Mrs. Browne

Hornell High School

Global Studies II

TheRussian

Revolution

TheRussian

Revolution

Background to the 1917 Revolution

• Features that made Russia difficult to rule in the 1800’s were:– Russia was immense in size spanning both

Europe and Asia– Russia still had a rigid social class structure– Russia was mostly rural & agricultural– Russia was ruled by the Romanov czars for

over 300 years

Russia’s immense size

Russia’s immense size

Russia’s immense size

Russia’s Social Class System

The Czar & his family and the nobility

The Orthodox Church

A small business class

The Army

Peasants 80% of the population!!

Early 20c:

Russian Social

Hierarchy

Russia in the early 1900’s

Rural & agricultural!

Russia: Rural & Agricultural!

Russia: Rural & Agricultural!

First Stages of Industrialization

An Early Russian Factory

The Rule of the Romanov’s

Nicholas II The Last Romanov Czar!

The Rule of the Romanov’s

• Three Pillars of Russian Absolutism

“Orthodoxy, Autocracy, Nationalism”• Orthodoxy = Russian Orthodox Church• Autocracy = absolute power of the state• Nationalism = Russian 1st , all other

ethnicities in the empire are a distant 2nd

by NOT allowing any reform or diversity, resentment grew against the Czar !

The Rule of the Romanov’s• “Orthodoxy, Autocracy, Nationalism”

Background to the 1917 Revolution

• Essential Question #1– Identify and explain 3 features of Russia that

made it difficult to rule in the 1800’s.

Background to the 1917 Revolution

• Other Key Events also led to the 1917 Revolution– Reforms came too little, too late– The Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905– The Russian Revolution of 1905– World War I

Too Little, Too Late Reforms

• Serfdom abolished (finally) in 1861• Zemstvos (locally elected gov’ts) were allowed to exist• Military service requirements are decreased • Trans-Siberian railroad was begun in the 1890’s &

stretches over 5,000 miles• BUT…

– Peasants still poor, uneducated– Women still denied university education– Jews are persecuted– Workers experience horrible conditions

Russo-Japanese War [1904-1905]

The Russo-Japanese WarRussia not only loses

the war to Japan but is HUMILIATED!

• Japan had just gone through the Meiji Restoration AND was now modern & industrial – especially when compared to Russia!

• Russia is the first European nation to lose a war to an Asian nation

The Russian Revolution of 1905 Father Georgi Gapon:

Leads a group to the Winter Palace of the Czar. They seek relief for poor working conditions, poverty, …

But, the soldiers are spooked and fire upon the crowd… the event becomes known as “Bloody Sunday”

The Russian Revolution of 1905Czar Nicholas II is forced to make

concessions:1. He agrees to a Duma or an

elected legislature2. He issues the October Manifesto

where he promises more freedoms

The Russian Revolution of 1905 However…despite these promised

reforms….

The autocracy of the Russian Czar was reaffirmed in their constitution.

The Czar was considered supreme over the law, the church, and the Duma.

World War I

• Russia enters World War I on the side of the Allies– Russia was big brother to Serbia (another

Slavic nation)– France had invested heavily ($) in Russia

helping to build the Trans-Siberian Railway– BUT…..

World War I• Russia is NOT prepared for war!

– Lack of weapons– Lack of supplies– Lack of food– Lack of competent military leaders

• Czar Nicholas II compounds the problem– He goes to the front lines – He leaves the Czarina Alexandra in charge

World War I• Russia under the Czarina

– She was mistrusted by many– She was preoccupied with finding a cure for

their son Alexi’s hemophilia

World War I

• Enter Rasputin…– Known as the “Mad Monk”– Claimed healing powers & did seem able to

help Alexi– The Czarina, therefore, gave him full access

and relied on him for most decisions– Rasputin grew POWERFUL which alarmed

many close to the Czar

World War I

Rasputin

Background to the 1917 Revolution

• Essential Question #2– Identify and explain 3 events that lead to the

Russian Revolution of 1917.

The 1917 Russian Revolution

The 1917 Russian Revolution

March 1917

• The events of 1905-1917 become overwhelming• The women begin the revolt chanting “Peace & Bread” while marching in Petrograd• Others join!• Soldiers refuse to fire and many join the revolution

From March

to November 1917

• Czar Nicholas II abdicates the throne• The Duma establishes a provisional government• Russia’s involvement in WWI continues…more losses & bad news

November 1917

• Lenin had returned from exile & rallies the Bolsheviks• “Peace, Land, Bread” is the Bolshevik slogan• The Bolsheviks overthrow the provisional government• Russia signs Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany & withdraws from the war

The 1917 Russian Revolution

• From the video excerpt… Why did Russians support the Revolution?– Classless society– Equality– End of war– Justice– To share in the “good”– land

The 1917 Russian Revolution

• Russia does NOT become a communist nation then until AFTER the second phase of the 1917 Russian Revolution .

