Section IV: The Russian Section IV: The Russian RevolutionsRevolutions

(Pages 630-633)(Pages 630-633)

Section IV: The Russian Section IV: The Russian RevolutionsRevolutions

(Pages 630-633)(Pages 630-633) This section is about:This section is about: How Russia faced social, How Russia faced social,

economic, and political economic, and political problems for many years, problems for many years, leading to several leading to several revolutions.revolutions.

How Bolshevik leader How Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin led a Vladimir Lenin led a revolution in 1917, and revolution in 1917, and assumed power in the assumed power in the country.country.

How resistance to the How resistance to the Bolshevik revolution Bolshevik revolution resulted in a civil war, after resulted in a civil war, after which the revolutionary which the revolutionary party expanded its control party expanded its control over Russia.over Russia.

Look on page 630: The Look on page 630: The Main Ideas.Main Ideas.

If we added a “C”, what If we added a “C”, what would it be? would it be?

It would later have It would later have something to do about something to do about WWI and Russia.WWI and Russia.

Many paintings of Russia at Many paintings of Russia at this time look like the this time look like the picture on page 630. That picture on page 630. That caption also tells you how caption also tells you how many revolutions Russia many revolutions Russia had at this time.had at this time.

The Russian RevolutionsThe Russian RevolutionsProblems in RussiaProblems in Russia

You know some of the You know some of the problems Russia had in the problems Russia had in the 1800’s.1800’s.

Starving famers and Starving famers and peasants (big population peasants (big population growth).growth).

Workers and the middle Workers and the middle class were wanting a class were wanting a chance to participate in chance to participate in their government (the their government (the Enlightenment).Enlightenment).

Russia was becoming Russia was becoming industrialized and industrialized and urbanized.urbanized.

Background to DiscontentBackground to Discontent For quite a while, no-one in For quite a while, no-one in

Russia liked the tsars.Russia liked the tsars. Tsar Nicholas IITsar Nicholas II took over in took over in

1894, but other Russian 1894, but other Russian groups thought they could groups thought they could do better than him.do better than him.

One of these groups was One of these groups was the Marxists – which later the Marxists – which later split into 2 groups – the split into 2 groups – the Bolsheviks and the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks.Mensheviks.

Bolsheviks wanted control Bolsheviks wanted control from just a few party from just a few party leaders – who would lead leaders – who would lead the working peoplethe working people (the (the proletariat).proletariat).

Lenin became the leader of Lenin became the leader of this group.this group.

Their first attempt at Their first attempt at speaking up began in 1899.speaking up began in 1899.

Bolshevik Poster, showing who they saw as their enemies, a land owner, kulak, drunk, priest, bureaucrat, menshevik, capitalist and

white general.

The Revolution of 1905The Revolution of 1905 In 1905, a group marched to In 1905, a group marched to

the Winter Palace in St. the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg to protest.Petersburg to protest.

They wanted a They wanted a democratically elected democratically elected assembly.assembly.

During the protest, the tsars During the protest, the tsars soldiers fired at them and soldiers fired at them and killed hundreds.killed hundreds.

This is known as This is known as the the Revolution of 1905Revolution of 1905 – or – or sometimes “Bloody sometimes “Bloody Sunday.”Sunday.”

But, Nicholas did agree to But, Nicholas did agree to form a Duma/parliament form a Duma/parliament (only after some strikes (only after some strikes disrupted the country).disrupted the country).

This all sounds similar to the This all sounds similar to the French Revolution.French Revolution.

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Later in 1905, Later in 1905, revolutionaries set up a revolutionaries set up a sovietsoviet (elected (elected government council).government council).

The tsar had to give The tsar had to give more power to the more power to the Duma, but the strikes Duma, but the strikes continued.continued.

The Duma didn’t work as The Duma didn’t work as a decision making group a decision making group (Nicholas didn’t want to (Nicholas didn’t want to give up that power), but give up that power), but it was a place for it was a place for political discussions and political discussions and debates.debates.

Two Revolutions and a Civil Two Revolutions and a Civil WarWar

Nicholas II took over the Nicholas II took over the military in 1915.military in 1915.

He also left Petrograd (St. He also left Petrograd (St. Petersburg), so the Petersburg), so the government was “unstable.”government was “unstable.”

His wife and a family His wife and a family “confidant”, Rasputin made “confidant”, Rasputin made most of the government most of the government decisions – but they made decisions – but they made bad decisions.bad decisions.

So, the people weren’t So, the people weren’t really in favor of supporting really in favor of supporting such a Tsar.such a Tsar.

The March RevolutionThe March Revolution

During WWI, Russia had it bad During WWI, Russia had it bad – with no food at home and – with no food at home and many dead soldiers in the war many dead soldiers in the war (and they were losing their (and they were losing their part of the war).part of the war).

The people had enough and The people had enough and had a revolt (over food and had a revolt (over food and coal shortages).coal shortages).

Soldiers were sent in to help, Soldiers were sent in to help, but they joined the revolt.but they joined the revolt.

This was known as This was known as the March the March Revolution.Revolution.

Tsar Nicholas II was forced to Tsar Nicholas II was forced to abdicate (the end of 300 abdicate (the end of 300 years of Romanov rule).years of Romanov rule).

