RUSSIA 1900’s

• To govern large, diverse empire, Russian monarchs ruled with absolute power

• Called czars, controlled most aspects of Russian life

• Believed in autocracy, government by one leader with unlimited powers

• absolute monarchy/dictatorship

• How do citizens bring about reform?

Absolute Power

• Russia one of great powers of Europe, first half 1800s

• Troops helped defeat Napoleon; leaders helped reorganize Europe after his fall

• Russia very different from other European powers

• Empire huge, stretched eastward far into Asia, included many different ethnic groups

Huge Empire

Ch 10-4 Government and Society

Agricultural Society

• Russian society under czars mostly agricultural

• Unlike other European countries, Russia had not industrialized

• Much of population 70-80%, serfs—workers considered part of land they worked

Societal Problem

• Serfs had to make regular payments of goods, labor to lords

• Some in government wanted to improve conditions, unable to make reforms

• Russian serfdom way of life, a major problem in Russian society

Serfs

• Controlled by lords, wealthy nobles who owned land

• Technically not slaves; living conditions, lack of freedom, resembled slavery

• Not allowed to leave property where born; did not own land they worked

Serfdom (Feudal System)

Russians wanted more freedoms. But Russia’s conservative czars were resistant to reform, which led to revolts, unrest, and repression.

• Secret societies formed to fight against czar’s rule

• Saw opportunity for change with death of Alexander I, 1825

• One group called Decembrists

– Included military officers

– 3,000 soldiers assembled near Winter Palace

– Refused to declare allegiance to new czar, Nicholas I

The Decembrist Revolt

• Nicholas responded by crushing rebellion

• Many Decembrists captured, sent to Siberia, isolated region in far eastern Russia

• Five Decembrists executed

• Decembrist revolt failed, but began revolutionary movement in Russia destined to grow in years ahead

Nicholas’s Response

Reform and Repression

Russia Lagging Behind

• Alexander II came to power after Nicholas, 1855, near end of Crimean War

• Loss of Crimean War showed Russia far behind rest of Europe

• Did not have modern technology, industry to build competitive military

Economy

• Alexander II hoped giving serfs own land would build market economy

• Government set up system for peasants to buy land they worked on from landowner, usually with government help

Reforms

• Alexander II began program of reforms

• 1861, freed Russia’s serfs, gave them right to own land as part of commune

• Believed terrible living conditions could bring rebellion

Reforms of Alexander II

Reform and Repression

Alexander II made other reforms to modernize Russia • Set up new judicial system

• Allowed some local self-government

• Reorganized army, navy

• Despite reforms, revolutionary movements continued to gain strength, call for more changes

• 1881, radical group, The People’s Will, assassinated Czar Alexander II

• Alexander’s son, Alexander III, became next czar

• Alexander III a reactionary, wanted to go back to way things were in past, ended father’s reforms

• Responded to revolutionary threats by going after individuals, groups suspected of plotting against government

• Mobs began attacking Jews, killing them, destroying property

• Attacks known as pogroms; first wave began after Alexander II assassinated

• Some wrongly blamed Jews

• Government did not stop attacks

Different Form of Unrest

• 1894, Nicholas II crowned

• Autocratic ruler, developed industry

• 1890s, Russia began building Trans-Siberian Railroad to link western Russia with Siberia

• Expansion east would lead to war

Industrialization under Nicholas

Unrest Under Alexander III

Expansion East

• Russia expanded east

• Came into conflict with another imperial power—Japan

• At same time, revolution brewing

Growing Unrest

• Defeat shocked many Russians, added to unrest

• One group calling for change, Marxists—followed communist theories of Karl Marx

War With Japan

• Early 1900s, Japan building empire, viewed Russia as threat

• 1904, Japanese forces attacked, defeated Russia in Russo-Japanese War

Marxist Ideas

• Wanted to create socialist republic—no private property, state to own, distribute goods

• 1902, Vladimir Lenin called for revolution to overthrow czar

War and Revolution

Not everyone agreed that laissez-faire capitalism was good. Two who took a

different stance were Robert Owen and Karl Marx.

• Socialism- Society is combination of

individual and government

– Society owns property

– Society controls business

– Some private ownership

• Set up Model industrial town New Lanark,

Scotland. New Harmony IN

• Good conditions, wages, sick days,

Nonprofit stores, free schooling,

curfews and bathing requirements

• Critiques of communism/socialism.

