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Russian Revolution

Russian Revolution. ***. Basic tenets of Marxism:. Economic relations determine all human relations. Man is by nature good. Exploitation is an inherent failure of capitalism. Private property is evil. Capitalism produces two classes of people.

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Russian Revolution

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  1. Russian Revolution

  2. *** Basic tenets of Marxism: • Economic relations determine all human relations • Man is by nature good • Exploitation is an inherent failure of capitalism • Private property is evil • Capitalism produces two classes of people • Only revolution can rid society of capitalism and establish the dictatorship of the proletariat • Classlessness and statelessness will follow only after the revolution and a transition period

  3. A Look At What We Will Cover • Slides 5 -20 = Background (RS Pre-WW1) • Slides 21-26 = Russia in WW1 - Downfall • Slides 30-35 = October / March Revolution • Slides 35-47 = Bolshevik State • Slides 48-52 = A Sneak Peak at Stalin

  4. Russian Government Before Revolution • Monarchy: The Czar (Tsar) • Until 1905 the Tsar's powers were unlimited. • Russia had no constitution, • no political party system to check the Tsar's power • A strong secret police which terrorized the people. Called: Okhrana

  5. Royal BackgroundNicholas I • Created the first secret police in Russia, brutal leader, response to revolt of army officers in 1825

  6. Czar Alexander II • He implemented important reforms, notably the abolition of serfdom, • In 1867, he sold Alaska and the Aleutian Islands to the United States. • Killed by the Revolutionary Group: The People’s Will

  7. Czar Alexander III • Alexander III's reign was during an industrial revolution in Russia . • His reign was harsh, against revolutionaries and other liberal movements.

  8. *** Czar Nicholas II (1894)Last Czar of Russia • Nicholas II was a harsh and weak ruler • The Russian economy was bankrupt because of the Russo-Japanese War and WWI Russia’s entry into WWI became very unpopular.

  9. Czar Nicholas II and Family

  10. *** 1903 • The Social Democratic Labour Party creates sides of the Mensheviks-minority (Martov) and Bolsheviks-majority (Lenin) • Iskra remained a Menshevik newspaper so Lenin had to create his own (Vperyod – “forward”) • Formal split of Mensheviks and Bolsheviks as a party in 1911 • Bolsheviks believed that a small group of revolutionaries could cause the revolution - masses uniting all at once was unnecessary • Mensheviks focused on winning over the masses to start a revolution

  11. *** Russo-Japanese War (1904) Dispute over Manchuria with Japan Shook national confidence in their progress and rule of Czar.

  12. Loss of Russo-Japanese War • This proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back” was enough to foment all-out revolutionary action

  13. *** Bloody Sunday • Tsar’s troops fired on a group of protestors who were begging the Tsar for help – led by a priest – Father Gapon • In all, 130 were killed and hundreds wounded

  14. Bloody Sunday (1905)

  15. *** Bloody Sunday – historical significance? • It revealed how utterly incompetent the Tsarist regime was in dealing with a dissatisfied people • Those who had previously supported the Tsar broke and joined revolutionary groups

  16. Between October 20-30th, all of Russia was on strike • Considered the most effective general strike in history • During this time, the very first Soviet was established in St. Pete’s

  17. October Manifesto

  18. *** October Manifesto – Tsar’s promises: • Provided some civil liberties • Create a DUMA – legislative assembly controlled by the moderates

  19. Between 1905 and 1917 • Tsar reneged on most of his promises • Tsar bought off the moderates in the Duma • Tsar arrested radical opposition as terrorism grew • Then the Great War broke out…

  20. Film – Russia Land of the Czars • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W1b6j8U46k&list=PL9819B471D1049AE6 • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-qxWWRcN-4 • 16:00 Minutes Long • Rasputin

  21. Russia and World War I • Russia declares war on Austria-Hungary • War becomes unpopular • Rationing leads to starvation • Nicholas II leaves St. Petersburg to war front

  22. *** Ra Ra Rasputin • Won favour with Tsarina Alexandra for helping her haemophiliac child Alexis feel better • Nicholas joins the losing war front in 1915 which allowed Rasputin to gain favour with Alexandra • Prophesized a losing war for Russia – prophecies gained him popularity • Often clashed with the Duma – Duma saw him as a threat since he was so close to the royal family • 1915 the Duma was disbanded and Rasputin was in charge of the government • 1916 Rasputin was assassinated

  23. Rasputin

  24. Rasputin with Admirers

  25. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zz0sHu-m7s Rasputin Death Scene

  26. Rasputin – Music Video – Bony M http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvDMlk3kSYg - Original Music Vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmkySNDX4dU - Vid With Lyrics and Pictures http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zz0sHu-m7s - Rasputin Death Scene

