russian revolution. basic tenets of marxism: man is by nature good economic relations determine all...
TRANSCRIPT
Russian Revolution
Basic tenets of Marxism: Man is by nature good
• Economic relations determine all human relations
• Exploitation is an inherent failure of capitalism
• Private property is evil
• Capitalism produces two classes of people
• Only revolution can rid society of capitalism and establish the dictatorship of the proletariat
• Classlessness and statelessness will follow only after the revolution and a transition period
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A Look At What We Will Cover
Slides 5 -20 = Background (RS Pre-WW1) Slides 21-26 = Russia in WW1 - Downfall Slides 30-35 = October / March Revolution Slides 35-47 = Bolshevik State Slides 48-52 = A Sneak Peak at Stalin
Russian Government Before Revolution
Monarchy: The Czar (Tsar) Until 1905 the Tsar's powers were
unlimited. Russia had no constitution, no political party system to check the
Tsar's power A strong secret police which terrorized
the people. Called: Okhrana
Royal Background
Nicholas I
• Created the first secret police in Russia, brutal leader, response to revolt of army officers in 1825
Czar Alexander II
• He implemented important reforms, notably the abolition of serfdom,
• In 1867, he sold Alaska and the Aleutian Islands to the United States.
• Killed by the Revolutionary Group: The People’s Will
Czar Alexander III
• Alexander III's reign was during an industrial revolution in Russia .
• His reign was harsh, against revolutionaries and other liberal movements.
Czar Nicholas II (1894)Last Czar of Russia
Nicholas II was a harsh and weak ruler The Russian economy was bankrupt because
of the Russo-Japanese War and WWI Russia’s entry into WWI became very unpopular.
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Czar Nicholas II and Family
1903
The Social Democratic Labour Party creates sides of the Mensheviks-minority (Martov) and Bolsheviks-majority (Lenin)
Iskra remained a Menshevik newspaper so Lenin had to create his own (Vperyod – “forward”)
Formal split of Mensheviks and Bolsheviks as a party in 1911
Bolsheviks believed that a small group of revolutionaries could cause the revolution - masses uniting all at once was unnecessary
Mensheviks focused on winning over the masses to start a revolution
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Russo-Japanese War (1904)
Dispute over Manchuria with Japan
Shook national confidence in their progress and rule of Czar.
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Loss of Russo-Japanese War This proverbial “straw
that broke the camel’s back” was enough to foment all-out revolutionary action
Bloody Sunday Tsar’s troops fired on a group of protestors
who were begging the Tsar for help – led by a priest – Father Gapon
In all, 130 were killed and hundreds wounded
***
Bloody Sunday (1905)
Bloody Sunday – historical significance?
It revealed how utterly incompetent the Tsarist regime was in dealing with a dissatisfied people
Those who had previously supported the Tsar broke and joined revolutionary groups
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Between October 20-30th, all of Russia was on strike
Considered the most effective general strike in history
During this time, the very first Soviet was established in St. Pete’s
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October Manifesto
October Manifesto – Tsar’s promises:
Provided some civil liberties
Create a DUMA – legislative assembly controlled by the moderates
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Between 1905 and 1917
Tsar reneged on most of his promises
Tsar bought off the moderates in the Duma
Tsar arrested radical opposition as terrorism grew
Then the Great War broke out…
Film – Russia Land of the Czars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W1b6j8U46k&list=PL9819B471D1049AE6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-qxWWRcN-4
16:00 Minutes Long Rasputin
Russia and World War I
Russia declares war on Austria-Hungary
War becomes unpopular Rationing leads to starvation Nicholas II leaves St. Petersburg to war
front
Ra Ra Rasputin
Won favour with Tsarina Alexandra for helping her haemophiliac child Alexis feel better
Nicholas joins the losing war front in 1915 which allowed Rasputin to gain favour with Alexandra
Prophesized a losing war for Russia – prophecies gained him popularity
Often clashed with the Duma – Duma saw him as a threat since he was so close to the royal family
1915 the Duma was disbanded and Rasputin was in charge of the government
1916 Rasputin was assassinated
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Rasputin
Rasputin with Admirers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zz0sHu-m7s Rasputin Death Scene
Rasputin – Music Video – Bony M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvDMlk3kSYg - Original Music Vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmkySNDX4dU - Vid With Lyrics and Pictureshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zz0sHu-m7s - Rasputin Death Scene
