Key questions:Key questions:

What were the What were the causes of the causes of the Russian Russian Revolutions?Revolutions?

Why were the Why were the Bolsheviks Bolsheviks successful?successful?

What was the What was the role of Lenin in role of Lenin in the revolution?the revolution?

How did Lenin How did Lenin maintain power?maintain power?

Autocracy, Orthodoxy, Autocracy, Orthodoxy, NationalityNationality

AUTOCRACY – God’s appointed AUTOCRACY – God’s appointed ruler on earth. The ‘Little ruler on earth. The ‘Little Father.’ Tsar Paul I (1796-Father.’ Tsar Paul I (1796-1801) ‘no one is important in 1801) ‘no one is important in Russia except the man who is Russia except the man who is speaking to me, and then only speaking to me, and then only when he is speaking to me.when he is speaking to me.

Moscow was head of the Moscow was head of the ORTHODOX Church from ORTHODOX Church from 1453 (after Constantinople 1453 (after Constantinople fell to the Turks). The fell to the Turks). The Patriarch of Moscow Patriarch of Moscow worked closely with the worked closely with the TsarTsar Around 170 different Around 170 different ethnic groups. Clear ethnic groups. Clear preference for Russian preference for Russian nationality – policy of nationality – policy of ‘RUSSIFICATION’ in 19‘RUSSIFICATION’ in 19thth Century.Century.

Reform before Nicholas Reform before Nicholas II?II? Some reforms under Some reforms under

Alexander II (1855-1881) Alexander II (1855-1881) ‘tsar liberator’? ‘tsar liberator’? EMANCIPATION OF EMANCIPATION OF SERFS (1861), ZEMSTVA SERFS (1861), ZEMSTVA (local gov’t). But after his (local gov’t). But after his assassination in 1881, assassination in 1881, return to conservatism.return to conservatism.

Westernisers vs Westernisers vs Slavophiles (Slavophiles (member of a member of a 19th-century intellectual 19th-century intellectual movement that wanted movement that wanted Russia’s future Russia’s future development to be based development to be based on values and institutions on values and institutions derived from the country’s derived from the country’s early history). early history).

Influence of Influence of Pobedonostsev as tutor to Pobedonostsev as tutor to Alexander III and Nicholas Alexander III and Nicholas II. II.

Parliamentarianism is the triumph of

egoism

Universal suffrage is

a fatal error

Church of Savior of Spilt Blood, St. Petersburg, 2007

This church was built on the site of which Czar Alexander IIwas assassinated.

Nicholas II and the crisis of Nicholas II and the crisis of TsarismTsarism

Came to throne at Came to throne at age 29.age 29.

Historians agree he Historians agree he

was unprepared. was unprepared. Wept and said ‘I’m Wept and said ‘I’m not ready!’not ready!’

Little knowledge or Little knowledge or experience, timid, yet experience, timid, yet stubborn belief in stubborn belief in moral rightness of moral rightness of autocracy and god-autocracy and god-given powers.given powers.

Causes of 1905Causes of 1905

Frustrated middle class: desire for National assembly

Revolutionary groups(SDs and SRs).

Nationalities wantedend to Russification

Agriculture still backward. Peasants restricted by Mir

Poor working and living conditions in cities

Government policy

Weak Tsar

Repressive govt

No political reform

No concessionsto nationalities

Witte’s economicPolicies

Industrialization – Low wages

Economic slump and Poor harvests after

1900, 1902

Russo-Japan War1904

Defeats shock publicLoss of Port Arthur

IncompetenceOf Tsar’s govt.

War causes shortages and unemployment

Bloody Sunday

1905 Revolution: ‘there is 1905 Revolution: ‘there is no god there is no Tsar’ no god there is no Tsar’

(Father Gapon).(Father Gapon). 22 January 22 January

150,000 people 150,000 people demonstrated in demonstrated in front of Winter front of Winter Palace.Palace.

1,000 killed by 1,000 killed by Imperial troops.Imperial troops.

Undermined Undermined people’s people’s allegiance to Tsar.allegiance to Tsar.

February: February: 400,000 workers 400,000 workers went on strike. went on strike. Over 2 million by Over 2 million by end of year.end of year.

1905 Revolution – Winter Palace

State Hermitage Museum, 2007

Alexander Column, St. Petersburg, 2007

Bolsheviks speaking at a meeting of workers and soldiers in Petrograd in 1917

Political response: ‘first Political response: ‘first repression, then reform’ repression, then reform’

Stolypin’s necktie: over Stolypin’s necktie: over 1,000 death sentences 1,000 death sentences before May 1907.before May 1907.

October Manifesto: October Manifesto: Creation of Duma: ‘a Creation of Duma: ‘a constitution has been constitution has been given but the given but the autocracy remains’ autocracy remains’ (Trotsky)(Trotsky)

Stolypin’s land reform: Stolypin’s land reform: peasants could remove peasants could remove themselves from themselves from Communes and own Communes and own land privately.land privately.

Pyotr Stolypin, Chairman of Council of Ministers

Causes of the Causes of the February 1917 RevolutionFebruary 1917 Revolution

Difficult living conditions – food and fuel shortages

Role of political groups

UnemploymentAnd Industrial

Unrest.

Autocracy ofNicolas II

World War I military failures

Rasputin

Key events of February 1917 Key events of February 1917 RevolutionRevolution

2323rdrd February: International February: International Women’s Day. Thousands take to Women’s Day. Thousands take to streets to protest about food streets to protest about food shortages.shortages.

