Russia: Industrialization to Russia: Industrialization to BolshevismBolshevism

BackgroundBackground

Tsar Alexander IITsar Alexander II– Attempted to reform after Crimean WarAttempted to reform after Crimean War

Ended serfdomEnded serfdom Military reformMilitary reform ZemstvosZemstvos Judicial reformJudicial reform

Sergei WitteSergei Witte

Alexander IIIAlexander III– Political conservativePolitical conservative– Encouraged industrialization of RussiaEncouraged industrialization of Russia

Sergei Witte (finance minister)Sergei Witte (finance minister) Protective tariffsProtective tariffs TaxesTaxes Gold standardGold standard Heavy industryHeavy industry TextilesTextiles Transiberian RailroadTransiberian Railroad

Russian Social Classes circa Russian Social Classes circa 19001900

~approximately 85% peasants~approximately 85% peasants Small industrial proletariatSmall industrial proletariat Landowning aristocracyLandowning aristocracy Kulaks – landowning peasantsKulaks – landowning peasants

Social Revolutionary Party – opposed Social Revolutionary Party – opposed industry; embraced rural lifeindustry; embraced rural life

Constitutional Democratic Party - liberalsConstitutional Democratic Party - liberals

Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin

LeninLenin– Rejected SRP’s traditionalismRejected SRP’s traditionalism– Rejected the Social Dems call for industryRejected the Social Dems call for industry– Criticized trade unionism as being too limitedCriticized trade unionism as being too limited– Rejected mass democracy of votersRejected mass democracy of voters– Favored a small, organized party Favored a small, organized party – ““Bolsheviks” vs. “Mensheviks”Bolsheviks” vs. “Mensheviks”– Favored unity among peasants and Favored unity among peasants and

proletariatproletariat

Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin

Tsar Nicholas IITsar Nicholas II

(r. 1894-1917)(r. 1894-1917)

Nicholas, Alexandra, and Their Nicholas, Alexandra, and Their ChildrenChildren

Queen Victoria’s Family TreeQueen Victoria’s Family Tree

Nicholas II and his uncle, George Nicholas II and his uncle, George VV

Causes - Revolution of 1905Causes - Revolution of 1905

Russia was only beginning to Russia was only beginning to industrializeindustrialize

There was general discontentment There was general discontentment among peasantsamong peasants

Nicholas II was harsh, but ineffective.Nicholas II was harsh, but ineffective. Russia unexpectedly lost in 1905 war w/ Russia unexpectedly lost in 1905 war w/

Japan.Japan.

War with JapanWar with Japan

Russia Expected VictoryRussia Expected Victory In 1904/05 Russia and In 1904/05 Russia and

Japan fought for control Japan fought for control of Korea and Manchuriaof Korea and Manchuria

The Tsar expected a The Tsar expected a quick victoryquick victory

Russia suffered defeats Russia suffered defeats on Land and sea. Japan on Land and sea. Japan destroyed the Russian destroyed the Russian NavyNavy

ResultsResults

Tsar becomes more Tsar becomes more unpopularunpopular

Russia is humiliated Russia is humiliated

Government seen to be Government seen to be weak and incompetentweak and incompetent

Conditions for the people Conditions for the people get worseget worse

price rises food shortages price rises food shortages and unemploymentand unemployment

Russo-Japanese WarRusso-Japanese War

Russian and Japanese CartoonsRussian and Japanese Cartoons

Russia is humiliatedRussia is humiliated

Bloody Sunday 1905Bloody Sunday 1905

1905 Revolution1905 Revolution

Forms of struggleForms of struggle:: DemonstrationsDemonstrations Strikes, many of them politicalStrikes, many of them political Takeovers of farmlandTakeovers of farmland Armed revoltsArmed revolts Mutinies in the armed forcesMutinies in the armed forces Political self-organization of civil societyPolitical self-organization of civil society

– Creation of political parties – from Left to RightCreation of political parties – from Left to Right– Creation of labor unions, independent Creation of labor unions, independent

professional associations, etc.professional associations, etc.– Creation of “Creation of “SovietsSoviets” as new bodies of democratic ” as new bodies of democratic

government, challenging the autocratic stategovernment, challenging the autocratic state

Spread of the Spread of the RevolutionRevolution

ResultsResults

The government’s responseThe government’s response Peace with JapanPeace with Japan RepressionRepression Reforms, beginning with the Tsar’s October 1905 Reforms, beginning with the Tsar’s October 1905

Manifesto, granting political freedoms and parliamentary Manifesto, granting political freedoms and parliamentary electionselections

By 1907, the revolution subsidesBy 1907, the revolution subsides But no viable new form of state-society relations has But no viable new form of state-society relations has

been createdbeen created StalemateStalemate

– The TsarThe Tsar is a reactionary, rejects democracyis a reactionary, rejects democracy– The nobility is stuck in the old orderThe nobility is stuck in the old order– The capitalist class is too dependent on the state, too afraid The capitalist class is too dependent on the state, too afraid

to show initiativeto show initiative

ResultsResults The October ManifestoThe October Manifesto - - promise of freedom of speech, right to form political promise of freedom of speech, right to form political

parties parties Establish a DumaEstablish a Duma No new laws without consent of the DumaNo new laws without consent of the Duma Broken PromisesBroken Promises Voting system was unfair rich had more influence Voting system was unfair rich had more influence

than the poorthan the poor Duma had little influence over the Tsar and new Duma had little influence over the Tsar and new

lawslaws First two Dumas were dismissed for demanding First two Dumas were dismissed for demanding

reformsreforms Further changes introduced to excluded socialistFurther changes introduced to excluded socialist

Why Did the Revolution Fail?Why Did the Revolution Fail?

Many disparate groups w/ different Many disparate groups w/ different objectivesobjectives

Lack of organized leadership.Lack of organized leadership. Most strikes and naval mutinies were Most strikes and naval mutinies were

abandoned.abandoned. Tsar did grant some concessions which Tsar did grant some concessions which

some Russians accepted.some Russians accepted. Military was loyal to tsar and the military Military was loyal to tsar and the military

was used to arrest soviets.was used to arrest soviets.

Nicholas II Appoints StolypinNicholas II Appoints Stolypin

The Rule of StolypinThe Rule of Stolypin

– Aim of stabilityAim of stability

– 1. Repress the revolutionaries1. Repress the revolutionaries

– 2. Introduce reforms to improve living conditions2. Introduce reforms to improve living conditions

– 1911 - Stolypin assassinated1911 - Stolypin assassinated

StolypinStolypin

1. Great reduction in activities of the 1. Great reduction in activities of the revolutionariesrevolutionaries

2. Richer peasants (Kulaks) now run farms 2. Richer peasants (Kulaks) now run farms for profitfor profit

3. Kulaks now loyal to Tsar3. Kulaks now loyal to Tsar 4. Cities have more food4. Cities have more food 5. Conditions for some workers improve 5. Conditions for some workers improve

though many remain discontented. 1912/14 though many remain discontented. 1912/14 many strikesmany strikes

6. Revolutionaries like Lenin learn to adopt 6. Revolutionaries like Lenin learn to adopt new more tacticsnew more tactics

Rasputin and AlexiRasputin and Alexi