Ch 20: Russia - 1900 -> Bolshevik Revolution -> Stalin

6. Ch 20: Russia- 1900 -> Bolshevik Revolution -> Stalin

7. Why was Russia so difficult to govern? • Russia was (is) HUGE!!!!! • 4000 miles (about 6500 Km) east to west & 2000 miles (3200 Km) north to south • 2 ½ United States of America, or about 100 Britain • So large that it can be day and night in the same country at the same time • Russia (at this time) covered about 1/6th of the land on earth Things such as communication, travel/transportation, feeding the People, and keeping the loyalty of the people could be problematic

8. Russia • There were over 130 million people who lived in Russia. • Less then half of these people were Russians (only 45%), and there were over 100 different ethnic groups. • Russia was composed of the following countries: • Ukraine • Belarus • Moldova • Finland • Armenia • Azerbaijan • Georgia • Kazakhstan • Kyrgyzstan • Tajikistan • Turkmenistan • Uzbekistan • Lithuania • Estonia • Latvia • Poland • Parts of Turkey

9. Most of the population lived on the western side of the Ural Mountains.

10. Economic Problems • In the early 1900s Russia was a highly agricultural society. It was attempting to shift towards a more industrial economy. • Money largely came from the peasants. Taxes were placed on grain, salt, and alcohol. • The government believed that if “everyone” contributed now that “everyone” would benefit later. • At first there was rapid industrialization in Russia: iron, steel, and railway.

11. 1902 there was an economic slump. • Many people lost their jobs, and strikes (the refusal of workers to work) occurred. • Peasants who had been taxed hard were close to starving, and violent attacks on landlords’ houses became common. • The military crushed the uprisings.

12. Military Problems • The Russo-Japanese War • Wars have a unique political function of polarizing a country. Normally people highly critical of the government would be very supportive of a government at the outbreak of a war. • Nicholas II thought becoming involved in the war would help stop people from criticizing the government. • However the war made the economic problems in Russia worse • Once the “We’re going to war!!!” support wears off people realize that supplies are being redirected away from citizens towards the war effort. • Prices rose and there were shortages.

16. Military problems Con’t • The war was fought over Manchuria • Russia had taken control of Manchuria during the Boxer Rebellion. • They agreed to withdraw, but by 1903 they still had not. • The Japanese wanted Manchuria for its natural resources

17. Military problems Con’t • Britain and Japan had made a military alliance in 1902 which meant if any nation allied with Russia against Japan, Britain would fight with the Japanese. • The Japanese attacked the Russians before a formal declaration of war was issued to the Russians (this was against an international Law in 1904) • Even worse: the Japanese were beating the Russians. • Russians: Great European Empire • Japanese: Backwards little Asian Nation • Pyrrhic Victory: You win, but the costs of winning are so great it is like you really lost.

20. The Sands Running Out • Punch Magazine (British) January 1905 • “The Tsardom was badly shaken by its war with Japan”

21. Bloody Sunday • The problems in the cities were becoming worse in 1905. • A priest, Father Gapon, organized a march to deliver a petition asking the Tsar for help. • Over 200,000 people marched towards the Winter Palace (the Tsar’s official residence) • As they approached the group was attacked by Cossacks and about 100 were killed.

24. 1905 Revolution • The government was dealing with strikes, demonstrations, petitions, peasant uprisings, student riots, and assassination attempts. • Workers demand eight hour days, higher wages, and better working conditions • The Tsar’s uncle is assassinated in Moscow • Middle class Russians are calling for an elected parliament, freedom of speech, and political parties • Sailors aboard the Russian ship the Potemkin mutinied. • Polish & Finish peoples are calling for national freedom. • Jews are demanding civil rights. • Peasant riots in the country side are common • Landowner houses are being looted and burned

25. October Manifesto • As soldiers return from fighting the Japanese the Tsar pays them most of his money to keep them loyal • October 26th St. Petersburg Soviet of Workers formed. • The Tsar is faced with the option of giving into the people or resisting. • The Tsar gives in and issues the October Manifesto • Duma: Parliament elected by the people • Civil Rights: Freedom of Speech and conscience • Uncensored newspaper • Rights to form political parties

26. The Tsar Survive 1905 • By December 1905 the army has returned to Moscow. • The Tsar uses the military to crush the St Petersburg Soviet • The military also terrorizes the workers & peasants who started the riots. • The Tsar survive 1905, but a new political party was formed: Petrograd Soveit (Bolsheviks) • Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin have become important figures in Russia

27. The War to End All Wars • From 1905 to 1912 (ish) the Tsar was able to keep Russia relatively calm • The Great War (World War I) started in 1914 • Immediately people united behind the Tsar, citizens approve of him, & the Tsar and Duma start to work together. • War becomes a unifying factor for Russia • For the first time smart, able bodied men are in the Duma. • Duma- Russian Parliament (Historically useless…mostly)

28. The Effects of the War on Soldiers • The Russian people strongly support Russian involvement at the start of the war. • Initially the Russian army is very successful versus the Austrians, but they are then defeated by the Germans • By the end of 1914 over 1,000,000 Russians are dead or captured • By the end of 1915 over 8,000,000 Russians are dead of captured • The Russians fighting sometimes died without weapons, ammo, or proper clothing.

29. Effects on Russia • The Home Front suffered shortages in everything • There was a lack of food because the Army needed to be fed • There was a lack of food being grown because men were conscripted (forced to fight) • There was a lack of men also meant there was a lack of workers • There was a lack of supplies like coal (so people were hungry & cold)

30. Effects on the Home Front • The Shortages just made price rise higher and higher • The decrease of supplies & workers made factories close, so now people lost their jobs • Worse of all, families were learning their Husbands, Brothers, and Sons were dying.

