Revolution in Russia World History

Review Themes The Proletariat? Who? Communism V. Capitalism? Democracy V. Absolutism (monarchial system) Industrialized nations are RICH! Powerful! Influential! Russia is RESOURCE rich. Economically and technologically decades behind the West. Led by a Czar (Tsar, in some cases) Absolute leader-religious and political leader.

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The Czar, the Proletariat, Lenin, and revolution

Rapid industrialization: Russia was CONSIDERABLY behind Western Europe, they tried to play catch up Horrible working conditions Low wages Child labor Higher taxes Trade unions outlawed Workers organize strikes

Weak Leadership Nicholas II Ruled through fear TOTALLY out of touch with his people Foolish The Romanov dynasty began its rule of Russia in 1613 The last member of the Romanov dynasty was Nicholas II who ruled from 1894-1917 using oppression and police control

Development of Revolutionaries Marxists: “a dictatorship of the proletariat” Proletariat=Workers Bolsheviks: very radical, willing to sacrifice everything for change

Development of Revolutionaries Lenin Leader of the Bolsheviks Charismatic, Organized, Ruthless His brother was hanged as a traitor. He faced similar fate. He FLED to Germany Lenin’s older brother had been arrested and hanged for plotting to assassinate the tsar Lenin was in exile in Switzerland were he studied Marxism and wrote political pamphlets

Russian Losses = angry Russians back home Russo-Japanese War Late 1800’s Russian Losses = angry Russians back home

200,000 approached the Winter Palace to petition for: Bloody Sunday, 1905 200,000 approached the Winter Palace to petition for: Better Working Conditions More Personal Freedom An Elected Nat’l Legislature In Jan 1905, soldiers killed 130 workers who were marching in protest to Nicholas’ rule Sparked countrywide protests and forced some concessions

Bloody Sunday, 1905 Czar ordered soldiers to fire 1000 wounded, Several hundred killed Sparked protests and riots Czar created the Duma Russian Parliament Dissolved after 10 days

Involvement in WWI Nicholas was a weak military leader Russia was losing Nicholas focused on the war not on the people Czarina listened to Rasputin Soldiers began to revolt

The March Revolution March 1917 Women workers went on strike in Petrograd Riots erupted the next day (bread and fuel shortages) Soldiers first shot the rioters but then joined them

The Czar Loses Power Czar Nicholas II abdicated (gave up) the throne A provisional (temporary) government was created

Provisional Government Loses Power Stayed in WWI Conditions worsened People grew more radical

Provisional Government Loses Power Soviets: local councils of workers, peasants, and soldiers Elected Originally strike committees More power than local government 1921 poster declares, “Long live the Communist Councils!” The Petrograd (means St. Petersburg) soviet demanded Russia pursue an immediate peace in World War I

The Bolsheviks Take Power Lenin Returns to Russia The Germans smuggled Lenin back into Russia to destabilize (weaken) the country Lenin gains power Peace, Land, and Bread!

The Storming of the Winter Palace October 1917: Armed Factory workers (Red Guards) stormed the Winter Palace in Petrograd At night Combination of factory workers and Bolshevik leaders Little to no resistance Lenin headed the Bolsheviks, the radical wing of the Russian Social Democratic Party The Bolsheviks capitalized on the government’s insistence on continuing the war, its inability to feed the population, and its refusal to undertake land reform Eventually the Bolsheviks gained control of the Petrograd soviet

Bolshevik Changes All farmland given to the peasants Factories were run by the workers Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Ended Russian war w/Germany Gave up territory to Germany

Civil War in Russia People oppose Bolshevik changes White Army Several different groups Only common factor was opposition to the Bolsheviks Supported by West At one point there were 3 white armies against the red army During the civil war, the Bolsheviks adopted a hasty and unplanned course of nationalization called “war communism” The Bolshevik government assumed control or ownership of banks, industry, and privately held commercial property Landed estates and the property of monasteries and churches became national property Private trade was abolished The Bolsheviks and their opponents fought a civil war from 1918 to 1920

Political Spectrum Proletariat Bourgeoisie ______________________________________ Radical Liberal Moderate Conservative Loyalist Bolsheviks Mensheviks Tsarists Proletariat Bourgeoisie

Rasputin

The Romanov Family

Civil War in Russia Three years Romanovs Killed 14 million died from fighting and famine Bolsheviks retained power Lenin established Moscow as his capital and initiated the “Red Terror” against the “Whites” Secret police killed 200,000 of Lenin’s opponents In July 1918, the Bolsheviks executed Nicholas II and his family to prevent them from being manipulated by the Whites

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