The Russian Revolutions and the End of a Dynasty

1. The Russian Revolutions and the End of a Dynasty

2. WHAT IS COMMUNISM??

3. Karl Marx (1818-1883) • German socialist (communist) philosopher • Forced to leave Prussia for articles attacking the Prussian government • Relocated to France where he was considered too radical • Wrote Communist Manifesto with Friedrich Engels (1848) • Relocated to England where he lived out the rest of his life • Wrote Das Kapital – the “bible” of socialism (1867) • “Religion is the opiate of the people.” • Belief that religion is designed to keep people submissive to those in power by promising them that their reward is in heaven

5. THE PATH TO COMMUNISM • Collective Ownership of Land/Business • Everyone would work according to their abilities and… • Everyone receives according to their needs.

6. 1905 Russian Revolution

7. QUESTION 1: WHAT WERE THE CAUSES AND IMMEDIATE OUTCOMES OF THE 1905 RUSSIAN REVOLUTION? WAS IT TRULY A REVOLUTION OR MERELY A PRELUDE TO THE 1917 RUSSIAN REVOLUTION?

8. The Modernization of Russia Charge of the Light Brigade Alfred Lord Tennyson The Crimean War • 1853-56 • Conflict over Holy Land • Tsar Alexander II • (r.1855-81) faced Britain, France, Sardinia and the Ottoman Empire • Russia’s loss, due to inability to supply its troops, demonstrated its backwardness

9. The Romanovs Alexander II: 1855-1881 Aka-Tsar Liberator Reforms Assassinated Alexander III: 1881-1894 Reactionary Autocracy Orthodoxy Russification Nicholas II: 1894-1917 The last Romanov

10. Alexander III: 1881 – 1894 • Authoritarian leader • Strict censorship • Secret police monitored education and students…sent dissidents to Siberia!!! • Made Russian the official language • Pogroms: organized violence against the Jewish population in many Russian towns

11. Nicholas II: 1894 - 1917 • When Nicholas took power the country lagged far behind the rest of Europe industrially • 1890’s Russia embarks on a massive industrial build- up financed by foreign investors and tax increases on his people. • By 1900, Russia is the 4th largest producer of steel in the world… • Trans - Siberian Railway (world’s longest continual rail line, 1891 - 1916)…connected European Russia with Russian ports on the Pacific Ocean. • Rapid industrialization brought discontent amongst the people…factories had grueling working conditions, low wages, child labor, unions outlawed…revolutionary movements grow and compete for power

13. Causes of the Revolution of 1905

14. Late 1800s Russian Social Hierarchy

15. 2.First Stages of Industrialization An Early Russian Factory

16. 3. Russo-Japanese War [1904-1905] The “Yellow Peril” Russia and Japan both wanted control over northern Korea

17. Russia Is Humiliated What is the impact of military defeat domestically? Russians are humiliated at yet another loss and the Russian Navy is decimated.

18. 4. Unrest Among the Peasants & Urban Working Poor Father GeorgiGapon Led workers in protest at the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg

19. Bloody Sunday January 22, 1905 The Czar’s Winter Palace in St. Petersburg

21. QUESTION 2: WHAT WERE THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE ROMANOV RULE FROM 1906-1914? Witte vs Stolypin

22. 1.The Tsar’s October Manifesto • Promised a popularly elected Duma/Bicameral Legislature • Freedom of Speech, religion, and assembly • Tsar had absolute Veto • Sergei Witte convinced Tsar this was the only way to stop the onslaught of revolution because the military was away October 30, 1905

23. 2.The Opening of the Duma:Possible Reforms? 1906 • The first two tries were too radical. • The third duma was elected by the richest people in Russia in 1907. Thanks to Stolypin!

