issue 1: pre revolutionary society and government

ISSUE 1:Pre revolutionary Society

and Government

1900

1903 1905 1914 1918 1920 1921

1924

1917 19211905

Russo –Jap war

Reform period

Great War

Civil war

NEP

1905 Revolution

February and October Revolutions

Kronstadt Revolt

Death of Lenin

Tsarist Rule from before 1900-1917 Lenin’s Bolshevik Rule Oct 1917-1924

OverviewLets start at 1900

• In 1900 Russia was led by an incompetent but well meaning King; Tsar Nicholas II

• At this time Russia was starting to undergo modernisation – what is that?

• War against Japan was declared• Led to a 1905 Revolution• In 1914 Russia entered WWI which lead to the

1917 revolution

Society was made up of….• Government• Church• Intellectuals (upper class)• Commercial or working class• Industrial working class• Peasants (poor)

(lets look at pg 396-399)

GOVERNMENT PRIOR 1905• The Government was autocratic• This means that ALL decisions are made by one

person (without Parliament)• That person was the Tsar• The Tsar would have ministers to give him advice

but he could choose not to accept it.• Large group of Bureaucrats (public

servants/officials) would travel to collect taxes, act as messengers, secret police (Okhrana).

(map activity) (Nicholas Romanov becomes Tsar)

TSAR NICHOLAS II• Nicholas II was Tsar in 1900

to 1917• He was married to Alexandra

(German Princess)• He was against

Revolutionary movements as he preserved the autocracy for his Son’s Blood Disorder (Haemophilia)

(would you date Tsar Nic?)(http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=6ZxRqwOw3dA&feature=related)

THE CHURCH• The Russian Orthodox Church maintained the

autocracy as being intended by God’• It held political and economic power within Russia by

owning great amount of land and received income through rent. It also made money through sales of candles, crosses, communion ect.

• The church reported anything it heard in confessions and were to give sermons supporting everything the government did

• They preached that God was the Great Father and the Tsar was the little Father

(Many poorer Russians saw the church as a saviour, why do you think that?)

INTELLECTUALS• Intellectuals consisted of professionals (doctors,

lawyers, engineers and teachers) which helped modernise society greatly.

• The first university was founded in 18th century and from that primary and secondary schools were also formed across regions for people who could afford an education.

• The autocracy placed great emphasis on education. • Many intellectuals were opposed to the autocracy and

many became revolutionist

• (statistics on education)

NATIONALITIES• There were many different cultures and nationalities

spaning across the empire• There were over 100 minority groups• Nicholas II did not trust these groups and constantly

had the Okhrana very active among them. • They were forbidden to speak their language, practise

religions or customs. (as a result they hated the Russian rule)

• Jewish people were treated the worst (peasants were encouraged) they were confined to specific areas, frequently attacked, possessions destroyed, raped and killed (army and police did nothing to stop it)

• Russification

PEASANTS • Most peasants were serfs who had been set free

40 yrs earlier. • Most were poor, tied to the land, overtaxed.• The redemption payment (fee for their freedom

had crippled them)• Because they were poor and uneducated their

equipment or knowledge for agricultural was limited and therefore not advanced.

• (poverty and privilege in 19th century

PROLETARIAT• Peasants that had moved to the city in search of work

(working class) (this had begun in the late 19th Century)• Industrialisation had begun which meant a growth in

factories • These factories had very poor conditions (poor safety,

long hours, low pay, lack of knowledge and experience)

• Industrialisation = poor living conditions (slums, overcrowding, poor hygiene and low morale)

• This established a feel for a revolution(industrialisation of Russia)(Source Analysis)(conditions of industrial workers)

REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS PRIOR 1905

Before 1905 there were some revolutionary preceding which developed;

• Peasants• Social Democrat groups

Lets look at pg 400Russia a regiment of mutes

• Peasants (mainly in countryside)- Developed into socialist revolutionary groups- Aim= overthrow the autocracy with violence,

redistribute the land.

• (city folk) Social democrats- Split into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks- Bolsheviks (Majority) led by Lenin- Followed the ideas of Karl Marx

1903 – Russo-Japanese War

• In 1903 Russia was involved in a war with Japan over Korea

• Japan defeated Russia(Lets look at pg 401)(map)(Japanese illustrations)(Russia prior to 1905)(http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=535dqpLgqQ8&feature=related)

1905 REVOLUTION• Due to the defeat in the Russo- Japanese war the 1905

revolution was the result• A group of unarmed workers marched to the Tsar’s palace

to receive relief from starvation• He was not there, but his troops killed 96 and over 300

were wounded.• After the attack a wave of strikes occurred in the capital St

Petersburg and into the country• Workers then formed soviets (political organisation) to

organise attacks. (bloody Sunday/revolution) (document Analysis)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgOLaRInUog)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J6afJY9ab4&feature=related

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGM8n2Iq6Wc)

REFORMS( change) AFTER 1905) • Something needed to be done…The Tsar’s

chief minister persuaded the Tsar to issue the October manifesto. (establishment of a Parliament called the Duma)

• The Duma carried out reforms in agriculture, industry and education

(Tsars Manifesto Document)(The Parliament Experiment)(reactions to the Manifesto)(pg 403)(Support for the Tsar)(Why were the Duma’s unsuccessful?)(Stolypin’s Dilema)

Sitting of the agricultural commission of the First Duma, St Petersburg, Russia, 1906.

• Government• Agriculture• Industry

Reforms to Agricultureand industry

• 1905 Reforms• (Tsarist Russia 1905-1914)

WORLD WAR I

• The impact of the war (1914-1917) had a major cause in the February Revolution

• (see pg 407)

FEBRUARY REVOLUTION

• 1917 February revolution did involve force. People started rising up in protest over a lack of food and they were joined by soldiers to create political change and overthrow the Tsar.

• The economy stayed the same(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMGrIwLj7gU&feature=related )

(pg 410)(Russian Revolution Part One)

SOCIETY and GOVERNMENT LEADING UP TO THE OCTOBER REVOLUTION

• The lives of middle class, peasants and townspeople continued much the same just before the Feb revolution

• Major changes were- Soviets re-emerged- Bolshevik’s emerged- Government underwent changes

SOVIETS

• The council of workers• These were the first major change in society• They were intially controlled by Menshevik’s• Influenced the provisional Government

• (see page 411)

BOLSHEVIKS

• Lenin’s Bolsheviks, second significant change• In Jan 1917 Lenin made a speech in

Switzerland saying he does not expect a revolution in Russia in his lifetime

• The Germans then assisted him to return to Russia and begin the phase of the Revolution

(pg 414)

GOVERNMENT

• (Government Reforms after Feb Revolution)

ACTIVITIES

• Speed dating with different societal groups

• Celebrity heads with different groups

• Tell me about Pre Revolutionary Society from 1900-1917 in a story form….once upon a time.