of workers and soldiers) in Petrograd and other cities; they gave tacit support to the Provisional Government.

5. The Bolsheviks • In April, 1917, Vladimir I. Lenin, leader of the Marxist Bolsheviks, returned for exile in Switzerland. • He presented his program for workers revolution, the April Theses, to his followers. • The Bolsheviks called for “Peace, Land, and Bread” as their slogan for revolution.

6. The July Days • The continued military failures resulted in revolt against the Provisional Government. • The Petrograd Soviet opposed the revolt, the Bolsheviks supported it. • With the revolt suppressed, Lenin was forced to flee to Finland, but his support gained him followers. • In late July, socialist Alexander Kerensky became leader of the Provisional Government. Alexander Kerensky

7. The October Revolution • Lenin returned and began plans to overthrow the provisional government. • On Oct. 24 (Nov. 6) the Red Guards of the Petrograd Soviet seized power from the Provisional Government. • The next day, Lenin announced the creation of the new regime after a takeover with little violence.

8. V.I. Lenin • Born Vladimir Ilyich Ulianov in 1870. • Studied law, but became involved in radical activities which got him exiled in 1900. • In 1898, Russian Marxists founded the Social Democratic Party, they split in two – Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.

9. The Bolshevik Regime • The Bolsheviks urged on socialist reforms after the October Revolution. • They called workers seizure of land and factories. • Titles of nobility were abolished • The Russian Orthodox Church was supressed.

10. The Constituent Assembly • The Provisional Government had scheduled an election for November which Lenin allowed to go forward. • The Bolsheviks won only 225 seats, while the rural back Socialist Revolutionary Party won 420 seats. • After meeting once in Jan. 1918, Lenin dissolved the assembly. • He also formed he Cheka (secret police) to combat counter-revolutionary activity,

11. Ending the War • Negotiations between Russia and Germany led to the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918. • Lenin accepted its harsh terms because he knew Russia could not fight on and he believed revolution would soon come to Germany. • The treaty was nullified by Germany’s surrender in November 1918.

12. Civil War • The October Revolution had caught their opponents off guard, by spring 1918 they had regrouped. • The Bolsheviks (who now called themselves Communists) controlled the industrial centers and organized the Red Army under Leon Trotsky to gain control of the rest of the country Leon Trotsky

13. Civil War • The anti-communist forces became known as the Whites. • They were poorly organized. • When they threatened to rescue the royal family, the family was killed in July 1918. • The Allies provided limited support to the Whites and they were eventually defeated in 1920.

14. War Communism • During the Civil War, the regime nationalized all major industries and financial institutions. • Private trade and commerce was prohibited. • This radical change caused the economy to spiral into chaos, causing food and fuel shortages.

15. The New Economic Policy • Discontent mounted with the worsening economic situation. • Recognizing the need for change, Lenin introduced the NEP in March 1921. • While major industries remained nationalized, small industries (particularly in agriculture) were allowed to trade privately. • Lenin justified this as one step backward to take two steps forward.