The Russian Revolution
Key Terms
• Proletariat – the class of wage-earners (especially industrial workers) in a society who lack their own means of
production and have to sell their labour to live
• Bourgeois – the middle class or upper-middle class of society, interested in material culture and in supporting
those in power
Russian Revolution Background
Huge Empire
• Russia one of great powers of Europe, first half 1800s
• Troops helped defeat Napoleon; leaders helped reorganize Europe after his fall
• Russia very different from other European powers
• Empire huge, stretched eastward far into Asia, included many different ethnic groups
Absolute Power
• To govern large, diverse empire, Russian monarchs ruled with absolute power
• Called czars, controlled most aspects of Russian life
• Believed in autocracy, government by one leader with unlimited powers
Serfdom
Agricultural Society
• Russian society under czars mostly agricultural
• Unlike other European countries, Russia had not industrialized
• Much of the population were serfs—workers considered part of land they worked
Serfs
•
•
•
Controlled by lords, wealthy nobles who owned land
Technically not slaves; living conditions, lack of freedom, resembled slavery
Not allowed to leave property where born; did not own land they worked
Societal Problem
• Serfs had to make regular payments of goods, labor to lords
• Some in government wanted to improve conditions, unable to make reforms
• Russian serfdom way of life, a major problem in Russian society
Reforms of Alexander II
Russia Lagging Behind
• Alexander II came to power after Nicholas, 1855, near end of Crimean War
• Loss of war showed Russia far behind rest of Europe
• Did not have modern technology, industry to build competitive military
Reforms
• Alexander II began program of reforms
• 1861, freed Russia’s serfs, gave them right to own land as part of commune
• Believed terrible living conditions could bring rebellion
Economy
• Alexander II hoped giving serfs own land would build market economy
• Government set up system for peasants to buy land they worked on from landowner, usually with government
help
Reform and Repression
Alexander II made other reforms to modernize Russia
• Set up new judicial system
• Allowed some local self-government
•
•
•
Reorganized army, navy
Despite reforms, revolutionary movements continued to gain strength, call for more changes
1881, radical group, The People’s Will, assassinated Czar Alexander II
•
•
•
Alexander III
Alexander’s son, Alexander III, became next czar
Alexander III a reactionary, wanted to go back to way things were in past, ended father’s reforms
Responded to revolutionary threats by going after individuals and groups suspected of plotting against
government
War and Revolution
Expansion East
• Russia expanded east
• Came into conflict with another imperial power—Japan
• At same time, revolution brewing
War With Japan
• Early 1900s, Japan building empire, viewed Russia as threat
• 1904, Japanese forces attacked, defeated Russia in Russo-Japanese War
Growing Unrest
• Defeat shocked many Russians (as well as many Europeans), added to unrest
• One group calling for change, Marxists—followed communist theories of Karl Marx
Marxist Ideas
• Wanted to create socialist republic—no private property, state to own, distribute goods
• 1902, Vladimir Lenin called for revolution to overthrow czar
Revolution of 1905
•
1905, many Russians ready to rebel against czar
• January 22, Orthodox priest, Father Gapon, brought petition to czar at Winter Palace, listing number of
demands
• Troops fired at group; hundreds died; day known as Bloody Sunday
Revolution Begins
• Bloody Sunday inspired many sectors of society to rise up against czar; rebellions broke out, czar’s strict rules
disobeyed
• Workers went on strike, students protested in streets
• Czar promised reform, but did not follow through
• Massive strike in October; 2 million workers protested in streets
The October Manifesto
• In response to the rebellions and strikes, Nicholas II issued the October Manifesto, an official promise for reform
and a more democratic government.
