Russian Revolution Lenin Stalin

Russia Weaknesses: little industry inefficient agriculture serfs (80%) tied to land- uneducated, poor, no incentive to work stern rule of czar political tension between nationalities 1800’s attempt to expand Pan-Slavism gain access to Mediterranean

Decembrist Revolt Alexander I dies- army officers revolt Officers had contact with West (Napoleonic Wars) Goal: written constitution (Western-style rights)

Repression and Nicholas I 1825 Decembrist Revolt crushed Russification- force Russian language, culture and subject nations Destroy nationalism and revolts Serfdom not abolished- needed support of the wealthy 500 peasant revolts crushed Westernization hampered

Repression and Nicholas I “Fight revolutionary spirit” Limited education Books and newspapers censored Secret police Crimean Wars lost- Russia behind

Reforms and Alexander II Reform needed for Westernization 1861 Serfdom abolished 1/2 land remained for nobles 1/2 mirs (village commumities)- SOLD money for govt. Peasants still tied to land (not allowed to leave, others would have to pay more)

Mir

Alexander II

Execution in St. Petersburg

More Reforms Zemstvos- people gain some control over affairs local councils- nobles, townspeople, peasants More schools Court system modernized Army reformed Economic development encouraged with building of railroads and factories

1863 Polish Revolt ***Reform ended*** Russification pushed in Poland led to more Polish nationalism

1870 Will of the People Russian nationalists officials murdered bomb kills Czar Alexander in 1881

Repression and Alexander III Russia becomes a police state to end revolutionary activity power of zemstvos reduced persecution of Jews- pogroms Russification- Autocracy, Orthodoxy, Nationalism Nationalism still grows Industrialization continues Russia still behind rest of world

Alexander III

Russia under Nicholas II Nicholas II- Romanov family Czar in 1894 at age 26 Did NOT want to become czar Ruled as autocrat

Nicholas II

Attempts at Modernization Russia was weak and undeveloped Sergei Witte- czar’s minister 1900 worked for industrialization Foreign experts brought in Trans-Siberian RR completed Increased taxes Borrowed money from foreigners

Unrest Develops from Urbanization Peasants left farms for factories Workers unhappy with low standard of living and little political power Upper-class resented power of foreign companies Critics look to a new form of government

Lenin and the Bolsheviks Vladimir Ilyich Lenin- studied Marx Brother was executed for plot against the czar 1895 Lenin was arrested and sent to Siberia for political activities then left Russia for 17 years In Europe Lenin continued his anti-czarist activities

Lenin

Lenin Statues

Russian Marxists Split Both groups agreed Russia was not industrialized or capitalist Mensheviks – “minority” Socialist revolution needed to wait until proletariat grows Bolsheviks – “majority” Form secret group to help workers revolt Secret group would rule until proletariat ready

Revolution of 1905 1905- Russia defeated in Russo-Japanese War 1905- Workers in St. Petersburg revolt Soviets formed- representative council for the people October Manifesto- Czar gives constitution Duma- first parliament, czar had veto power

WWI Russia interested in Balkans brings her into war 1915- Nicholas goes to front to rally troops Alexandra left to rule with Rasputin “Holy man” who could control Alexis’ hemophilia 1916 Nobles kill Rasputin- felt their power threatened

Rasputin

Rasputin

Rasputin and the Romanvos

The March Revolution Causes: Defeats of war Discontent (food, fuel shortage) Weaknesses of autocracy Strike led by women textile workers in Petrograd Soldiers turn on officers, not people

Results of March Revolution Nicholas II abdicates Provisional Government under Alexander Kerensky est. Russia stays in WWI Western-style parliamentary govt. People unhappy

Romanovs

Alexandra

Anastasia

Alexei

Petrograd Soviet Competes with Provisional Govt. for control Favored withdrawal from WWI Favored radical social reform for workers and peasants Actually held more power than Provisional Govt.

St. Petersburg

Winter Palace

St. Petersburg

Three Government Choices Russia lost faith in govt, Lenin is returned by Germans 1. Parliamentary Govt- order through Democratic reform (Provisional) 2. Military Dictatorship- restore order by armed force

Three Govt. Choices cont… 3. Rule by workers’ and soldiers’ soviets Petrograd Soviet controlled by Lenin and Bolsheviks Offered: land, food, and self-determination to non-Russians People wanted real change: Who would they favor and why?

Fall 1917… “All power to the soviets” Bolshevik Revolution Nov. 7- Leon Trotsky, leading Lenin’s supporters, seized government Provisional Govt. officials arrested Communists come to power

Trotsky kills Capitalist dragon

Trotsky

Trotsky

October Revolution

50th Anniversary of Bolshevik Revolution

50th Anniversary of Bolshevik Revolution

Lenin Billboard

Lenin

State-building under Lenin Chaos worsened under Bolsheviks No effective govt. or army No food, commerce, or industry Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 1918) Bolsheviks/Communists decide to eliminate ALL opposition

Treaty of Brest Litovsk Signed with Germany Lost Finland, possessions in Poland, Baltic States, Ukraine Treaty cancelled when Germany lost war Finland, Baltic States gained independence

Civil War Breaks Out “Whites”- opponents of Bolsheviks, aided by West Parliamentary Govt. supporters Czarist defenders Moderate Socialists “Reds”- Communists “Greens”- Ukrainian peasants Want independence

Communist Dictatorship Terror Tactics Economic Policy Kronstadt Rebellion Centralized Govt. Soviet Union Religious persecution Propaganda

Terror Tactics “Dictatorship of the Proletariat” Secret police used to kill and suspected opponents of govt.

Economics= War Communism Nationalization of industry, banks, foreign trade Draft used for labor and army Strikes forbidden Food taken from peasants and given to cities and armies ***Russia continues to decline***

Kronstadt Rebellion March 1921 Sailors rebel Results: Lenin switches to NEP New Economic Policy Only important industries under state control Some free enterprise

Centralized Government Govt. moved to Kremlin- Moscow Politburo led new govt. unity stressed (thrown out) political parties banned only 1% of population was Communist (500,000) Decisions made at top (like czar) Party ran unions

Red Square

St. Basils, Red Square

St. Basils

Lenin's grave

Lenin's Tomb

State and Party Linked Soviets elected locally but led by Party district, regional, republic level Supreme Soviet- highest govt. authority Council of Ministers- Party members who made up executive branch

The Soviet Union Formed in 1922 by Communists 15 Republics based on nationalities Identical constitutions Controlled by Party Limited self-rule Self-determination in writing only

Religious Persecution Religion was threat State schools taught God did NOT exist Church seen as possible tool of control Land and property seized

Propaganda Govt. controlled and censored information Lenin tried to isolate USSR from West Party ideology enforced Marxism-Leninism

Literacy Campaign

Long Live Stalin

Lenin’s Hopes for Communism Govt. was responsible for workers’ problems 1919 Comintern- Communist Third International bring Communists together and help Soviet foreign policy Goal: strengthen Soviets not world revolution

Lenin's body

Lenin's Mourners

Lenin's Mourners

Stalin v. Trotsky Lenin wanted Trotsky to be successor Stalin uses position of Secretary General to gain power

Stalin

Stalin