31. The Tsar decides that he should be the head military commander for the Russian Army (BAD IDEA!!!!!) When the Army loses the Tsar is to blame Leaves the day-to-day decisions about Russia up to the Tsarina The Tsarina had a German background (the Russians and Germans are enemies) & the Tsarina consults Rasputin on EVERYTHING. The Tsarina also does not like the Duma, so she replaces any of the able ministers in it with “Yes Men” Turning Point- The Mistake

33. Losing Support • The war continued to go poorly with the Tsar in charge of the military. • The middle, upper, and nobility started to question the ability of the Tsar to rule. • People were worried about the amount of influence Rasputin had over the Royal family and Russia. • 1916: Rail lines froze over so almost no supplies reached Petrograd.

34. (February) Revolution Begins • 1917 the all ready poor conditions of Russia continue to get worse. • Almost every part of Russian society was openly or privately calling for change. • March 7th 40,000 workers from an engineering plant went on strike. The next day thousands of women joined the strike as a sign of support. • This was the February Revolution (Not March, Russian [Orthodox] Calendar)

35. The strikers demanded higher wages, better conditions, and more food/fuel (so the normal things) • The Tsar attempted to appease the people: • granting serfs their freedom (serfs felt freedom without land was pointless) • created regional assemblies to give everyone a voice • changed the education system allowing for more people to go to school • relaxed laws on speaking against the government • The uprising continued…

36. The Tsar disbanded the Duma, but was not in Petrograd they reformed as a temporary Provisional Government • Alexanderordered the army to put down the demonstration, but unhappy soldiers refused to fire on the people, & in some cases killed their commanders, and JOINED the revolution. • The Tsar having lost the people, the government, and the Army abdicated allowing his younger brother to rule

37. Provisional Government • The Provisional Government was unable to make decisive policy decisions due to political factionalism and a breakdown of state structures • The Working class ignored the Provisional Government, but instead supported the Petrograd Soviet • The Soviet tentatively cooperated with the government at first, but then gradually gained control of the army, factories, and railways • Meanwhile the provisional government continued WWI

38. October Revolution • In April, amid the chaos, Vladimir Lenin returned to Russia form a 10 year exile • He called for the Soviets to overthrow the provisional government • Since he was in the minority of the Soviet he waited until things became favorable • By August the Russian War effort was going poorly and public opinion turned in his favor

39. The government tried to use the army to break up the Petrograd Soviet, but the attack fell apart • By late October Lenin was in position to overthrow the government. • On the Night of October 24 he had Bolshevik forces from across Petrograd seize strategic builds and roadways • In the morning Lenin announced the overthrow of the Provisional Government, and stated the Soviets had taken power • By that evening the Provisional Government had surrendered power of Russia • The Bolsheviks controlled Russia

40. The Russian Royal family would be placed under house arrest. • Eventually they would be moved out to the country and executed (1918) • The origins of the execution orders are somewhat debated • Today, all of the royal family have been recovered and are laid to rest in St Petersburg • The Russian Orthodox Church made the Romanov family Saints. The Romanovs. From left to right: Olga, Maria,Nicholas II, Alexandra, Anastasia, Alexei, and Tatiana. Pictured at Livadia Palace in 1913

41. Czar Nicholas II of Russia, King George V of Britain and Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany

42. Russian Civil War • With the Tsar out of the picture and the Soviets in control they moved to consolidate power. • They ended Russia’s involvement in the Great War by signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk • Open elections were held to vote for representatives. Only 25% of the elected officials were Bolsheviks. • Lenin disbanded the government, and started a 3 year Civil War

43. Red Army= Bolshevik Forces • White Army= Anti-Communist Forces • Supporters of the Tsar, Provisional Government, Capitalists • Supported by the Allies from World War I • Green Army= Peasant Army • Though the Whites had support from other nations their armies were divided and poorly commanded. • The Red Army had strong leadership and a united goal, which allowed them to be victorious.

44. War Communism • To win the war Lenin introduced War communism. • War Communism allowed for the government to take over all private business and industries so that they could produce what was needed for the war effort. • Workers protested and went on strikes because they believed communism to mean they owned the factors of production • Peasant Farmers were forced to supply grain for the army. • Groups from the army were sent to collect the grain, this sometimes turned violent, and riots became frequent.

45. United Soviet Socialists Republic • By 1922 Lenin and the Red Army had defeated the Whites and the Greens. • Russia would join with a number of near by republics and form the United Soviet Socialists Republic • This is better known as the USSR or the Soviet Union

46. To keep power in the early years Lenin authorized whatever needed to be done • This period is known as the Red Terror • Secret Police arrested anyone suspect of revolution • Striking workers were harshly punished • Nobles, religious leaders, merchants, and former government officials were all seen as potential enemies • Police had permission to execute anyone arrested • Some 300,000 people died • Thousand of other “enemies” were imprisoned

47. New Economic Policy (NEP) • In 1921 (with the war almost over) Lenin introduced the New Economic Policy. • Lenin relaxed the demands placed on society • Peasants now had a tax to pay instead of an amount of grain to contribute • Farm products could be bought, sold, or traded as the farmers saw fit • Some businesses were controlled by private individuals for profit • The government still controlled communications, transportation, mining, oil, and steel • The NEP would stabilize Russia

48. Rise of Stalin • In 1924 Lenin would die from a series of strokes • The Party Secretary Joseph Stalin would strategically maneuver to become the head of the party • Party Secretary was an important job. Stalin approved individuals for high ranking positions, and therefore a lot of people owed Stalin favors and loyalty. • By 1928 Russia was 100% under the control of Stalin