  27. Mensheviks • Literally means “minority” (yet were more of them) • More moderate, less impatient, wanted to win over the masses Led by Julius Martov

  28. Bolsheviks • Literally means “majority” • Believed that a violent revolution was necessary Led by Lenin

  29. FIRST OF TWO REVOLUTIONS

  30. February-March Revolution 1917 • March 12 demonstration due to hunger, a military regiment was sent to quell them (the Cossacks), they joined instead and disarmed the police • Russian Army commanders suggested to Tsar Nicholas to abdicate in fears of a violent revolution (like French) • The Army and the Duma convinced Nicholas that the people would no longer support him

  31. *** February-March Revolution 1917 • Nicholas abdicates on March 15 and is placed under house arrest • A provisional government under Alexander Kerensky is put in charge of Russia • Kerensky favours a continuation of war to boost Russian nationalism • Legalizes strikes • Organizes a constituent assembly (to figure out a new constitution) • Provisional government will have a power struggle between the Marxists and the Liberals (wanted to stop the revolution) • Lacked legitimacy since it was not elected by the people

  32. *** February-March Revolution 1917 • Lenin, who was in exile in Germany, was provided with safe passage from Germany to Russia in hopes that he would help stop the war on the Eastern front for Germany • Lenin returns to Russia and gains more support by criticizing socialists that supported the Duma (they’re supposed to start a revolution, not maintain subordination) • In April, Lenin writes the “April Theses” • calls for immediate revolution • Peace • Seizure of aristocratic lands • All power to soviets (labour movements) • Seizure of factories

  33. *** Kerensky fails Russia • Continues the war with a new offensive in July (Kerensky offensive) • The unsuccessful offensive quickly cause dissent amongst the people • Disagreement between Kerensky and Kornilov (leader of another party in power) causes Kornilov to attempt a coup using the army • Kerensky turns to Lenin and his Red Guards and Soviets (workers council) to help him defend Petrograd and won • Kerensky realizes the trouble he created and decides that he now needs to limit Bolshevik power • Kerensky closes down Bolshevik newspapers and cuts off telephone lines • Bolsheviks defeating the army won favour from the Soviets in Petrograd

  34. Government troops open fire on a worker's protest in Petrograd in July of 1917. The shootings only served to further anger the citizens of Petrograd.

  35. SECOND OF TWO REVOLUTIONS

  36. *** October (Bolshevik) Revolution-1917 • Lead by VI Lenin “Peace, Land, and Bread” • Won support of people (especially peasants)

  37. *** October Revolution 1917 (Bolshevik) • Lenin rides on the unhappiness of the people with the Duma and promises “Peace, Bread and Land!” • Trotsky persuades Lenin to take over the government • November 7, Lenin with his Red Guards seized the Winter Palace

  38. *** Lenin’s Immediate Policies • Making good on his promise, he sanctioned peasant seizures of land, gathered grain to feed cities, and signed the treaty of Brest-Litovsk which gave up a large portion of Western Russia and 30% of Russia’s population • Nationalized banks • State controlled foreign trade • All opposition groups made illegal • Peasant seizure of lands • Factories under the control of Soviets

  39. *** 1918 • 1918 March The Bolsheviks accept the peace of Brest‑Litovsk, ending WWI with Germany.

  40. 1919-1920 -1919 White Armies (Royal and Menshevik troops) attack the Reds (Bolsheviks) from all directions. -Help sent from Western countries – leads to Stalin’s distrust of West. • 1920- Reds defeat Whites

  41. Rule of Lenin 1920-1924 • Economic Reforms included the New Economic Plan (NEP) -moderate mix of capitalism and socialism • Political Reforms -Bolshevik party became Communist Party -Russia becomes the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

  42. Communism • A Form of Socialism • Central Planning of the Economy by the State • Gov’t (Communist Party) makes decisions on individual jobs and pay

  43. 1924 • Lenin Dies • Power Vaccuum • Leon Trotsky vs. Joseph Stalin • Stalin takes control • Now must decide how he will maintain power • Decides to create a totalitarian state

  44. Characteristics of a Totalitarian State • Dictatorship- Absolute Authority • Dynamic Leader- Vision for the nation • State Control Over All Sectors of Society • Business, Family Life, Labor, youth groups, housing, religion, education, the arts • State Control Over the Individual • Obedience • Denies basic liberties • Organized Violence • Uses force to crush opposition

  45. Stalin’s Totalitarian State • State Control of the Economy • 5 year plan, collective farms • Police Terror • Great Purge, crush opposition • Religious Persecution • Control of the individual • Propaganda (socialist realism) • Molding peoples minds • Education • Controlled by the government

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