24. The Russian Constitution of 1906 • Known as the Fundamental Laws [April 23, 1906]. • The autocracy of the Russian Tsar was declared. • The Tsar was supreme over the law, the church, and the Duma. • It confirmed the basic human rights granted by the October Manifesto, BUT made them subordinate to the supremacy of the law. “Let it be known to all that I…shall maintain the principles of AUTOCRACY just as firmly and unflinchingly as did my unforgettable dead father” -Nicholas II to the Duma

25. Russian Prime Ministers Sergei Witte (1903-1906) Peter Stolypin (1906-1911) After Witte’s dismissal Stolypin becomes the Tsar’s Prime Minister He sought to fight the revolutionary movement with both severe repression and social reform The first two Dumas were dismissed by the Tsar; however Stolypin was able to manipulate voting rights for only the rich, thus ensuring a Duma more witlling to work the Tsar • 1892-1903 Finance Minister • Architect of Russian Industrialization • Major accomplishment is Trans-Siberian Railway • Promoted Rapid Industrialization of Heavy Industry

26. Prime Ministers Continued… WITTE CONTINUED… • Accomplishments in Industry: • State sponsored development of heavy industry • Took foreign loans, investment, and expertise • To create a strong ruble, adopted the gold standard • Place high tariffs on foreign industrial goods • Raised taxes, which affected almost all Russians STOLYPIN CONTINUED… • Treatment of the Peasants • Believed peasants were natural conservatives and would be loyal to the Tsar • He forgives peasants’ land debts; essentially making them land owners • Creates a “land bank” that allows peasants to take out loans for needed equipment and materials

27. Prime Ministers Continued… • Criticisms of Witte’s Industrial Plan (from the Government’s Perspective) • Spread of technical education (an educated society is more likely to revolt) • Growth of the middle class • New urban working class angry over living and working conditions • Squeezing peasant and urban workers with higher taxes and low wages • Neglect of light industry and agriculture; made these goods more expensive to buy • Peasants Continued… • In order to create a Duma that will be loyal to the Tsar, Stolypin must change voting rights • 1907 he changes voting requirements, which taking voting rights away from peasants • “Carrot and whip”

28. Prime Ministers Continued… • Why was Witte dismissed? • Witte’s economic policies helped create the problems of Bloody Sunday • The Tsar’s advisors lost confidence in Witte, especially after Witte encourages the Tsar to issue the October Manifesto • Witte is also the mastermind behind the creation of the Duma, which was considered by some a direct threat to autocracy • However if the Tsar had not issued the Manifesto, he would have lost control of Russian long before 1917 • Radicals/Political Opposition • Instituted court-martials in 1906 • Goal was to rid Russia of the radical revolutionaries and political opposition to the Tsar • “Hangman in-chief”- Lenin • Stolypin’s Neckties (hangman’s noose)

29. Tsarism is Saved until 1917 • Reforms and constitutions such as the October Manifesto and the creation of Dumas saved Tsarism. They both represent promises of change and reform from the Tsar to the Russian people. • The Dumas represent the promise of a voice for the people and new constitutions • However neither of these would have been necessary to save the regime if the Tsar had not been weakened by the fact that his army were fighting in The Russo- Japanese War

30. Why was there a Communist revolution in Russia in 1917?

31. Russian failures in the First World War The weakness of Tsar Nicholas II The failure of the Duma Factors that led to the Communist revolution in 1917. The discontent of the peasants Opposition of the Communists The discontent of the workers Rasputin and scandal The February Revolution 1917

32. Weaknesses of Tsar Nicholas II -The ruler of Russia was Tsar Nicholas II. He was an absolute monarch, meaning that he had total power in Russia. -Nicholas was a weak man. He used his secret police, the Okrana,to persecute opponents. Books and newspapers were censored. The Church supported the Tsar – the ‘Little Father of the Russian people’. -Nicholas II ruled a vast country that was almost medieval in comparison to other countries. The Tsar’s undemocratic government was a major cause of the revolution.

