The Fall of TsarismThe Fall of Tsarism

RevolutionRevolution

What is a Revolution?What is a Revolution?

A complete change in the way things are A complete change in the way things are done (Agricultural Revolution, Industrial done (Agricultural Revolution, Industrial Revolution, Russian Revolution)Revolution, Russian Revolution)

Sometimes peacefulSometimes peaceful Sometimes violentSometimes violent Russian Revolution = the overthrow of the Russian Revolution = the overthrow of the

Tsar’s government and the establishment Tsar’s government and the establishment of Communist Ruleof Communist Rule

Events and Personalities Events and Personalities Leading up the 1917 RevolutionLeading up the 1917 Revolution

Karl MarxKarl Marx Spontaneous revolution Spontaneous revolution

of the working class of the working class ““Let the ruling classes Let the ruling classes

tremble at the prospect of tremble at the prospect of a communist revolution. a communist revolution. Proletarians have nothing Proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. to lose but their chains. They have the world to They have the world to win. Proletarians of all win. Proletarians of all lands, unite!”lands, unite!”

Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin Planned revolution by Planned revolution by

professional professional revolutionariesrevolutionaries

Revolution of all Revolution of all oppressed classes of oppressed classes of societysociety

Tsar Nicholas IITsar Nicholas II

Not a strong leaderNot a strong leader Did not keep Did not keep

promises made to promises made to increase personal increase personal freedoms (free freedoms (free speech, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of religion, freedom of movement, freedom movement, freedom of language)of language)

Easily influenced by Easily influenced by RasputinRasputin

Did not give DUMA Did not give DUMA (national parliament, (national parliament, much power)much power)

Bloody SundayBloody Sunday Unarmed peasants, led by Unarmed peasants, led by

Father Gapon, marched to Father Gapon, marched to Winter Palace singing, “God Winter Palace singing, “God Save the Czar” carrying Save the Czar” carrying petition requesting shorter petition requesting shorter work days, minimum wage, work days, minimum wage, calling of a constituent calling of a constituent assembly to create a assembly to create a constitution for Russia.constitution for Russia.

Palace Guards fired upon Palace Guards fired upon crowd killing hundreds, injuring crowd killing hundreds, injuring thousands (without orders)thousands (without orders)

Bond between Czar and his Bond between Czar and his people broken foreverpeople broken forever

World War IWorld War I Russia unprepared for warRussia unprepared for war Not enough supplies (food, weapons, clothing)Not enough supplies (food, weapons, clothing) Army poorly organizedArmy poorly organized Soldiers didn’t understand why they were fightingSoldiers didn’t understand why they were fighting Tsar Nicholas II and his ministers provided poor leadership and organizationTsar Nicholas II and his ministers provided poor leadership and organization

Events of the RevolutionEvents of the Revolution

February 1917February 1917 Spontaneous uprising of peasantsSpontaneous uprising of peasants Protesting shortage of bread:Protesting shortage of bread:

Industrial strikesIndustrial strikes Tramcars (city transit) forceably stoppedTramcars (city transit) forceably stopped Breaking of shop windowsBreaking of shop windows Waving red flags that read, “Down with war!”Waving red flags that read, “Down with war!”

Provisional Government Provisional Government

Declared all Russian citizens equalDeclared all Russian citizens equal Freedom of speech, religion, press, and Freedom of speech, religion, press, and

assembly given to all citizensassembly given to all citizens Unions and strikes legalUnions and strikes legal Planned on continuing warPlanned on continuing war Provisional Government made these promises, Provisional Government made these promises,

but asked people to waitbut asked people to wait People tired of waiting and listened more and People tired of waiting and listened more and

more to the revolutionariesmore to the revolutionaries

BolsheviksBolsheviks

Believed that a small group of trained Believed that a small group of trained revolutionaries could lead the workers to revolutionaries could lead the workers to overthrow the tsar and establish socialism overthrow the tsar and establish socialism in Russiain Russia

Led by LeninLed by Lenin Tried to attract the people with slogans Tried to attract the people with slogans

like, “All Power to the Soviets” and like, “All Power to the Soviets” and “Bread, Peace, and Freedom”“Bread, Peace, and Freedom”

X.X. Founder of Bolshevism: Founder of Bolshevism: Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin

His Early YearsHis Early Years

--Exiled to Siberia in 1897--Exiled to Siberia in 1897 Committed to Class Committed to Class

Struggle and RevolutionStruggle and Revolution Moved to London in 1902 Moved to London in 1902

and befriended Leon and befriended Leon TrotskyTrotsky

What is to be Done?What is to be Done? TractTract

X. Lenin (cont)X. Lenin (cont)

Key role of the Party in Key role of the Party in the revolutionthe revolution

-- “Dictatorship of the -- “Dictatorship of the Proletariat”Proletariat”

Bolsheviks split from the Bolsheviks split from the Russian Socialist Party in Russian Socialist Party in 19121912

Character of the Character of the Bolshevik PartyBolshevik Party

--Joseph Stalin--Joseph Stalin

----PravdaPravda

Bolshevik RevolutionBolshevik Revolution By end of September, there By end of September, there

was widespread peasant was widespread peasant rebellion in Russiarebellion in Russia

Lenin left Finland in disguise Lenin left Finland in disguise and attended a secret and attended a secret Bolshevik meeting in Bolshevik meeting in PetrogradPetrograd

Bolsheviks held mass Bolsheviks held mass meetings with thousands in meetings with thousands in attendanceattendance

Kerensky declares Russia to Kerensky declares Russia to be in a state of emergency and be in a state of emergency and orders arrest of Trotsky and orders arrest of Trotsky and other Bolshevik leadersother Bolshevik leaders

What Did Lenin Do Upon Coming What Did Lenin Do Upon Coming to Power?to Power?