Provisions
• Manifesto promised constitution
• Individual liberties to all, including freedom of speech, assembly
• Many gained right to vote
Duma
• Voters would elect representatives to the Duma, assembly to approve all laws
• Czar continue to rule, but not pass laws without approval of Duma
End Revolution
• Nicholas II hoped Manifesto would end revolution
• Did not achieve balance between own power, democracy
•
People still wanted reform
Russia and World War I
The Years Before the War
• Russia a troubled nation
• Czar Nicholas II had promised reform after 1905 revolution, but delivered little real change
• Bolsheviks sought to change life through revolution, wanted to overthrow czar
• Led by Lenin, wanted proletariat to rule Russia as socialist country
Bolshevik Plan
• Adaptation of Marxist ideas of overthrow of capitalism
• Wanted elite group to keep much of the power over Russia
• As Russia’s problems grew more serious, Bolsheviks gained more followers
• Czar Nicholas hoped World War I would cause people to rally to his leadership
Preparations for War
• Outbreak of fighting caused patriotism, rush to join military
• Otherwise Russia ill-prepared for war
– Factories unable to produce supplies quickly
– Transportation system weak
– Equipment outdated
On the Battlefield
• Many Russian officers advanced on connections, not ability
• Some initial successes on battlefield
• Losses soon outnumbered victories
• Millions of Russian soldiers wounded, killed during early battles
Conditions Grow Worse
Czar Nicholas II took personal command of forces, 1915
• Move made little sense since he knew little of military matters
• Czar’s fate became linked with fate of Russian armed forces
• Bad situation grew worse under Czar’s command
Russian army seemed doomed
• Central Powers were able to stop Russian offensive
• Destroyed Russian soldiers’ faith in leadership
• Army had little strength, even less confidence
Conditions in Russia worse than on battlefield
• Food, goods scarce; peasants grew desperate
• Unpopular Czarina relied on Grigory Rasputin, viewed as corrupt, immoral
• Shaky support for Russian monarchy dipped even lower
The Russian Revolution
By the end of 1916, Russia was once again on the edge of a revolution. As the new year began and conditions in
Russia continued to worsen, the Russian people clearly wanted a change.
Revolution Begins
• Citizens protested in the streets of Petrograd, March 8, 1917
• Police and soldiers refused to shoot the rioters
• Government was now helpless
•
Czar Nicholas II
• Ordered legislature to disband
•
•
•
His order defied
Citizens, government, military refused to obey Czar
Forced to abdicate, March 15, 1917
Provisional Government
• Duma established temporary government
• Led by Aleksandr Kerensky
• Many unhappy with new leadership
Bolshevism
• Abolish private property
• Enforce social equality
• Later known as Marxism-Leninism
Bolsheviks
• Led opposition to Kerensky’s provisional government
• Wanted fundamental change in government and society
• Planned Marxist revolution
Vladimir Lenin
• Bolshevik leader forced to live outside Russia
• Returned, April 1917
• Germany hoped Lenin would weaken Russian war effort
The Bolshevik Revolution
Kerensky’s final offensive
• Kerensky ordered final military offensive against Central Powers along Eastern Front, mid-1917
• Drive failed and led to widespread rebellion in Russian army
• Weakened Russian army collapse
Bolshevik takeover
• Conditions ideal for Lenin
• Armed Bolshevik factory workers, Red Guard, attacked provisional government, November 1917
• Known as the October Revolution
• Kerensky’s government collapsed after nearly bloodless struggle
Lenin became leader
• Established radical Communist program
• Made private ownership of land illegal
• Land given to peasants
• Control of factories given to workers
After the Revolution
Lenin sought to end Russian involvement in World War I
• Sent Leon Trotsky to negotiate peace with Central Powers
• Russia’s army virtually powerless
• Trotsky had to accept agreement harsh on Russia
• Russia gained peace, gave up large parts of empire
Reaction to Treaty
• Bolsheviks’ acceptance of peace treaty angered many Russians
• Bolsheviks’ opponents organized the White Army
• White Army included army leaders, political opponents, wealthy Russians opposed to Communist system
Civil War
• White Army received military help from France, U.S.
• Civil War raged for 3 years between Lenin’s Red Army and White Army
• Millions of Russians died in fighting, famines
• Bolsheviks finally triumphed, late 1920
New Economic Policy
Collapsing economy
• Brought on by civil war, pushed Russia to edge of total ruin
• Peasants, workers especially hard hit
• Lenin introduced New Economic Policy, 1921
Key points
• New Economic Policy permitted some capitalist activity
• Peasants could sell food at profit
• Tried to encourage badly needed food production
The Soviet Union
• Russia reunited with several neighboring lands, became Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, dominated by
Communist leadership
• Lenin’s death in 1924 led to struggle for control of Soviet Union