Too many requirements?

3)Robert Owen- Social Democracy

• More radical socialism

• Predicted collapse of capitalism

unfair balance of labor and profit.

Workers of the world unite!!

• Das Kapital Communism

• Government

– owns means of production

– controls economic planning

– Known as command economy

– Socialism smaller scale

– Communism larger scale

4)Karl Marx- Communism

**Review Chapter 7-3 DON’T COPY**

Revolution Begins

• Bloody Sunday inspired many sectors of society to rise up against czar; rebellions broke out, czar’s strict rules disobeyed

• Workers went on strike, students protested in streets

• Czar promised reform, but did not follow through

• Massive strike in October; 2 million workers protested in streets

The Revolution of 1905 (Uprising of 1905)

• 1905, many Russians ready to rebel against czar

• January 22, Orthodox priest, Father Gapon, brought petition to czar at Winter Palace, listing number of demands. (Enlightenment?)

• Troops fired at group; hundreds died; day known as Bloody Sunday

In response to the rebellions and strikes, Nicholas II issued the October Manifesto (1905), an official promise for reform and a more democratic government.

• Manifesto promised constitution

• Individual liberties to all, including freedom of speech, assembly

• Many gained right to vote

Provisions

• Voters would elect representatives to the Duma, assembly to approve all laws

• Czar continued to rule, but not pass laws without approval of Duma

• In 1906 in first meeting with DumaCzar ends meeting when too many demands are made.

Duma

• Nicholas II hoped Manifesto would end revolution

• Did not achieve balance between power of czar, and democracy

• People still wanted reform

End Revolution

The October Manifesto

Page 334

12-3 VOCABULARY

• Bolsheviks

• Grigory Rasputin

• Marxism-Leninism

• Leon Trotsky

• New Economic Policy

12-3 VOCABULARY• Bolsheviks: Marxists whose goal was to seize state power and

establish a dictatorship of the proletariat; Soviet Communists, Reds. *Leader Vladimir Lenin

• Grigory Rasputin (1872-1916): a self-proclaimed Russian holy man and prominent figure at the court of Czar Nicholas II. He was viewed as corrupt, and support for czarist Russia deteriorated because of him.

• Marxism-Leninism: the political and economic philosophy of the Bolsheviks, expounded by Vladimir Lenin, which looked to an uprising of the proletariat that would abolish private property and enforce social equality.

• Leon Trotsky(1879-1940): Russian Communist revolutionary; he negotiated the peace between Russia and the Central Powers to end Russian involvement in WWI.

• New Economic Policy: Lenin’s plan, started in 1921, to allow limited capitalism, especially among farmers in order to restore the Soviet economy.

Main Idea

The war and social unrest combined to push Russia to the edge of a revolution. The events that followed led to Russia’s exit from the war and became a major turning point in world history.

Ch. 12.3 Revolution in Russia(Communist Revolution)

Content Statement/Learning Goal1. Explain how the consequences of World War I the set the stage for The Russian Revolution.

2. Explain how the Russian Revolution impacted WWI.

Adaptation of Marxist ideas to overthrow capitalism. Socialist republic/communism

Wanted small group to keep power over Russia. These people would redistribute wealth to all of society.

Bolsheviks gained more followers with added problems

Bolshevik Plan

• After 1905 revolution, Nicholas II offered change but never did

• Bolsheviks wanted to overthrow czar

• Led by Lenin, wanted proletariat to rule Russia as socialist country.

• Proletariat(working class) vs. Bourgeoisie (upper class)

• Proletariat argues Bourgeoisie could pay them more but choose not to.

The Years Before the War

Russia and World War I

At the start of the war, Russia had an enormous army of some 6 million soldiers.

•Outbreak of fighting caused patriotism, rush to join military

1. Russia was ill-prepared for WWI. Enters war in 1914

a. Factories unable to produce supplies quickly

b. Transportation system weak

c. Equipment outdated

d. Poor commanders

Preparations for War

• Some initial successes on battlefield

• Losses soon outnumbered victories

• Millions of Russian soldiers wounded, killed during early battles

On the Battlefield

Russia in World War I

Czar Nicholas II took personal command of forces, 1915

• Move made little sense since he knew little of military matters

• Bad situation grew worse under Czar’s command

Conditions in Russia grew worse

• Food, goods scarce

• peasants grew desperate

• Unpopular Czarina Alexandra relied on Grigory Rasputin, viewed as corrupt, immoral

Russian suffered heavy losses

• Central Powers were able to stop Russian offensive

• *Destroyed Russian soldiers’ faith in leadership*

• Army had little strength, even less confidence

• Some soldiers murder their generals.

