The Russian Revolutions:
March 1917
November 1917
1928-1939
Precursor to March 1917
• Revolution of 1905
– Nicholas II agrees to
become constitutional
monarch
– Dumas were created, but
had no real power. One
was dissolved by Tsar; he
changed voting
requirements for another.
– Not much real reform;
Stolypin land reforms ended
with WWI.
Causes of Revolution of March
1917
• Tsar ineffectual and weak
• Reforms of 1905 failed, except for ending
redemption dues and limited land
distribution under Stolypin.
• Peasant population exploded by 800,000
yearly in last years of 19th c-- wanted land.
• Workers-only 2-3 % of population wanted
representation in factories, better working
conditions and pay.
Causes of March 1917
Revolution continued
• National minorities wanted autonomy.
• Soldiers want representation, supplies (1 in 3 no
boots or gun), and end to harsh discipline.
• Bolsheviks called for peace, land, bread, power to the
worker’s soviets.
• World War I- brought problems to surface
– Shortages
– rampant inflation
– massive losses
Causes of March 1917
Revolution continued
Tsarina seen as “German
woman,” extravagant, and
removed. Influenced policy in
Tsar’s absence. When people
were striking for bread and
better working conditions in
March 1917, she called them
“Hulligans” in a letter to the
Tsar and told him that they
would go back inside when
the weather turned cold.
Causes of March 1917
Revolution continued
Rasputin was resented.
Seen as negative influence
on policy and
on Tsar and Tsarina.
He is murdered with
difficulty in Dec 1916.
Events of March Revolution
• March 8, 1917Women’s Day strikes”Bread”
• March 15-Nicholas II
abdicates
• March 18- Provisional
Committee takes over
Bolsheviks gain strength
• April 1917-Germans give
free passage to Lenin.
• July Days- 1917
• Kornilov Revolt-Kerensky
discredited.
• Lenin promises “Peace,
Bread, Land, Power to
Worker’s Soviets.”
• Bols. not part of
Provisional government.
November (October) Revolution
• November 8, 1917, unpopular Prov. Gov’t
“falls like a piece of wet mud.”
• November 1917- Constituent Assembly
elected.
• CHEKA (Secret Police) created and gains
strength.
• January 1918- Long awaited Constituent
Assembly is dissolved by Bolsheviks.
New Economic Policy, 19211928
•
•
•
•
Retreat from immediate socialism
Allowed some private ownership
Lenin died in 1924.
By 1928, farm production reached 1913
levels, but Stalin did not like the success
and independence of kulak farmers, who
thrived with private ownership.
Civil War and Allied Intervention
• March 1918Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
with GermanyRussia lost 1/3 of its
land!
Civil War and Allied
Intervention, 1918-1921
• After Brest-Litovsk, allies move in to
protect munitions and against the
Bolsheviks (Reds).
• White Army = Allies and other countries,
plus monarchists, national minorities,
Cossacks, and others. War did not go well
for White Army, which had ambiguous
leadership.
Stalin’s Revolution: Collectivization,
Industrialization, and Terror
• Collectivization-results in
starvation and deaths of
approx. 10,000,000,
especially in Ukraine
• 5 Year plans- rapid
Industrialization.
• Terror- gulag, show trials,
secret police = deaths of
as many as 20,000,000.