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Rasputin was led to the cellar and fed Rasputin was led to the cellar and fed poisoned cakes and wine, but these did poisoned cakes and wine, but these did not affect him. Yusupovsky then shot not affect him. Yusupovsky then shot the monk at point blank range and the monk at point blank range and Rasputin collapsed on the floor. When Rasputin collapsed on the floor. When Yusupov went to tell his fellow Yusupov went to tell his fellow conspirators the good news, they sent conspirators the good news, they sent him back to make sure he had done the him back to make sure he had done the job. On returning to inspect the body, job. On returning to inspect the body, Rasputin suddenly regained Rasputin suddenly regained consciousness and started to throttle consciousness and started to throttle poor Yusupov, who needless to say was poor Yusupov, who needless to say was completely scared out of his wits. The completely scared out of his wits. The Prince fled the cellar, screaming for Prince fled the cellar, screaming for help; when they returned Rasputin was help; when they returned Rasputin was gone. They found him in the yard gone. They found him in the yard crawling towards the gate and crawling towards the gate and proceeded to shoot and bludgeon him. proceeded to shoot and bludgeon him. They then bound him and tossed him They then bound him and tossed him into the river. When Rasputin's body into the river. When Rasputin's body was found, his bonds were broken and was found, his bonds were broken and his lungs were filled with water, his lungs were filled with water, showing that he didn't actually die until showing that he didn't actually die until he was submerged in the frozen waters.he was submerged in the frozen waters.

The Duma set up a The Duma set up a “provisional” “provisional” government.government.

They wanted to keep They wanted to keep fighting the Germans – fighting the Germans – but most of the people but most of the people were tired of the war.were tired of the war.

The Duma The Duma immediately had immediately had challenges from other challenges from other groups and people in groups and people in other cities, other cities, questioning their questioning their leadership and trying leadership and trying to bring about their to bring about their own ideas.own ideas.

Between RevolutionsBetween Revolutions

Between March and Between March and November: 4 different November: 4 different “governments”“governments”

None of them worked None of them worked because they all wanted because they all wanted to keep fighting to keep fighting Germany.Germany.

A state of A state of anarchyanarchy was was rising in Russia.rising in Russia.

People started listening People started listening to one group – the to one group – the BolsheviksBolsheviks: who : who promised them “peace, promised them “peace, land, and bread.”land, and bread.”

(complete political disorder)

The November The November RevolutionRevolution

By November, 1917, the By November, 1917, the Bolsheviks and Lenin (with Bolsheviks and Lenin (with his comrade Leon Trotsky) his comrade Leon Trotsky) were ready to take over.were ready to take over.

They stormed the Winter They stormed the Winter Palace and took over in a Palace and took over in a nearly bloodless nearly bloodless revolution.revolution.

The next day, Lenin ended The next day, Lenin ended private ownership of land private ownership of land and had it re-distributed.and had it re-distributed.

Workers were given control Workers were given control of the mines and factories. of the mines and factories.

These changes soon began These changes soon began to spread throughout to spread throughout Russia.Russia.

The Russian Civil WarThe Russian Civil War

Weeks after the Russian Weeks after the Russian Revolution:Revolution:

Lenin signed a peace Lenin signed a peace treaty with Germanytreaty with Germany

Supporters of the tsar (“the Supporters of the tsar (“the White Army”) began to White Army”) began to resist the communists – the resist the communists – the Bolsheviks (the Red Army).Bolsheviks (the Red Army).

The Allies supported the The Allies supported the Whites – the Mensheviks – Whites – the Mensheviks – they didn’t want they didn’t want communism in Russia (we communism in Russia (we were “making the world were “making the world safe for democracy”) safe for democracy”)

Lenin’s LeadershipLenin’s Leadership

The peasants didn’t get The peasants didn’t get to keep their new land to keep their new land very long.very long.

During the Civil War, During the Civil War, Lenin’s government took Lenin’s government took control of the business control of the business and industries (factories, and industries (factories, railroads, mines, and railroads, mines, and banks).banks).

Many peasants were Many peasants were forced to forced to support/provide for the support/provide for the Red army and the Red army and the people living in the people living in the cities.cities.

Views of Views of CommunismCommunism

Communism in Russia is a Communism in Russia is a mix between ideas from mix between ideas from Karl Karl MarxMarx and Lenin. and Lenin.

Marx believed workers should Marx believed workers should be in control He believed be in control He believed capitalism must be replaced capitalism must be replaced by a government controlled by a government controlled by the proletariat.by the proletariat.

Workers should take control Workers should take control through violent revolutions, through violent revolutions, eventually a classless society eventually a classless society would grow, and everyone would grow, and everyone would be so happy they’d all would be so happy they’d all be able to live without any be able to live without any government.government.

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LeninLenin agreed with agreed with Marx about the Marx about the violence helping violence helping make changes, make changes, but…but…

He felt a small group He felt a small group and not all workers and not all workers could lead the could lead the revolution.revolution.

He didn’t believe in He didn’t believe in nono government – he government – he ended up with a ended up with a huge, all powerful huge, all powerful government.government.

Either death to capitalism, or death under the heel of capitalism (1919)

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