IDs and Definitions

1. IDs and Definitions • USSR (definition) • Lenin

2. Questions and Imperatives • Trotsky has been called the “architect” of the Bolshevik Revolution. Put the Revolution in context and explain what Trotsky did and how he was successful.

3. Revolutionary Year, 1917 • March, protests escalated and Tsar Nicholas attempted to have the people crushed with troops • soon the troops had enough and joined the other side. • with no protection, Nicholas was persuaded to abdicate • the Duma formed a provisional government and named Georgi Lvov as leader • PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT: • elections were to be held • The new government promised to distribute land to the peasants • the work day was shortened • political prisoners were freed • there was a proclamation that Jews were no longer to be persecuted • these reforms gained the provisional government a broad support • at the same time, the provisional government was undermined by the Soviet Council of Workers, who were mostly (split) Socialists

5. Social Revolutionaries • agrarian radicals who wanted to change Russian society by setting up local governments • Mensheviks and Bolsheviks were Marxists • Mensheviks • wanted a mass-based party like the Socialists in western Europe • wanted peaceful reform after capitalism had spread creating a large working class • Bolsheviks • Leader was Lenin • believed only revolution would achieve Socialism • not a mass movement, but small groups of professional revolutionaries who knew what they were doing ==> discipline and leadership • Mensheviks and Bolsheviks worked together for awhile, against the provisional government • the Duma, still in charge, favored a constitutional Monarchy • the Duma felt it was the duty of Russia to stay in the War • BUT, War was creating hardships at home and the wide support was thinning • Bolsheviks took advantage of this

6. Lenin • had a brilliant mind and had long been in anti-government activity (brother killed for attempting to kill Alexander III) • Lenin was in exile in Switzerland during March Revolution, had been in Western Europe since 1900 • sealed train across Germany, released in Finland, and arrived in Petrograd in April 1917 • the Germans did this to stir up trouble within Russia… • Lenin did not support the provisional government, but called Bolsheviks to another revolution • Lenin established authority within Bolshevism and pressure was put on the provisional government • Leader of provisional government, Lvov, arrested some Bolshevik leaders and Lenin escaped to Finland • Provisional government decided to name a new leader since Lvov couldn’t hold it together

7. Vladimir IllychUlyanov

8. Trying to hold on • Alexander Kerensky was chosen, a moderate socialist revolutionary who should help to again broaden support • Kerensky made 2 mistakes (so to speak) • allowed Russia to remain in the War • allowed a strike at the Soviets, and then feared those who made the strike might act out towards him and gave weapons to the Soviets to defend themselves • Soviet is the Russian word for council • In a big factory (i.e. a steel complex), there was an elected council to represent the workers • responsible for resting the ownership at the time of revolution and transferring the ownership to the workers on the plant floor • soldiers will elect own officers and peasants will elect own council

9. Peace, Bread, and Land • Lenin knew what people wanted • Lenin demanded all power to the Soviets • Bolsheviks were in control of Soviets in Petrograd and Moscow • Lenin returned to Russia in October, prepared to take power • Lenin promised the people peace, bread, and land, but the cost would be high • Lenin wanted to get the peasants on his side • Lenin said “all land to the peasants,” this was the nobility’s land • Marx said land to be held jointly • Lenin could get the peasants because of their greed for land, they didn’t want Marx’s idea of collectivization • all land to the peasants would make them like small capitalists versus Marx’ jointly held, therefore Lenin did broaden his base

10. Leon Trotsky

11. November Revolution • Leon Trotsky was the mastermind of the Bolshevik victory • he was the head of the Petrograd Soviets and became the #2 man after Lenin • he first persuaded government soldiers to join the Soviets • this larger group took control of means of communications (railroads, power stations, bridges, telephones) • Soviet sailors moved a ship in firing range of the Winter Palace • It appeared Bolsheviks had upper hand and Kerensky fled • Lenin and the Bolsheviks were in power, but life did not get better overnight for the Russian people

12. Promises kept BUT… not all happy • The first thing Lenin had to do was to make peace • he was willing to sacrifice land to the Germans for peace • the Germans need the food that came from the land • the Germans were the one to dictate the terms and they demanded the land • peace came with the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk • Not all Russians wanted the Bolsheviks in power and so civil war broke out and hit its peak in the fall of 1918 • Lenin suffered criticism for handing over land to the Germans but the treaty became vitally important • from now on policy was to protect the soviet state, there was a Bolshevik victory at home and Lenin would instill terror if he had to for the good of the state

13. Lenin took steps • 1) emasculated the soviets (empty them of their power) in favor of the communist party • 2) Lenin promised the right of the constituents to meet (to assemble with a mission to draw up a constitution) and then he dissolved the group...he shut them down...his intention was to never have opposition to the party • 3) Lenin installed a secret police force which resorted to terror to root out opposition...all opposition, not just the covert • Trotsky ran military operations in Russia, growing the Red Army • by late 1920, the Red Army was powerful enough to scare “Allied forces” out of Russia, and Russia gained back much of the land she lost to Germany

14. USSR • 1917-1921: • - shortage of food, disease and the civil war killed millions of Russians • - civil unrest hit a peak in 1921 and Lenin moved to subdue it • 1921: • - the NEP (New Economic Policy) was installed • - capitalism on a local level (private ownership of small business) • - Lenin did the peace thing, now he needed to provide bread • - he allowed the Kulaks (newly created peasant middle class) to thrive as successful landowner power, therefore food would find its way into the cities • - Communists debated this policy, it was a compromise with socialist theory • - NEP did not end state control of large business • - NEP helped to bring industry back to pre-war levels • 1922: • Lenin created Russian states, known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) • Lenin had 2 strokes in 1922 and died in 1924, was succeeded by Stalin...Lenin had said “Beware of Stalin.” • Trotsky did not have party support and Lenin knew it

15. DISCUSSION QUESTION: Four hundred years apart: How can we tie the Posting of Luther’s 95 Theses to the Bolshevik Revolution?