Revolutions in Russia
1917-1939
Czars Resist Change (The
Romanovs)

From 1613 to 1913
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Romanov Dynasty in Russia
In 1881, Alexander III succeeded his
father, Alexander II, and halted all
reforms.
Clung to principles of autocracy

Form of government where one ruler had
total power.
Czars Continue Autocratic Rule

Alexander III used harsh measures to
wipe out revolutionaries.
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Strict censorship codes on published materials
and written documents, this included private
letters.
Secret police monitored schools
Political prisoners sent to Siberia
Establish uniform Russian Culture

Oppressed other national groups.
Czars Continue Autocratic Rule
(cont.)
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Nicholas II became czar in 1894
Continued tradition of Russian autocracy.
Czar Nicholas II ruled Russia during World War I


He failed to solve Russia’s political, social and
economic problems after the Revolution of 1905
Two revolutions would topple the Romanov
Dynasty
Czar Nicholas II and his Family
Russia Industrializes

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Number of factories more than doubled between
1863 and 1900
Still Russia lagged behind
Funded by foreign investors and raised taxes
Trans-Siberian Railway was constructed

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Started in 1891 not finished till 1916
Connected European Russia in the west with Russian
ports on the Pacific Ocean in the East.
Revolutionary Movements Grow

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Rapid industrialization stirred discontent.
Factories brought new problems.
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Low wages, grueling working conditions, child labor.
A group that followed the views of Karl Marx
established in Russia

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Believed the industrial class of workers would
overthrow the czar
The Proletariat “the workers” would rule the country
Marxists Spilt


More moderate Menesheviks wanted a
broad base of popular support for
revolution.
The more radical Bolsheviks supported a
small number of committed revolutionaries
willing to sacrifice for change.

Leader of the Bolsheviks was Vladimir Lenin.
Cries at Home and Abroad

Russo Japanese War

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Russia and Japan competed for control of Korea and
Manchuria
The two signed a number of treaties but these were
broken by Russia.
Japan retaliated at Port Arthur, Manchuria in February
1904.
News of repeated Russian losses sparked unrest at
home and led to revolt in the mist of the war.
Revolution of 1905

Bloody Sunday (1/22)
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Demonstration that
resulted in over 1,000
people killed at Czars
winter palace in St
Petersburg.
Provoked massive
demonstrations
People called for more
democratic reforms
Czar created the Duma

Dissolved it after ten weeks
World War I: The Final Blow


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In 1914 Nicholas II made the decision to
drag Russia into WWI.
Russia was unprepared to handle the war.
Before a year passed more than 4 million
Russians had been killed, wounded or
taken prisoner.
WWI (cont.)

1915 Nicholas moved his headquarters to
war front.

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Hoped to rally his discouraged troops to
victory.
Czarina Alexandra ran government while
he was away.
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Ignored czar’s chief advisers.
Fell under influence of a “holy man” Rasputin
Rasputin

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The czars son Alexis
suffered from hemophilia.
Rasputin seemed to ease
the boy’s symptoms.
To show gratitude
Alexandra allowed Rasputin
to make key political
decisions.
He opposed reform and
obtained powerful positions
for his friends.
Rasputin (cont.)

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In 1916, a group of nobles murdered
Rasputin.
They feared his increasing role in
government affairs.
Meanwhile on the war front soldiers
mutinied deserted, or ignored orders.
On home front supplies were dwindling
and prices were inflated.
The March Revolution

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March 1917 – food, fuel
and battlefield disasters
 People in the street
chanted “Bread, Bread”
Czar steps down
Duma sets up a provisional
government

Local governments set up
soviets

Councils of workers and
soldiers ran by socialists
Lenin and the Bolsheviks
Lenin

Vladimir Ulyanov took
the name “Lenin”

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Exiled to Siberia for
plotting against the
government in 1895

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Student of Karl Marx
Able to return in
March 1917
He felt only revolution
could bring about
changes
The November Revolution
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Lenin and Trotsky promised “Peace, land and
Bread” for the people
November 1917 – Bolsheviks overthrew the
Russian government
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Ended private ownership
Distributed land to peasants
Workers were given control of factories and mines
Eventually came to be called Communism
Russian Civil War (1918-1921)
“Red” communists
vs.
“White” czar loyalists
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Communists organized the
Cheka or secret police
Executed Nicholas II his wife
and 5 children
“War communism” policy –
took over banks, mines,
factories and railroads
(government control)
1921 communists defeat the
czar loyalists
 14 million Russians died as a
result of the war
Lenin Restores Order

New Economic Policy (NEP)
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March 1921 Lenin puts aside his plan for state
controlled economy.
Under the NEP reforms allowed peasants to
sell their surplus crops.
Government kept control over major
industries.
Partly due to this peace returned to Russia
after civil war.
Lenin Restores Order (Cont.)
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Saw Nationalism as threat to unity and
party loyalty.
Lenin organized Russia into several self
governing republics under the central
government.
In 1922 the country was named the Union
of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)
Lenin Restores Order (Cont.)

The Bolsheviks named their party the
Communist Party.

