the russian revolution, 1917 like the french revolution, the russian revolution sought not only to...
TRANSCRIPT
The Russian Revolution, 1917
Like the French Revolution, the Russian Revolution sought not only to overthrow a government but to remake an entire society.
Unlike the French Revolution, it succeeded.
INTRODUCTION
• This mighty nation covered one-sixth of the land surface of the globe, and was populated by almost 150 million people of more than a hundred different nationalities.
The Symbol for Imperial Russia
19th Century Russia was…..
• Only 40% ethnic Russians• 80% were peasants – subsistence farmers • 60%+ = illiterate• Life expectancy = 40• Low tech and low investment• Land ownership rare• Land owned by OBSCHINA (Commune)OBSCHINA (Commune)
…still a feudal country.
• Peasants could not leave the commune without the consent of the elders
• Drought and crop failure common• 1891 = famine + cholera and typhus = 400,000
dead• 1890 – 64 % of peasants called up for military
service were declared unfit.
1919thth Century Century Russian Russian Social Social
HierarchHierarchyy
Russian Krestyanin (Peasant)
Cause 1:Suffering under
Autocracy
The people suffer under the cruel Czars, who use their secret police to kill or arrest anyone who dares to oppose his autocracy (=total power).
The oppressive rule of most 19th-century czars caused widespread social unrest for decades. Anger over social inequalities & the
ruthless treatment of peasants grew. The czar’s unfair governing sparked many violent reactions.
Nevertheless, many Russians worshipped Nevertheless, many Russians worshipped the Tsar as God’s representative on earth.the Tsar as God’s representative on earth.Peasants typically had a picture of the Peasants typically had a picture of the Tsar on a wall of their hut.Tsar on a wall of their hut.
An engraving depicting the assassination of Czar Alexander II on
March 13th, 1881.
Alexander’s son witnesses
his father’s assassination and becomes
Czar Alexander III
Alexander III: The “Russian Alexander III: The “Russian Bear” (1881-94)Bear” (1881-94)
““The The Russians Russians need the need the
whip”whip”
““Russification” under Russification” under Alexander IIIAlexander III
Mandatory Russian Mandatory Russian language in a language in a multi-national multi-national empireempire
Persecution Persecution (pogroms)(pogroms) of Jews of Jews
Mandatory Russian Mandatory Russian language in a language in a multi-national multi-national empireempire
Persecution Persecution (pogroms)(pogroms) of Jews of Jews
The victims, mostly Jewish children, of a 1905 pogrom in Dnipropetrovsk
Alexander’s Policies Alexander’s Policies (Cont.)(Cont.)
Elimination of Elimination of zemstvoszemstvos
Secret police Secret police generate mass generate mass arrests, arrests, deportations, deportations, executionsexecutions
Here’s a typical Here’s a typical secret police filesecret police file
One radical hung in One radical hung in 1887 was this 17-year-1887 was this 17-year-
old’s brother:old’s brother:
He is Vladimir He is Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, Ilyich Ulyanov, better known as better known as Lenin, Lenin, whom whom Alexander Alexander should should have hung…have hung…
In 1894, when Nicholas II became czar, he announced, “The principle of autocracy will be maintained by me as firmly & unswervingly as by
my father (Alexander III)”
He Refused to surrender any of his power.
Czar Nicholas II
Cause 2:Suffering from
Industrialization
Factory workers suffer from: low wages, long hours, and brutal working conditions.
Broom Factory, 1910
Putilov Machine Works
Russian Steel Workers
Cause 3:Spread of Marxism
With the help of revolutionaries like Lenin and Trotsky, Karl Marx’s idea of a proletariat (worker’s) revolution becomes increasingly popular.
Karl Marx, from Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts (1844)
The worker becomes all the poorer the more wealth he produces, the more his production increases in power
and range. The worker becomes an ever cheaper commodity the more commodities he creates. With the
increasing value of the world of things proceeds in direct proportion to the devaluation of the world of
men. Labour produces not only commodities; it produces itself and the worker as a commodity -- and
does so in the proportion in which it produces commodities generally.
Lenin
Leon Trotsky
Cause 4:Loss in Russo-
Japanese War (1905)
This humiliating defeat makes the Czar look weak and leads to widespread protests.
1904: How Russia expected to beat Japan
Russo-Japanese War Russo-Japanese War [1904-1905][1904-1905]
The Battle of Tsushima, May 1905: Japanese Navy sinks Russian fleet
Russia Is HumiliatedRussia Is Humiliated
Cause 5:Bloody Sunday (1905)
The massacre of unarmed protesters outside the Czar’s palace leads to strikes throughout Russia.
Unrest Among the Unrest Among the Peasants & Urban Peasants & Urban
Working PoorWorking PoorFather Georgi Gapon:
Leader of the Leader of the People OR People OR
Police Police Informer?Informer?
