Russian Revolution is culmination of problems
19th century czars were cruel and oppressive◦Caused social unrest◦Army officials revolt in 1825◦Czar Alexander II assassinated in 1881 by revolutionaries
Setting the Stage
Alexander III becomes czar in 1881◦Halted all reforms◦Liked autocracy Form of government where one person has total authority
Czars Resist Change
Believed opposition was dangerous:◦Anyone who questioned absolute authority of czar
◦Anyone who worshiped outside Russian Orthodox Church
◦Anyone who spoke language other than Russian
Alexander III wipes out revolutionaries◦Strict censorship codes◦Secret police force Watched secondary schools and universities
Teachers sent reports on every student
◦Political prisoners sent to Siberia
Czar Continues Autocratic Rule
Alexander III tries to establish uniform culture◦Oppressed other groups◦Russian made official language Forbade use of minority languages in schools
◦Targeted Jews with pogroms Russian citizens looted and destroyed homes, stores, and synagogues
Police and soldiers stood by and watched
Rapid industrialization changes Russia◦# of factories doubles from 1863 to 1900 Russia still lagged behind western Europe
◦1890s – Nicolas II launches industrialization plan Government increases taxes and seeks foreign investments
Boosted growth of industry, especially steel
1900 – Russia 4th ranking producer of steel
Russia Industrializes
Trans-Siberian Railway◦Begun in 1891◦Finished 1916◦Linked European Russia with Russian ports on Pacific Ocean
◦Worlds longest continuous rail line
Industrialization causes problems◦Grueling working conditions◦Low wages◦Child labor◦Gov’t outlaws trade unions◦Workers organized strikes Upset over low standard of living Lack of political power
The Revolutionary Movement Grows
Believed workers would overthrow the czar◦Workers would form “dictatorship of
proletariat” Workers would rule the country
1903 – two factions◦Mensheviks Moderate Wanted broad base of popular support
for revolution
Marxist Revolutionaries
Radicals◦Supported small # of revolutionaries
willing to sacrifice everything for change Led by Vladimir Lenin
◦Engaging personality and excellent organizer
◦Extremely ruthless◦Early 1900s fled to western Europe to
avoid arrest◦Waited until he could return and take
power
Bolsheviks
Russo-Japanese War◦February 1904 Japanese attack Russians in Manchuria
◦News of Russian losses sparks unrest at home
◦Results in revolt during war
Crises at Home and Abroad
January 22, 1905 200,000 workers and families approach the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg◦Brought petition with them Better working conditions More personal freedom Elected national legislature
Soldiers open fire on the crowd◦1,000 wounded◦Several hundred killed
Bloody Sunday: The Revolution of 1905
Provoked wave of strikes and violence Oct 1905 Nicholas II promises more freedom
Approved creation of the Duma◦Russia’s first parliament◦Met in May 1906◦Leaders were moderates who wanted
constitutional monarchy◦Czar dissolved after 10 weeks
Reaction to Bloody Sunday
1914 – Nicholas II drags Russia into WWI◦Russia unprepared Weak generals Poorly equipped troops
◦4 million killed, wounded, or taken prisoner within a year
World War I: The Final Blow
1915◦Nicholas II moves headquarters to war
front Hoped to rally troops
◦Left wife, Czarina Alexandra, in charge of government Ignored czar’s advisers Turned to Rasputin
Began as healer to Czar’s son Alexei Became political figure
◦Alexandra’s most trusted confidant◦Opposed reforms◦Filled positions will loyal friends
Opposed by many nobles◦Murdered in 1916 Poisoned, shot 3 times, clubbed,
stabbed, drowned
Rasputin
Soldiers mutiny◦Desert or ignore orders
Home Front◦Food and supplies low◦Inflation◦People want change
Demand end to war
Effects of War
March 1917 – textile workers strike in Petrograd◦Riots ensue Shortage of bread and fuel
◦200,000 flood the streets Soldiers refuse to shoot rioters Eventually join them
March Revolution
Local protests lead to general uprising across Russia
Forced czar to step down◦1918 Nicholas II and family executed
Revolution takes down czar◦Fails to create stable government
Czar Steps Down
Duma established provisional government◦Led by Aleksandr Kerensky◦Continues WWI Loses support of soldiers and civilians
Russia gets worse◦Peasants demand land◦Workers grow radical
Soviets formed◦Local councils◦Workers, peasants, soldiers
Lots of influence
Lenin returns to Russia◦Germans support Lenin’s return Presence would hurt Russia and the war effort
April 1917 – arrives in Petrograd
He’s Back
Bolshevik Revolution◦Bolsheviks and Lenin take control of Petrograd
◦Fall 1917 People in many cities support Bolsheviks
“Peace, Land, and Bread”
Bolshevik Red Guards◦Nov 1917◦Armed factory workers storm Winter Palace in Petrograd
◦Take over gov’t offices and arrest leaders of gov’t Kerensky and colleagues disappear
Provisional Government Topples
Lenin orders all farmland distributed among the peasants◦Gave control of factories to the workers
Sign Treaty of Brest-Litovsk w/Germany◦March 1918◦Russia surrenders territory to Germany◦Triggers opposition to Bolsheviks
Bolsheviks in Power
Opposition forms White Army◦Different groups People who supported return to rule of czar
People who wanted democratic government
Socialists that opposed Lenin
Civil War Rages in Russia 1916-1918
◦United by desire to defeat Bolsheviks Barely cooperated
◦Supported by Western Nations Sent military aid and forces to Russia
Red Army led by Leon Trotsky
Deadly struggle◦14 million died Fighting and famine
Russia left in chaosRed Army crushed opposition
◦Bolsheviks could seize power and maintain it
How did Lenin win?◦Red Army was well disciplined Leon Trotsky reinstated draft and insisted on discipline
Soldiers who deserted were executed◦Disunity of White Army
Triumph of the Communists
◦The Cheka Secret police Began Red Terror Destroyed those that opposed Lenin
◦Patriotism Foreign presence led to unification
◦1921- Communists in total command of Russia
New Economic Policy – not state-controlled ◦Allowed peasants to sell surplus crops ◦Didn’t have to turn them over to gov’t◦Gov’t controlled major industries Banks Means of communication
1928 – Russia had recovered from WWI◦Farms and factories produced as much as before the war
Lenin restores Order
1922 – Lenin forms Union of Soviet Socialist Republics◦Bolsheviks saw nationalism as a threat
◦Lenin organized small self-governing republics
Political Reforms
Bolsheviks become Communist Party◦1924 create constitution Based on socialist and democratic ideas
◦Held all the Power◦Established Dictatorship of Communist Party