• In 1922, Russia is renamed… U.S.S.R. the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or the Soviet Union.

• Lenin used Marx’s theory to launch his revolution!

1917 - 1921• Lenin wanted to create a new Russia where

Marx’s theory was used– Classless society– The people controlled the production

1917 - 1921

• Other main ideas of Marx:– 1848 Communist Manifesto with Friedrich

Engels– proletariat (workers)– Also thought workers would unite across

nations

The 1917 Russian Revolution

• Essential Question #3– Who were the Bolsheviks and how were they

able to gain support?

1917-1921

1. Russia’s problems are NOT over!

1917-19212. Russia erupts into Civil War!

– Reds vs. Whites• Reds = Lenin’s armies• Whites = those who wanted a return of the czar

3. Lenin uses “war communism” to help win the war

- war communism placed banks and industries under Communist control

- war communism seized grain from the peasants

- war communism placed state government administration under Communist control.

1917-19214. Lenin creates and uses the Cheka or secret

police

- those who opposed the Communists are destroyed!

5. Lenin does not oppose the execution of the royal family

1921-19246. The Red Army wins the civil war but at a

high cost!– Lenin has to pick up the pieces of his war torn

nation• War Communism N.E.P• N.E.P.

– New Economic Policy– Allows for limited capitalism– Lenin needs to win back support of peasants

who want to be able to sell their surplus grain for profit

1921-1924

• N.E.P. (Cont’d)– Small retail stores and small industry was also

allowed for profit– Within a year: production was up, famine had

ended, and the communists were well regarded

– The NEP was successful BUT it was only a temporary measure

1921-1924

• Lenin suffers a stroke and dies in 1924• Battle for the next leader of the USSR

begins– Leon Trotsky vs. Josef Stalin

1917-1928

• Essential Question #4– Why did civil war erupt in Russia? How were

the communists able to win?

• Essential Question #5– Describe in detail V.I.Lenin’s two economic

plans: war communism and the NEP.

1924 - 1928

• Stalin’s rise to power

1928 - 1953

• Stalin Rules the USSR– Stalin has Trotsky removed, exiled, then killed– Stalin begins his focus on industrializing &

strengthening the USSR• 5 year plans• Collectivization• The Great Purges

1928 - 1953• Stalin’s Totalitarian State

– Stalin controlled ALL aspects of life in the USSR

1928 - 1953

• Essential Question #6– How did Stalin’s totalitarian rule affect

education, religion and propaganda?• Essential Question #7

– Describe in detail the following programs created by Stalin: 5 Year Plans, collectivization, the Great Purges

What are the similarities and differences between Lenin &

Stalin?

Lenin (1917 – 1924)• Chief Goal

• Overthrow the provisional gov’t

• Bring communism to Russia then the world

• Economy• War communism helps to

win the Civil War• NEP limited capitalism

(temporary)• Life Under Lenin

• WWIRev 1917Civil War• famine• Cheka• People made great

sacrifices

Stalin (1928-1953)• Chief Goal

• Move USSR into a modern, industrial nation

• Spread communism• Economy

• 5 Year Plans heavy industry 1st (successful)

• Collectivization eliminate private farms (failure)

• Life Under Stalin• censorship• Eliminated ALL opponents!

(kulaks) • famine• Propaganda used to control the

people• Secret police• Great Purges• Education, women were equal

Similarities:~ both wanted to use then spread communism~life was difficult ~ focus on economy~ use of secret police to control ~famine

Propaganda• What is it?

– Ideas spread to influence public opinion either FOR or AGAINST a cause

• What form can it take?– Slogans, posters, artwork, songs, etc.

• What types of messages can it send?– Can be either positive or negative– Can arouse certain feelings like pride, guilt

or hatred

PropagandaAnalyzing Propaganda

1. What type of document is it?

2. What is the date ? (or approximate)

3. For what audience was the document created?

4. Is there a message or slogan? If so, what does it say?

5. What image(s) are seen in the document?

6. What overall message is the document sending the viewer ?

“We are for peace” ~ Stalin

PropagandaAnalyzing Propaganda

1. What type of document is it?

2. What is the date ? (or approximate)

3. For what audience was the document created?

4. Is there a message or slogan? If so, what does it say?

5. What image(s) are seen in the document?

6. What overall message is the document sending the viewer ?

“My Dear Homeland, You Can Rely On Us”

Conclusion

• What were the long term causes of the 1917 Revolution?

• What were some of the short term causes of the 1917 Revolution?

• Why did the provisional government fail?• What are the similarities and differences

between Lenin & Stalin?• Why was Stalin able to rule for 30 years?