The Russian Revolution and the Soviet Union

The Russian Revolution and the Soviet UnionRussia in 1881: Reaction and ProgressClasses in RussiaNobles and bureaucrats (Westernized and wealthy)Intelligentsia (educated; not part of either the govt. or common people)Serfs Alexander II emancipated serfs (1861) and created local councils to help govern-zemstvos1881, Alexander II assassinated by Peoples WillAlexander III (1881-1894) enacted harsh reforms and Russification w/ worst pogroms to date

Alexanders Assassination

Russia after 1881: Reaction and ProgressIn spite of Russification, culturally Russia begins to look like the WestNovels by Tolstoy, Symphonies by Tchaikovsky Russia began to industrializeRailway mileage doubled (1888-1913)Telegraph wire X5Russian industrial worker in 1890 like English worker in 185011 hrs. a day, horrible conditionsRussian industrial workers were highly concentrated worked in factories of over 500 workersRussia after 1881: Reaction and ProgressThe CadetsBusiness/professional classes form Constitutional Democrat party (Cadets) in 1905More concerned w/creating a constitution than w/ the peasantsThe Communes (Mirs)No one can leave w/o communal permissionLand divided and redivided by communityPaid heavy taxes to TsarHigh exports meant less food

Russia after 1881: Reaction and ProgressPeasant DemandsMore land Communes grow but not fast enoughKulaks (successful farmers) stand above the serfs

The Emergence of Revolutionary PartiesEmancipated Russian peasants revolutionary in that they were still extremely resentful of the gentry (landed class)The IntelligentsiaHated Russian empire and desired its violent overthrowIn constant struggle w/secret policeBy 1890, no longer attempting assassinations but trying to gain an army through either:Peasants or the factory workersThe Emergence of Revolutionary PartiesPopulismBelieved Russia did not need to be capitalist before it became socialistBelieved in strength of the peasants and the communesPopulists formed Social Revolutionary (SRs) Party (1901)MarxismWith the growth of factories and more strikes, many populists turned to MarxismThe Emergence of Revolutionary PartiesLeninFrom middle-class family of bureaucratsBrother was incidentally involved in plot to assassinate Alexander III and was executed by the Tsars ordersLenin could longer work in govt. so he became a professional revolutionaryArrested and spent 3 yrs. of exile in Siberia, then immigrated to W. Europe where he stayed until 1917

The Emergence of Revolutionary PartiesThe Social Democrats (SDs)Founded in 1898 by Marxists in RussiaSaw revolution as international phenomenonBelieved revolution would occur in industrialized countries firstMore oriented towards Europe and most leaders lived in exileDid not see violence/assassinations as helpfulSplit in the Social Democrats: Bolsheviks and MensheviksRussian Marxists split in 1903 between Bolsheviks (led by Lenin) and Menshevik factions1912 Bolsheviks form own partyBolsheviks (Leninists) Party should be small, strongly centralized, revolutionary eliteCentral committee would act as a dictatorship of the proletariatMensheviksFavored larger, more open party w/membership for mere sympathizersRecommended cooperation w/liberals, progressives and bourgeoisie democrats

Split in the SDs: Bolsheviks and MensheviksLenin accepted and added little to Marxs main ideas:Capitalism exploits the workersHistory is shaped by economic forces and was moving towards socialismReligion, philosophy, govt. and morals were weapons of the ruling classLenin believed himself a pure Marxist and did not tolerate any deviation from Marxist philosophy Split in the SDs: Bolsheviks and MensheviksLenin as activistLenin was the supreme agitator and organizerBelieved (unlike Marx) that small, revolutionary elite could impose its socialist ideas on the masses