Mensheviks Literally means “minority” (yet were more of
them)
More moderate, less impatient, wanted to win over the masses
Led by Julius Martov
Bolsheviks Literally means “majority”
Believed that a violent revolution was necessary
Led by Lenin
FIRST OF TWO REVOLUTIONS
February-March Revolution 1917
March 12 demonstration due to hunger, a military regiment was sent to quell them (the Cossacks), they joined instead and disarmed the police
Russian Army commanders suggested to Tsar Nicholas to abdicate in fears of a violent revolution (like French)
The Army and the Duma convinced Nicholas that the people would no longer support him
February-March Revolution 1917
Nicholas abdicates on March 15 and is placed under house arrest
A provisional government under Alexander Kerensky is put in charge of Russia Kerensky favours a continuation of war to boost Russian
nationalism Legalizes strikes Organizes a constituent assembly (to figure out a new constitution)
Provisional government will have a power struggle between the Marxists and the Liberals (wanted to stop the revolution)
Lacked legitimacy since it was not elected by the people
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February-March Revolution 1917 Lenin, who was in exile in Germany, was provided with
safe passage from Germany to Russia in hopes that he would help stop the war on the Eastern front for Germany
Lenin returns to Russia and gains more support by criticizing socialists that supported the Duma (they’re supposed to start a revolution, not maintain subordination)
In April, Lenin writes the “April Theses” calls for immediate revolution Peace Seizure of aristocratic lands All power to soviets (labour movements) Seizure of factories
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Kerensky fails Russia Continues the war with a new offensive in
July (Kerensky offensive) The unsuccessful offensive quickly cause
dissent amongst the people Disagreement between Kerensky and
Kornilov (leader of another party in power) causes Kornilov to attempt a coup using the army
Kerensky turns to Lenin and his Red Guards and Soviets (workers council) to help him defend Petrograd and won
Kerensky realizes the trouble he created and decides that he now needs to limit Bolshevik power
Kerensky closes down Bolshevik newspapers and cuts off telephone lines
Bolsheviks defeating the army won favour from the Soviets in Petrograd
***
Government troops open fire on a worker's protest in Petrograd in July of 1917. The shootings only served to further anger the citizens of Petrograd.
SECOND OF TWO REVOLUTIONS
October (Bolshevik) Revolution-1917
Lead by VI Lenin “Peace, Land, and Bread”
Won support of people (especially peasants)
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October Revolution 1917 (Bolshevik)
Lenin rides on the unhappiness of the people with the Duma and promises “Peace, Bread and Land!”
Trotsky persuades Lenin to take over the government
November 7, Lenin with his Red Guards seized the Winter Palace
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Lenin’s Immediate Policies
Making good on his promise, he sanctioned peasant seizures of land, gathered grain to feed cities, and signed the treaty of Brest-Litovsk which gave up a large portion of Western Russia and 30% of Russia’s population
Nationalized banks State controlled foreign trade All opposition groups made illegal Peasant seizure of lands Factories under the control of Soviets
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1918
1918 March The Bolsheviks accept the
peace of Brest‑Litovsk, ending WWI with Germany.
***
1919-1920
-1919 White Armies (Royal and Menshevik troops) attack the Reds (Bolsheviks) from all directions.
-Help sent from Western countries – leads to Stalin’s distrust of West.
1920- Reds defeat Whites
Rule of Lenin 1920-1924
Economic Reforms included the New Economic Plan (NEP)
-moderate mix of capitalism and socialism
Political Reforms
-Bolshevik party became Communist Party
-Russia becomes the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Communism
A Form of Socialism Central Planning of the Economy by the State
Gov’t (Communist Party) makes decisions on individual jobs and pay
1924
Lenin Dies Power Vaccuum Leon Trotsky vs. Joseph Stalin Stalin takes control Now must decide how he will maintain
power Decides to create a totalitarian state
Characteristics of a Totalitarian State
Dictatorship- Absolute Authority Dynamic Leader- Vision for the nation State Control Over All Sectors of Society
Business, Family Life, Labor, youth groups, housing, religion, education, the arts
State Control Over the Individual Obedience Denies basic liberties
Organized Violence Uses force to crush opposition
Stalin’s Totalitarian State
State Control of the Economy 5 year plan, collective farms
Police Terror Great Purge, crush opposition
Religious Persecution Control of the individual
Propaganda (socialist realism) Molding peoples minds
Education Controlled by the government