34. Failure of the Duma In 1905 Russia lost a war with Japan. This defeat caused strikes in the Russian cities, the Tsar nearly lost control. Nicholas II offered to call a Duma, or parliament, with free elections. This was accepted by the demonstrators. When the Duma met, it began to criticise the Tsar and demanded changes. Nicholas II did not like this at all. The Duma was dismissed and new elections, controlled by the Tsar, were called. It became clear that the Duma would be shut down if it criticised the Tsar. As long as the Tsar had control of the army, his power could not be broken.

35. The Discontent of the Workers Industrialisation began much later in Russia than in Western Europe. Huge iron foundries, textile factories and engineering firms were set up. Most were owned by the government or foreigners, and were located in the big cities such as St Petersburg or Moscow. By 1900 20% of Russians were workers living in cities. Working conditions in the new industrial towns were hard. Pay was very low. Although strikes and demonstrations were illegal, they often took place. Strikers were frequently shot by the Tsar’s soldiers or secret police. ‘The whole day we pour out our blood and sweat. Every minute we are exposed to danger.’ Union leaflet 1898

36. The Discontent of the Peasants Russia was a rural society with over 90% of the people being poor peasants. Until 1861 the peasants had belonged to their masters, who could buy and sell them like animals. When the peasants were freed in 1861 they were given small amounts of land for which they had to pay back the government. As a result most farmers were in absolute poverty. Agriculture was in desperate need of modernisation. In contrast, a small number of upper-class people held most of the wealth and power. This aristocracy had large town houses and country estates. Very often the peasants do not have enough allotment land. They cannot feed themselves, clothe themselves, homes, keep their tools and livestock, secure seheat their ed for sowing and lastly pay their taxes. Police report into country conditions 1905

37. Russian failures in the First World War -In the first few months of the First World War, Russia fought better than had been expected. Russian forces attacked Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1914 and were only pushed back after fierce fighting at the battle of Tannenberg. -In 1915, Tsar Nicholas II assumed personal command of the Russian armed forces. This was a risky policy; any defeats would be blamed on him. As it turned out the Tsar was a poor commander. The Russian army lost confidence in the Tsar after a string of serious defeats. The Russian soldiers, poorly trained and equipped, lacking in basic items such as rifles and ammunition, suffered from lowering morale. Thousands of men deserted. -Without the support of the army, the Tsar’s position became increasingly precarious.

38. Rasputin and Scandal While Tsar Nicholas II was absent commanding Russian forces during the First World War, he left the day to day running of Russia in the control of his wife Tsarina Alexandra. Alexandra became increasingly under the influence of Gregory Rasputin, a ‘holy man’ who appeared to be able to heal the haemophilia of Prince Alexis, the heir to the throne. Rasputin used his power to win effective control of the Russian government. But this aroused envy and he was murdered in 1916. Rasputin’s influence undermined the prestige of the royal family, but his murder came too late to save them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmkySNDX4dU

39. The Opposition of the Communists -Many middle-class Liberals and Social Revolutionaries (who supported the peasants) opposed the rule of the Tsar, but the most revolutionary were the Social Democrats or Communists. -The Communists believed in the ideas of Karl Marx. Marx claimed that history is all about the struggles between the classes. He claimed that the capitalist system was unfair because the factory owners (bourgeois) made profits from the toils of the workers (proletariat). Marx predicted that the proletariat would violently overthrow the bosses and take control of the country on behalf of the people. -The Russian Communists were divided into the Bolsheviks led by Lenin and the Mensheviks led by Trotsky. Lenin believed that the small party of Bolsheviks should seize power and control Russia on behalf of the people. Before 1917 Lenin and many of the other Communist leaders were in exile abroad, plotting to bring about a revolution in Russia

40. The February Revolution 1917 Russia fared so badly in the First World War there was a spontaneous uprising against the Tsar in February 1917. This was sparked off by food riots, poor working conditions and the failure to win the war. The Russian army refused to shoot at the demonstrators and joined forces with them. Lenin, in exile in Switzerland, raced to Petrograd so that he could attempt to seize control of the revolution. In March 1917, without the support of the army, the Tsar was forced to abdicate and a Provisional Government was set up under Prince Lvov and Kerensky. Lenin believed that this new government was weak and would not impose communism on the Russian people. In October 1917, Lenin led an armed uprising against the Provisional Government. His aim was to take control of Russia and turn it in to a communist country. *Remember Germany helped Lenin return to Russian in the sealed train. Germany wanted to disrupt the Russian Government to get them out of WWI. http://www.biography.com/people/vladimir-lenin-9379007/videos/vladimir-lenin-full-episode-2074900042