Split in the SDs: Bolsheviks and MensheviksThe PartyLenin saw the party as the leader of the revolutionEmbraced the use of secret codes, false names, and clandestine tacticsSaw trade unionism w/its day-to-day demands as allied with the bourgeoisie Saw the party as the intellectual leaders and the workers as the muscle of the revolutionThe insistence on a powerful party elite is a distinct feature of LeninismMarriage of Marxism w/Russian revolutionary tactics became communismThe Revolution of 1905: Background and Revolutionary EventsGrowing DiscontentFormation of SDs, SRs and Cadets was a sign of intelligentsias discontent After 1900, popular discontent tooPeasant rebellions against tax collectors and landlordsNo connection between popular discontent and political partiesTsar Nicholas saw autocracy as the only way to rule Russia and offered no concessionsThe Revolution of 1905: Background and Revolutionary EventsResponse to Military DefeatRusso-Japanese War exposed Russian govt. as incompetentBloody SundayIn Jan. 1905 Father Gapon, a priest, led a group of 200,000 peaceful protestors to the Tsars palace asking for:An 8 hr. dayA 50 cent minimum daily wageAn elected constituent assemblyTsar was away, several hundred protestors were shot dead by troops

The Revolution of 1905: Background and Revolutionary EventsReactions to Bloody SundayPeasants emotional bond to the Tsar is brokenPeasant rebellions occur throughout RussiaGentry lands overrun, manor houses are burnedCouncils of workers or soviets were formed in Moscow and St. PetersburgSRs, Cadets and SDs (mostly Mensheviks) try to lead rebellions w/limited successAll agree there needs to be more representation in govt.Tsar grudgingly gives vague promise of democratic legislature In response St. Petersburg soviet (led by Mensheviks) calls general strike across Russia Tsar issues October Manifesto promising constitution, civil liberties and a Duma (parliament) elected by all classes

The Revolution of 1905: Background and Revolutionary EventsReaction to the October ManifestoManifesto divides oppositionCadets got the Duma and were somewhat satisfiedLiberals were now afraid of revolutionariesWorkers/peasants still want demands metIntelligentsia believe, rightly, that October Manifesto is a ruseIn the end, govt. is able to maintain itself through:Contenting of middle class liberalsCrackdowns (arrests and executions) of revolutionariesPeace w/Japan (reliable soldiers brought in from Far East)

The Results of the 1905 RevolutionThe DumaCreated in 1906 and gave Russia (at least superficially) a parliamentary bodyTsar forbid Duma any say in:Foreign policyGovt. budgetGovt. hiring and firingBoth extreme right (Black Hundreds) and extreme left (SDs and SRs) boycotted DumaThe Results of 1905The First DumaUnequal voting Landlord votes outweighed peasants/workersKadets win majority and press for universal male suffrage and more authority for DumaTsar dismissed the Duma within 2 monthsSecond Duma had 83 SR and Menshevik deputies, but 50 were arrested by the TsarDue to electoral change, 3rd and 4th Dumas had conservative majorities who managed to keep up the appearance of constitutional govt. w/o addressing any of Russias underlying issues

Stolypin ReformsStolypin was a moderate who acted as Tsars chief ministerBelieved that spread of private property would quell revolutionary tendenciesReforms included:Broader powers for the zemstvosAllowed peasants to sell their shares of land in the commune and leave the villagesAllowed peasants the ability to buy land from the communes and the gentry

Success of Stolypin ReformsBetween 1907 and 1916, 6.2 million families out of 16 million eligible applied to opt out of the communesMost peasants, however, stayed w/ the CommunesKulaks increased in number and gentry still held a huge amount of landStolypin assassinated by left wing revolutionary double agent in 1911.WesternizationOn the eve of WWI, Russia looked to be modernizingRailways expandingGrowing exportsFreedom of press (limited)This fragile modernization was constantly threatened by extreme right and extreme leftEvents of the RevolutionFebruary 1917Spontaneous uprising of peasantsProtesting shortage of bread:Industrial strikesTramcars (city transit) forceably stoppedBreaking of shop windowsWaving red flags that read, Down with war!23Revolutionaries Take OverWhen revolutionary leaders realized the revolution was actually happening, they tried to organize the events to their benefit.Leaders of Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, and Social Revolutionaries all joined together calling a three-day general strikeAt least 60,000 soldiers join the revolutionariesThese leaders, together with soldiers set up a Soviet (council)Take control of Petrograd (St. Petersburg)Duma disobeys Tsars orders to dissolve and form the Provisional Government to run RussiaTsar Nicholas II steps down in favor of his son, Alexis, with Tsars brother acting as regentTsars brother refuses successionRomanov line to Russian throne endsRomanov family placed under house arrest (confined to palace)Russia now governed by a Provisional Government24Provisional Government Declared all Russian citizens equalFreedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly given to all citizensUnions and strikes legalPlanned on continuing warProvisional Government made these promises, but asked people to waitPeople tired of waiting and listened more and more to the revolutionaries25Alexander KerenskyLeader of small socialist party became Russias Prime Minister in JulyWanted to establish Parliamentary DemocracyWell educated and an excellent speaker, he lacked strong leadership abilities