2525thth February: A general strike. February: A general strike. Troops fire on demonstrators but Troops fire on demonstrators but lose morale.lose morale.

2626thth February: Duma refuses to February: Duma refuses to disband; troops join demonstrators.disband; troops join demonstrators.

2727thth February: Provisional Duma February: Provisional Duma Committee and Petrograd Soviet Committee and Petrograd Soviet set up.set up.

2828thth February: Widespread looting February: Widespread looting and violence.and violence.

22ndnd March: Tsar abdicates. March: Tsar abdicates. Provisional government set up. Provisional government set up. Soviet Order No.1 gives control of Soviet Order No.1 gives control of the army to the Soviets.the army to the Soviets.Interpretations: ‘one of the most leaderless, spontaneous,

anonymous revolutions of all time (Chamberlin).

‘We may not live to see the revolution in our lifetime (Lenin, January 1917)

Czar Summer Residence – Tsarkoe Selo (Pushkin), 2007

Memorial to Romanov family at Pushkin

The tomb of the remains of the Romanov family, 2007

How did the Bolsheviks seize How did the Bolsheviks seize power by October 1917?power by October 1917?

Use pgs. 852-853 in textbook to help Use pgs. 852-853 in textbook to help answer this question.answer this question.

The lead up to October The lead up to October 19171917

33rdrd-4-4thth April: Lenin returns. Publishes April April: Lenin returns. Publishes April Theses.Theses.

May 1917: Mensheviks and SRs join a new May 1917: Mensheviks and SRs join a new coalition Provisional Government.coalition Provisional Government.

June 1917: First All Russian Congress of June 1917: First All Russian Congress of Soviets. Kerensky launches disastrous Soviets. Kerensky launches disastrous offensive against A-H.offensive against A-H.

33rdrd-6-6thth July: July Days. Failed uprising. July: July Days. Failed uprising. Lenin flees. Kerensky made Prime Lenin flees. Kerensky made Prime Minister.Minister.

August 1917: Kornilov Coup. Bolsheviks August 1917: Kornilov Coup. Bolsheviks released from prison by P.G. and given released from prison by P.G. and given weapons.weapons.

77thth October 1917: Lenin arrives back in October 1917: Lenin arrives back in Petrograd.Petrograd.

2424thth October 1917: Kerensky closes October 1917: Kerensky closes Pravda in response to Zinoviev and Pravda in response to Zinoviev and Kamenev article.Kamenev article.

2525thth-27-27thth October 1917: Bolsheviks storm October 1917: Bolsheviks storm Winter Palace and seize power.Winter Palace and seize power.

Interpreting the October Revolution: popular Interpreting the October Revolution: popular revolution or coup d’etat?revolution or coup d’etat?

SOVIET VIEW:

A popular uprising of the working class and poor peasants guided by the leadership of Lenin.

WESTERN VIEW after 1945 (during Cold War)

A coup d’etat led by a minority group who then imposed their evil ideology on the Russian people.

Also called the Liberal view – Richard Pipes, Leonard Schapiro, Robert Conquest

REVISIONISTS:

Suspicious of Cold War historians or ‘cold warriors’. Identified active role of people in the lower ranks of Bolshevik party. Lenin a ‘weak dictator?’. Veers back towards ‘popular uprising’ theories

Sheila Fitzpatrick

RECENT VIEWS:

Element of both Western and Revisionist. Evidence of a definite coup, but also of some independent action at local levels.

Chris Read, Robert Service

How did Lenin consolidate his How did Lenin consolidate his power?power?

SPLINTERSPLINTER SOVNARKOM SOVNARKOM Lenin closed Constituent Assembly and formed Lenin closed Constituent Assembly and formed

Sovnarkom Sovnarkom made exclusively of Bolsheviks.made exclusively of Bolsheviks.

PRESS PRESS All opposition press was banned.All opposition press was banned.

LANDLAND Decree on Land gave peasants the right to take over Decree on Land gave peasants the right to take over landland

INDUSTRYINDUSTRY Workers Control Decree gave factory Workers Control Decree gave factory committees the right committees the right

to control production.to control production.

NATIONALITIESNATIONALITIES ‘Rights of People of Russia’ gave self-‘Rights of People of Russia’ gave self-determination to determination to peoples of Russian Empire.peoples of Russian Empire.

TERRORTERROR Iron Felix and CHEKA.Iron Felix and CHEKA.

ENDING WARENDING WAR Treaty of Brest Litovsk.Treaty of Brest Litovsk.

RED ARMYRED ARMY Red Army formed to fight Civil War against Red Army formed to fight Civil War against ‘Whites’.‘Whites’.

How did the Bolsheviks win the How did the Bolsheviks win the Civil War?Civil War?

PLUGSPLUGS

PropagandaPropaganda

LeadershipLeadership

Unity and Unity and organisationorganisation

GeographyGeography

SupportSupport

PROPAGANDA

Bolsheviks used powerful images for posters and AGITPROP trains

LEADERSHIP

Trotsky an outstanding leader. Discipline tough – as opposed to White’s discipline

UNITY

Bolsheviks had a unified command structure. Whites had many different groups fighting for different causes.

SUPPORT

Peasants and nationalities favoured Red policies. Not happy with War Communism though.

GEOGRAPHY

Reds controlled Moscow and Petrograd. Railways, troops, supplies easier.