41. Abdication/Resignation • Tsar Nicholas II officially abdicates in favor of his brother Mikhail • March 3rd, 1917: The Petrograd Soviet’s Newspaper Izvestiya (delivered messages) reported: “Nicholas II has abdicated the throne in favour of Mikhail Alexandrovich, who has in turn abdicated to the people” (Russia: A 1,000 Chronicle of The Wild East, Martin Sixsmithp. 189) TSARISM WAS DEAD! The Tsarist regime had ruled Russia since the 14th century!

42. March 3 – The Provisional Committee supported by the Petrograd Soviet (AT LEAST FOR NOW) announced to the world that a revolution had occurred and that the Tsar had abdicated. Russia was now to be ruled by the Dual Authority – W/ Prince LVOV would not last as new leader of Provisional Government; however Alexander Kerensky will take the reigns of the Provisional Government. Kerensky Provisional (center in white) A meeting at the Soviet

43. Post Tsar/Provisional Government • March 1917 • Nicholas abdicates the throne after crowd gathers outside of his palace “bread, bread” • Duma takes over (Provisional Government w/ Petrograd Soviet) • Set up a Republic, along the lines of the Provisional Government’s wishes (Moderate/Conservative Rule of Law, TIMID) • “Soviet”- Councils of Workers & Soldiers (NOT TIMID/ Left Wing, direct heir of worker’s groups post-Bloody Sunday…Mensheviks, Socialist Revolutionaries, handful of Bolsheviks) • HUGE Concern: Provisional Government wants to keep promise to France & Britain and stay in the war…very unpopular!

44. Between the Revolutions February to October 1917 The Provisional Government, the Petrograd Soviet, the return of Lenin and the Kornilov Affair Problems of Tsar not solved by Provisional government: Wants to continue with the war Distribution of land to peasants Distribution of food to starving peasants

45. The Provisional Government • Shared Dual Authority with the Petrograd Soviet. • Led by Prince Lvov – many members of old Duma formed part of the Government • Kerensky eventually attempted to assert dictatorial powers, but lacked the support • As they weren’t elected by the people they lacked legitimate authority and failed to win the loyalty of the Russian people. • Kerensky was a member of both the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet • Kerensky tried to steer a middle course

46. Petrograd Soviet • A soviet is a workers council – previous soviets had been set up during the 1905 Revolution. • The Soviet saw itself initially as a watchdog for the workers. • Soviets spread throughout Russia. • Enjoyed more credibility, popularity and power than the Provisional Government • Radicals joined the Soviets • Councils composed of worker and soldier deputies, RUN by intellectuals from the Socialist parties!

47. The Dual Authority Working together ? • Initially the TWO bodies (Provisional Government and Petrograd Soviet) cooperated well and useful and effective changes were introduced including: • recognition of Trade Unions • 8 hour day for industrial workers • full civil and religious freedoms commitment to a constituent assembly

48. Provisional / Soviet Split • The two bodies began to disagree • The Provisional Government moved further to the Right politically and the Petrograd Soviet moved to the Left • The main issues of disagreement • Russia’s involvement in the world war • The land question • INFLATION

49. Lenin’s April Theses • “Peace, Land, and Bread” • Promised to end Russia’s involvement in the war • Did not support the Provisional Government • Confiscate large estates and redistribute land

50. July Days • Kerensky feared the Bolsheviks were gaining enough power to take the Petrograd Soviet and destroy the Provisional Government. • July 1917 many Bolsheviks are arrested, but Lenin is able to escape to Finland