26Kornilov AffairGeneral Kornilov attempted to overthrow Provisional Government with military takeoverTo prevent this takeover, Kerensky freed many Bolshevik leaders from prison and supplied arms to many revolutionaries

27Bolshevik RevolutionBy end of September, there was widespread peasant rebellion in RussiaLenin left Finland in disguise and attended a secret Bolshevik meeting in PetrogradBolsheviks held mass meetings with thousands in attendanceKerensky declares Russia to be in a state of emergency and orders arrest of Trotsky and other Bolshevik leaders

28Events of Bolshevik RevolutionCruiser Aurora listens to Trotsky and disobeys Governments order to go out to seaTrotsky orders the removal of thousands of guns from the Fortress of Peter and Paul to arm the Red Guards (Bolshevik troops)Small bands of armed Bolsheviks seize important buildings (rail stations, telegraph exchanges, banks, printing plants, and powerhouses). Most regiments in Petrograd did not get involved.Trotsky declares Provisional Government overthrown, power now in hands of SovietsKerensky escapes in American Embassy carBolshevik troops surround Winter Palace and give ultimatum to surrender or be shelled; ministers would not surrenderCruiser Aurora fires blank shells at Winter Palace to signal beginning of attackBolsheviks (composed of soldiers, sailors, and workers) storm Winter PalaceBolsheviks encounter little resistance, mass confusion but few injuriesBolsheviks control Government, Lenin was new leader29How Did Bolsheviks Win?Kerensky not a strong leaderProvisional Government disorganizedOther parties not as organized as BolsheviksBolsheviks composed of professional revolutionaries dedicated to their goals and capable of carrying them out

30What Did Lenin Do Upon Coming to Power?Immediately proposed an end to War (WWI) (what peasants wanted most was peace)Proposed the distribution of all land to peasants, landowners would not be paid for land taken from themLenins proposals adopted

31After the RevolutionBolsheviks encountered stiff resistance in some citiesBolsheviks defeated in Kiev (Ukraine)Bolshevik power weak in Siberia, Georgia, Armenia, and Central AsiaStrongest in Central Russia and in large cities where many workers lived

32Democracy?November 25 elections held to form Constituent Assembly in RussiaSocialist Revolutionary Party got more than twice the votes of the Bolshevik Party (peasants liked SRPs idea of peasant ownership of land)When Constituent Assembly met on January 18, 1918, Bolsheviks posted their soldiers at the entrances preventing many Socialist Revolutionaries from enteringDuring meeting, Bolsheviks were disorderly and succeeded in closing down the assemblyRussias first chance at democracy short lived

33Ending WWIBolsheviks needed peasant support to stay in powerLenin decided to get Russia out of WWI and send peasant soldiers homeIn March of 1918, Lenin signed treaty with Germany accepting German occupation of Ukraine, Belorussia, the Baltics, and FinlandRussia lost over one quarter of its farmland and one third of its population, almost all its coal mines, and more than half its industriesHuge loss to Russias economy34End of RomanovsTaken to Western SiberiaAfter Bolsheviks took power taken to Ekaterinburg (in Ural Mountains)Lenin sent telegram authorizing their executionTaken to cellar at 1:30 a.m. with family doctor and servantsNicholas and Alexandra fell first under the hail of bulletsBullets bounced off the daughters, diamonds found in their corsetsThose who survived the bullets were killed by bayonetsBodies loaded onto truck, stripped of jewels, thrown into a mineMine not deep enough to hide them, bodies dumped into a pit in a marshy areaEven the family dog was killed

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