Conditions Grow Worse

•March 8, 1917- citizens begin protests

•Police, soldiers refused to shoot rioters

•Government was helpless

•Dictatorship relies on fear and citizens obedience.

Revolution Begins

•Ordered legislature to disband

•His order defied

•Citizens, government, military refused to obey Czar

•Forced to abdicate, March 15, 1917; put in jail.

Czar Nicholas II

The Russian Revolution

Execution of Romanov Family• Late on the night of July 16,

Nicholas, Alexandra, their five children and four servants were ordered to dress quickly and go down to the cellar of the house in which they were being held. There, the family and servants were arranged in two rows for a photograph they were told was being taken to quell rumors that they had escaped. Suddenly, a dozen armed men burst into the room and gunned down the imperial family in a hail of gunfire. Those who were still breathing when the smoked cleared were stabbed to death.

Kerensky Government

• Aleksandr Kerensky established temporary government

• Many unhappy with leadership

• Attempted democratic government

Bolshevism-Reds

1. Abolish private property

2. Enforce social equality

3. Known as Marxism-Leninism

Bolsheviks

• Opposed Kerensky’s gov’t

• Wanted fundamental changes

• Planned Marxist revolution

Vladimir Lenin

• Bolsheviks had been exiled

• Returned in April 1917 with the help of Germany

• Germany wanted Lenin to get Russia out of WWI

The Russian Revolution

Kerensky’s final offensive

• Final offensive vs Central Powers failed and led to widespread rebellion in Russian army

• Weakened Russian army collapsed

• Conditions ideal for Lenin rebellion

• Red Army- Armed Bolshevik factory workers . Proletariat

• October Revolution - attack of provisional government

• Kerensky Government collapsed after nearly bloodless struggle

Bolshevik takeover

• Established radical Communist state

Marxism-Leninism/Communism/ Socialist Republicall the same

1. No private ownership of land

2. Land given to peasants

3. Control of factories given to workers

Lenin became leader

The Bolshevik Revolution

After the Revolution

Lenin ends Russian involvement in World War I

• Leon Trotsky negotiated peace with Central Powers

• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: March 3, 1918

• Russia’s army virtually powerless

• Russia had to accept harsh agreement: lost lots of land.

– Lost large part of western empire- Finland, Poland,Belarus, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia

Civil War: Reds vs. Whites

• Bolsheviks’ acceptance of peace treaty angered many Russians

• Bolsheviks’ opponents organized the White Army

• White Army included army leaders, political opponents, wealthy Russians opposed to Communist system

• White Army received military help from France, U.S.

• Civil War raged 3 years between Lenin’s Red Army and White Army

• Millions of Russians died in fighting, famines

• Bolsheviks finally win in 1920

Collapsing economy

• Brought on by civil war, pushed Russia to edge of total ruin

• Peasants, workers especially hard hit

• Lenin introduced New Economic Policy, 1921

The Soviet Union (USSR)

• Russia becomes the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, dominated by Communist leadership (lasts until 1991)

• Lenin’s death in 1924 led to struggle for control of Soviet Union

New Economic Policy-Lenin’s plan.

-limited capitalist activity. *COMMAND ECONOMYGOVERNMENT CONTROLS ECONOMY

- Peasants could sell food at profit

New Economic Policy

USSR

Chronology of Russian Revolution

Revolution of 1905

October Manifesto (1905)

Czar Nicholas II dissolves Duma goes back on reforms (1906)

Russia Enters WWI (1914)

Czar Abdicates throne (March 8, 1917)

Kerensky established temporary government (March 1917)

Kerensky government toppled by Lenin and Bolsheviks (November 1917)

Russia withdraws from WWI: Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 1918)

Russian Civil War: Reds vs Whites. Reds Win (1917-1920) Form Communist Government (aka socialist republic or Marxism/Leninism)

U.S.S.R. formed (December 1922)