January 9th, 1905: 200 killed, 800 wounded, the first victims of the Russian revolution
Bloody SundayBloody SundayJanuary 22, 1905January 22, 1905
The Czar’s Winter Palace in St. Petersburg
“Bloody Sunday” (9 Jan. 1905)
3 months later: 3 months later: “Bloody Sunday”“Bloody Sunday”
Potemkin Mutiny, 1905
1905 Protests
General Strike (17 October 1905)
Cause 6:Suffering from WWI
Millions of Russians die from battle, hunger, and disease. The economy is in ruins. People are desperate for change.
Russia cannot wage an Russia cannot wage an industrial warindustrial war
MAP: The Eastern Front
World War I: “The Last World War I: “The Last Straw”Straw”
War revealed the War revealed the ineptitude and ineptitude and arrogance of the arrogance of the country’s aristocratic country’s aristocratic eliteelite
The Russian “Steam The Russian “Steam Roller”Roller”
Corrupt military Corrupt military leadership and leadership and contempt for ordinary contempt for ordinary Russian peopleRussian people
Average peasant has Average peasant has very little invested in very little invested in the Warthe War
World War I (cont)World War I (cont)
Poorly supplied Poorly supplied troopstroops
Result: Chaos and Result: Chaos and Disintegration of Disintegration of the Russian Armythe Russian Army
--Battle of --Battle of Tannenberg Tannenberg (August, 1914)(August, 1914)
Spreading Spreading DiscontentDiscontent
World War IWorld War I Russia unprepared for warRussia unprepared for war Not enough supplies (food, weapons, clothing)Not enough supplies (food, weapons, clothing) Army poorly organizedArmy poorly organized Soldiers didn’t understand why they were fightingSoldiers didn’t understand why they were fighting Tsar Nicholas II and his ministers provided poor leadership and organizationTsar Nicholas II and his ministers provided poor leadership and organization
Devastation of War – Ukraine
In 1915, the Tsar will take In 1915, the Tsar will take personal command of the armypersonal command of the army
• And that means leaving a Russia ruled by Alexandra and her closest adviser, Rasputin
The Collapse of the Imperial Government
• Nicholas left for the Front—September, 1915
• Alexandra and Rasputin throw the government into chaos
• Alexandra and other high government officials accused of treason
Alexis: The Tsarevich, or Alexis: The Tsarevich, or heir to the throneheir to the throne
• Only Rasputin can stop the boy’s hemorrhaging, the product of the hemophilia inherited from his great-grandmother, Victoria
Because of that strange Because of that strange power…power…
• The starets, or monk, becomes, as Alexandra puts it, “Our Friend,” and a powerful influence on the Romanovs
• He is also a promiscuous drunk—but the Tsarina refuses to listen to any criticism of him
In 1915, Nicholas moved his headquarters to the war front. His wife Czarina Alexandra, ran the government while he was away. She ignored the czar’s chief advisers & instead she fell under the influence of the self-described “holy-man” Rasputin.
Czarina Alexandra
Rasputin
Rasputin claimed to have magical healing powers. “Wonderful tales were told of how the stares could look into every man’s soul, foresee the future, and heal the sick by a glance of his eyes or a touch of his hands.”
Cause 7:Czar Nicholas II refused
to share power
Czar Nicholas II is a weak leader. He clings to power despite the obvious need for change.
The Last Tsar: The Last Tsar: Nicholas II (1894-Nicholas II (1894-
1917)1917)
Nicholas II’s Nicholas II’s personality personality
Terrorized by his father: He wants Terrorized by his father: He wants to please Papa…to please Papa…
But he’s a gentle family man, lacks a But he’s a gentle family man, lacks a forceful personality—Nicholas is forceful personality—Nicholas is eerily similar to Louis XVI—and to eerily similar to Louis XVI—and to Charles I of EnglandCharles I of England
Uh-oh.Uh-oh.
Terrorized by his father: He wants Terrorized by his father: He wants to please Papa…to please Papa…
But he’s a gentle family man, lacks a But he’s a gentle family man, lacks a forceful personality—Nicholas is forceful personality—Nicholas is eerily similar to Louis XVI—and to eerily similar to Louis XVI—and to Charles I of EnglandCharles I of England
Uh-oh.Uh-oh.
Nicholas II’s Nicholas II’s disastersdisasters
One of them is One of them is his marriage—his marriage—to Alexandra of to Alexandra of Hesse, “that Hesse, “that German German woman;” she, woman;” she, like Marie like Marie Antoinette, is Antoinette, is hated by many hated by many RussiansRussians
The marriage The marriage itself…itself…
……is a ‘love is a ‘love match’ The match’ The two are deeply two are deeply committed to committed to each other, each other, and they raise and they raise a beautiful a beautiful family.family.
Their coronation (Seen here: Their coronation (Seen here: Can you find the new Tsar’s Can you find the new Tsar’s Mom?) is not a good omenMom?) is not a good omen
Alexis: Alexandra’s Son with Hemophilia
Hemophilia & the Hemophilia & the TsarevichTsarevich
Event 1:February 23rd
Female textile workers in Petrograd, go on strike because of a shortage of bread. Soon they are joined on the streets by half of the cities 400,000 workers.