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Name came from the writings of Karl Marx
Used the word communism to describe a
classless society that would exist after
workers would have seized power.
Building the Communist Soviet
Union

The Soviet Union was a “multinational” state ruled by
Russia the most powerful state

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Numerous nations now under the control of Russia
In Theory (Marx) – Political power and the means of
production would belong to the workers and
peasants
In Reality – Political power and the means of
production belonged to The Communist Party

Used the army and secret police to achieve and keep
power
THE NEW FLAG

Symbolized the union between the workers
(hammer) & the peasants (sickle)
The New Soviet Union
From Lenin to Stalin
Stalin Become Dictator
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Lenin died suddenly in 1924
Joseph Djugasshvili takes power
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Was an official under Lenin
Gives himself a new name: Joseph Stalin
Stalin means “man of steel”
“Comrade Stalin …. Has concentrated an
enormous power in his hands: and I am not
sure that he always knows how to use that
power with sufficient caution”
- Lenin
Totalitarianism

Describes a government that takes total,
centralized control of every aspect of
public and private life.
A Government of Total Control

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Totalitarian government usually ran by dynamic
leader.
Police Terror

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Government used of terror and violence to force
obedience and crush opposition.
Police used to enforce central governments polices.

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Spied on citizens.
Intimidation
Often used brutal force and murder to achieve their goals.
A Government of Total Control
(cont.)
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Indoctrination
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Propaganda and Censorship

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Instruction in the government beliefs.
mold people’s minds
Government control of all mass media
Religious or Ethnic Persecution

Created “enemies of the state” to blame for
things going wrong.
Stalin Builds a Totalitarian State
Stalin’s Police State

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Secret police used tanks and armored cars
to stop riots.
They monitored telephone lines, read
mail, and planted informers everywhere.

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Even children were used as informers.
The secret police arrested and executed
millions.
Stalin’s Police State (cont.)

The Great Purge (1937)
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A campaign of terror directed at eliminating
anyone who threatened his power.
Many old Bolsheviks stood for trial.

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Executed or sent to labor camps.
Ended in 1938

Estimated 8 million to 13 million deaths.
Russian Propaganda and
Censorship
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Stalin’s government controlled all newspapers,
motion pictures, radio and other sources of
information.
Many writers, composers and artists fell victim to
official censorship.
Stalin would not tolerate individual creativity that
did not conform.
Media under Stalin only glorified the
achievements to communism under Stalin.
The arts were also used as propaganda.
Soviet Propaganda – Stalin
“We will achieve prosperity”
“Our Great Stalin is the banner of
friendship of the peoples of USSR”
Soviet Propaganda – Stalin
“We will defeat the drought, too!”
“Let the indestructible
friendship and cooperation of
Chinese and Soviet live and prosper!”
Soviet Propaganda – Anti-US and
Capitalism
In capitalist countries: / the way of talent...
In our socialist country: / give way to talent!
"European community": The worth of this
community is clear for everyone: smile on their
lips, balm in their speeches, lies in their
thoughts, a knife behind their back!
Soviet Propaganda – Anti-US and
Capitalism
The dreams of our people have become true!
Two Worlds, Two Plans: We Sow Life
on the sack: "seed acorns“
on the map: "plan of forest shelterbelts"
They Sow Death
on the map: "map of military bases“
Soviet Propaganda – Anti-United
States
"American Freedom".
Upper Right – "personal freedom"
Lower Right – "freedom of gatherings & meetings"
Lower Left – "freedom of opinions"
Upper Left – "freedom of press"
Soviet Propaganda – Unity
“Be vigilant on your working post!”
“Forever together (Russians & Ukrainians)”
Soviet Propaganda – Unity
“With every day, our life is getting happier”
1917-1955:
“From the first decrees of the Great October
to the bloom of the socialist agriculture”
The Arts of the State

Stalin forced artists and writers to conform to
socialist realism

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Showing soviet life in a positive light
Government censored books, music and art

Government punishments were issued
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Artists were imprisoned, tortured and/or exiled
Popular themes were: peasants, workers,
heroes of the revolution and Stalin
Socialist Realism
“Lenin with Villagers”
Socialist Realism
“Roses for Stalin”
Socialist Realism
“Steel Workers”
Socialist Realism
“Young Steel Workers”
Education and Indoctrination

Government controlled all education from
nursery school to college
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Communist Party built schools and required
children to attend
State sponsored youth groups trained future
party members
The importance of sacrifice and hard work to
build the Communist state were stressed
Religious Persecution

Soviet Government forced atheism on
population

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Atheism – belief in no god
Targeted Russian Orthodox Churches

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Turned churches into offices and museums
Killed priests and religious leaders
Writings of Marx and Lenin were replaced as sacred
text
Stalin Seizes Control of the
Economy

Command Economy

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Government officials made all basic economic
decisions – owned all businesses
Five-Year Plans

Aimed to make USSR an industrial power

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Government pushed workers and managers to meet
goals

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USSR – United Soviet Socialist Republic
Received bonuses and punishments
Economy improved but standard of living for peasants
remained poor
An Agricultural Revolution

Agriculture under
government control

Forced peasants to give
up their private plots and
live on collectives –

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Large farms owned and
operated by peasants as a
group
Peasants resisted
collectivism – killed
animals, destroyed tools
and burned crops
Daily Life Under Stalin

Members of the Communist Party

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Were the elite
Received the best benefits and homes
The people
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Received free education and medical care
Had small housing and limited food
Women Gain Rights Under Stalin
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Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 declared men and women
equal.
Under the five year plan they had no choice but to join
the labor force.
State provided child care for mothers who were working.
Given education opportunities.
By 1950 75% of doctors were women.
Besides being responsible for their job, women were
responsible for the housework and childcare as well.
Total Control Achieved
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By mid 1930s, Stalin had forcibly transformed
the Soviet Union into a totalitarian regime and
an industrial and political power.
He stood unopposed as dictator.
Maintained authority over the Communist Party.
He ushered in a period of total social control and
rule by terror, rather than a constitutional
government.