Immediately proposed an Immediately proposed an end to War (WWI) (what end to War (WWI) (what peasants wanted most peasants wanted most was peace)was peace)

Proposed the distribution Proposed the distribution of all land to peasants, of all land to peasants, landowners would not be landowners would not be paid for land taken from paid for land taken from themthem

Lenin’s proposals Lenin’s proposals adoptedadopted

After the RevolutionAfter the Revolution

Bolsheviks encountered stiff resistance in Bolsheviks encountered stiff resistance in some citiessome cities

Bolsheviks defeated in Kiev (Ukraine)Bolsheviks defeated in Kiev (Ukraine) Bolshevik power weak in Siberia, Georgia, Bolshevik power weak in Siberia, Georgia,

Armenia, and Central AsiaArmenia, and Central Asia Strongest in Central Russia and in large Strongest in Central Russia and in large

cities where many workers livedcities where many workers lived

Ending WWIEnding WWI

Bolsheviks needed peasant support to stay in Bolsheviks needed peasant support to stay in powerpower

Lenin decided to get Russia out of WWI and Lenin decided to get Russia out of WWI and send peasant soldiers homesend peasant soldiers home

In March of 1918, Lenin signed treaty with In March of 1918, Lenin signed treaty with Germany accepting German occupation of Germany accepting German occupation of Ukraine, Belorussia, the Baltics, and FinlandUkraine, Belorussia, the Baltics, and Finland

Russia lost over one quarter of its farmland and Russia lost over one quarter of its farmland and one third of its population, almost all its coal one third of its population, almost all its coal mines, and more than half its industriesmines, and more than half its industries

Huge loss to Russia’s economyHuge loss to Russia’s economy

Civil WarCivil War After signing peace treaty, Bolsheviks After signing peace treaty, Bolsheviks

faced armed resistance to their rulefaced armed resistance to their rule Civil war lasted from 1918 to 1921Civil war lasted from 1918 to 1921 Some non-Russian nationalities took Some non-Russian nationalities took

up arms to win independence from up arms to win independence from RussiaRussia

Great Britain, France, and the USA Great Britain, France, and the USA sent troops to Russia to defeat sent troops to Russia to defeat Bolsheviks because they did not want Bolsheviks because they did not want these ideas of revolution spread these ideas of revolution spread around the worldaround the world

Fight by Bolsheviks to establish Fight by Bolsheviks to establish communism in Russia, which was communism in Russia, which was renamed the Russian Soviet renamed the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic (USSR) Federated Socialist Republic (USSR) in 1918in 1918

Bolsheviks changed their name to the Bolsheviks changed their name to the Communist PartCommunist Part

Bolsheviks defeated their enemy’s in Bolsheviks defeated their enemy’s in 19211921

Bolshevik SuccessBolshevik Success

Their enemy was not unitedTheir enemy was not united Trotsky created a well-organized and disciplined army Trotsky created a well-organized and disciplined army

increasing the size of the Red Army by conscripting increasing the size of the Red Army by conscripting thousands of workers and peasants as well as former thousands of workers and peasants as well as former Tsarist soldiersTsarist soldiers

Bolsheviks increased their support among workers and Bolsheviks increased their support among workers and peasants by promising land and a brighter futurepeasants by promising land and a brighter future

Used terror against opponentsUsed terror against opponents In newly conquered areas, Bolsheviks used secret police In newly conquered areas, Bolsheviks used secret police

to destroy all opposition, arresting and executing people to destroy all opposition, arresting and executing people on the spoton the spot

Results of Civil WarResults of Civil War

Much of Russia in ruinsMuch of Russia in ruins Cities, land, factories Cities, land, factories

destroyed after almost destroyed after almost eight years of fightingeight years of fighting

Millions died or fled Millions died or fled countrycountry

Bolsheviks had mammoth Bolsheviks had mammoth task of rebuilding countrytask of rebuilding country

End of RomanovsEnd of Romanovs Taken to Western SiberiaTaken to Western Siberia After Bolsheviks took power taken to After Bolsheviks took power taken to

Ekaterinburg (in Ural Mountains)Ekaterinburg (in Ural Mountains) Lenin sent telegram authorizing their Lenin sent telegram authorizing their

executionexecution Taken to cellar at 1:30 a.m. with family Taken to cellar at 1:30 a.m. with family

doctor and servantsdoctor and servants Nicholas and Alexandra fell first under Nicholas and Alexandra fell first under

the hail of bulletsthe hail of bullets Bullets bounced off the daughters, Bullets bounced off the daughters,

diamonds found in their corsetsdiamonds found in their corsets Those who survived the bullets were Those who survived the bullets were

killed by bayonetskilled by bayonets Bodies loaded onto truck, stripped of Bodies loaded onto truck, stripped of

jewels, thrown into a minejewels, thrown into a mine Mine not deep enough to hide them, Mine not deep enough to hide them,

bodies dumped into a pit in a marshy bodies dumped into a pit in a marshy areaarea

Even the family dog was killedEven the family dog was killed

XIV. Interpreting the Russian XIV. Interpreting the Russian RevolutionRevolution

The official Marxist The official Marxist InterpretationInterpretation

--The importance of a --The importance of a permanent international permanent international revolutionrevolution

Function of Russian Function of Russian History and CultureHistory and Culture

Imposed Revolution on Imposed Revolution on an unwilling victiman unwilling victim

A Social RevolutionA Social Revolution