1 / 26

Russian Revolution

Russian Revolution. 1917. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3u4EFTwprM Socialism – based on input, people themselves, economic Communism – based on needs, ruled by one party, economic and political. What is Socialism?. Series of revolutions in 1917 that ended the Tsarist autocracy

kort
Download Presentation

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. Russian Revolution 1917

  2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3u4EFTwprM • Socialism – based on input, people themselves, economic • Communism – based on needs, ruled by one party, economic and political What is Socialism?

  3. Series of revolutions in 1917 that ended the Tsarist autocracy • First revolution in February causes Nicholas II to abdicate • Second in October, Provisional Government removed and replaced by the Bolsheviks Overview

  4. Had been revolution in 1905 that led to political changes • World War I deaths, loss of trade routes through Ottoman Empire • Developed a weariness in the city owing to a lack of food, inflation • Thought Nicholas II was unfit to rule • Widespread strikes in 1916, aided by German funding • Ironic, Petrograd had been changed from St. Petersburg to limit German recognition early in the war Causes of Unrest

  5. Revolutionary committees rising • Considering confidence in Tsar Nicholas II • Workers with great reasons for discontent at this time, overcrowding • Centuries of oppression of the lower classes building up during the war • Proletariat growing, living conditions rough • Conscription had swept them up, war demands intense Economic and Social Tensions

  6. Nicholas II, part of the Romanov monarchy, had been super conservative, maintained strict authoritarianism • Individuals expected to show self-restraint, devotion to the community, deference to the social hierarchy and a sense of duty • Attached his fate to his family’s dynasty • Maybe a reason he jumped in to WWI against a common and ancient enemy • Probably blinded him to the nation’s problems • Progressive reforms may have saved him • Had tried this in 1905 by establishing the Duma, democratic parliament, then dismissed the first two • Previously had killed hundreds of unarmed protestors on Bloody Sunday Political Tensions

  7. Heavy casualties, mostly defeats early in the war • The Great Retreat of 1915 • Officers more and more coming from the lower classes • Morale was not terrible until the situation deteriorated in homes • Couldn’t envision victory • Shortages, strikes, suffering, crime • Nicholas II had taken over command, whoops • State Duma officially warned Tsar in late 1916 of the need for constitutional government • Ignored Warning During WWI

  8. February 1917, Petrograd, capital workers began strikes • Demands of bread • Each industrial enterprise was shut down • Academics joined in as well • Nicholas II looked to the army, only had about 12,000 reliable, reluctant to move in on women • Troops began to mutiny • Symbols town down, government authority collapsed • Tsar had stripped the Duma of its powers, couldn’t help, did manage to restore some order • Socialist parties begin to organize into Petrograd Soviet

  9. March 14, Nicholas II on train to Petrograd, stopped by a group of disloyal troops • Suggested he abdicate the throne • Did so the next day, his son as well, gives it to his brother • Michael says “No way, Jose!” • Nicholas II reunited with his family, placed under house arrest • Addressed as Nicholas Romanov Abdication of the Throne

  10. Widespread atmosphere of elation and excitement in Petrograd • Provisional Government announced, majority center-left • Chaired by Prince Georgy Lvov, Constitutional Democratic Party • Socialists formed their rival body, Petrograd Soviet • Competed for power Effects of the February Revolution

  11. Provisional Government’s authority challenged by the Petrograd Soviet • Latter had the ability to mobilize workers and soldiers • Creation of councils for representation • Petrograd Soviet • Believed they represented classes, not the whole nation • Believed Russia was not ready for socialism • Wanted to pressure “bourgeoisie”to provide democratic reforms • Popular democratic lobby • Provisional Government said they would be taken into account, but would not be pressured • “Dual Power” was what really happened “Dual Power” Period

  12. Series of political crises • Between population and government • Between Provisional Government and Soviets • Relationship changes when Socialist Alexander Kerensky, a Soviet, agreed to join the new cabinet, became Prime Minister • Very democratic, still problems • Undermined from other groups • Heavy military losses and defections • War was now unpopular • Shortages “Dual Power Period”

  13. New group, Bolshevik Party, led by Vladimir Lenin • Had been in exile in Switzerland • Return to Russia now a possibility, Germany helps him, hoping it would weaken Russia or lead to their withdrawal • Traveled in a sealed train, arrived in Petrograd April 1917 • Popularity grows throughout the spring • Growing through dissatisfaction with the Provisional Government, always pushes people to radicalism • Very little real power though • In fact, Lenin was probably unprepared for this shift in the summer Rise of Lenin

  14. June 18, Provisional Government launched an attack on Germany, total debacle • Violent protest of the military, calling for “all power to the Soviets” • Lenin actually disowned the protests • Had been unprepared, threatened with arrest, embarrassing • Cost him support from the soldiers and workers • Only temporary failure • Bolshevik Party grown from 24k to 200k in six months, now majority in Moscow and Petrograd, also had political control of the provinces Bolsheviks Gain Power

  15. General Lavr Kornilov in command of the military • Thought Petrograd had been captured by radicals • Would use it as an excuse to take over the government • Ordered troops to pacify the city • Kerensky asked Bolsheviks for help, also the Petrograd Soviets, Bolsheviks now majority in Petrograd Soviet • Bolsheviks used influence over transportation and communication to stop the army, strengthened Lenin’s support • Bolsheviks grow as only organized opposition to Provisional Government • Lenin returns in October to a radical city • Began pressing for immediate overthrow of the Kerensky government • Resolution calling for dissolution of Provisional Government in favor of Petrograd Soviet • October Revolution began Kornilov Affair and Other Events

  16. Based on Lenin’s writings on Marx • Beginning of the spread of communism in 1900s • Far less sporadic than the one in February • Deliberate planning and coordination • Lenin not present during takeover, did provide motivations • Leon Trotsky, leader of the Petrograd Soviet, was really responsible • New government was coalition of Soviets, local councils elected by workers and peasants • Will not be accomplished until the end of the Civil War October Revolution

More Related