February Bread Riot (Painting)
St. Petersburg Bread Rioters, St. Petersburg Bread Rioters, 19171917
St. Petersburg Bread Rioters, St. Petersburg Bread Rioters, 19171917
Armed citizenry
February 1917: Crowds in front of the Royal Palace
Event 2:February 27
Soldiers brought in to put down rioters instead mutiny, join the rioters, and arrest their commanding officers.
Petrograd, February Revolt of the Pavlovsky Guards Regiment
Arrest of generals
Event 3:March 1
The so called “provisional government”, led by Alexander Kerenskyis formed.
Alexander KerenskyAlexander KerenskyAlexander KerenskyAlexander Kerensky• Kerensky, a
moderate socialist, will emerge as the leader of a February 1917 revolution against the Tsar
The Provisional Government
Event 4:March 2
Czar Nicholas II, is forced to abdicate (give up power) while sitting in a railroad carriage, ending 600 years of Czarist rule in Russia.
Abdication of Nicholas II
Event 5:March 8
The provisional government passes civil rights laws but decides to continue fighting WWI.
Provisional Government Provisional Government
Declared all Russian citizens equalDeclared all Russian citizens equal Freedom of speech, religion, press, and Freedom of speech, religion, press, and
assembly given to all citizensassembly given to all citizens Unions and strikes legalUnions and strikes legal Planned on continuing warPlanned on continuing war Provisional Government made these promises, Provisional Government made these promises,
but asked people to waitbut asked people to wait People tired of waiting and listened more and People tired of waiting and listened more and
more to the revolutionariesmore to the revolutionaries
But Kerensky refuses to pull But Kerensky refuses to pull Russia out of the War—he will, in Russia out of the War—he will, in
fact, launch disastrous new fact, launch disastrous new offensivesoffensives
Event 6:April 3
Vladimir Lenin returns from exile and soon dominates the Bolsheviks.
Lenin Returns to Russia
The Germans arrange for Lenin’s return to Russia after many years of exile. The Germans believe that Lenin & his Bolshevik supporters would cause unrest in Russia & hurt the Russian war effort.
Traveling in a sealed railway boxcar, Lenin reaches Petrograd in April 1917.
Peace, Bread, and Land!
Lenin Addresses the Petrograd Soviet - 1917
Event 7:June
Germans crush the Kerensky Offensive. Russia suffers 400,000 casualties. Many soldiers mutiny and join pro peace Bolsheviks.
Kerensky at the Front
Event 8:July 3
An attempted Bolshevik coup (takeover) of the provisional government fails. Lenin escapes to Finland.
Event 9:August 25
General Kornilov attempts to overthrow the provisional government and form a military dictatorship. Kerensky (leader of provisional government) asks for help from the Bolsheviks and gives them weapons. Kornilov is defeated.
General Kornilov
• Lavr Georgiyevich Kornilov (August 18, 1870–April 13, 1918)
• was a Russian army general best known for the Kornilov Affair, an unsuccessful military coup he staged against Kerensky's Provisional Government during the 1917 Russian Revolution.
Kornilov AffairKornilov Affair
To prevent this To prevent this takeover, Kerensky takeover, Kerensky freed many freed many Bolshevik leaders Bolshevik leaders from prison and from prison and supplied arms to supplied arms to many many revolutionariesrevolutionaries
Event 10:October 25
Lenin and Bolsheviks make their move. They take over the major government offices in Petrograd. Kerensky and the PG flee. The revolution spreads throughout Russia.
Bolsheviks Storming the Winter Palace
Long Live World October!
What Did Lenin Do Upon Coming What Did Lenin Do Upon Coming to Power?to Power?
Immediately proposed an Immediately proposed an end to War (WWI) (what end to War (WWI) (what peasants wanted most peasants wanted most was peace)was peace)
Proposed the distribution Proposed the distribution of all land to peasants, of all land to peasants, landowners would not be landowners would not be paid for land taken from paid for land taken from themthem
Lenin’s proposals Lenin’s proposals adoptedadopted
THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION AND THE WORLD
• Lenin and Trotsky said that the goal of socialism in Russia would not be realized without the success of the world proletariat in other countries, e.g. without German Revolution.
• Indeed, a revolutionary wave lasted until 1923.
Effect 1:The Promise Kept
Lenin gives all land to the peasants and all factories to the workers
Effect 2:Brest-Litovsk
By signing the Treaty of Brest Litovsk, Russia agrees to give Germany huge tracts of land in exchange for peace.
Signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 1918The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 1918
Germany
Russia
.Brest-Litovsk
Ukraine
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Russian territory ceded to Germany
Effect 3: The Crack Down
The Bolsheviks, now renamed the Communists, brutally crack down on anyone deemed an enemy of the revolution, killing thousands and sending thousands more to Gulags, prison camp. The Communists will rule over Russia until 1991.
“Red Terror,” Summer 1918
Like the Czars he helped overthrow, Lenin established a secret police (the Cheka). He also created a system of Gulags (prison camps where he sent anyone who dared speak against the
people’s revolution.
The Gulag Archipelago by
Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Effect 4:Civil War
The Red Army (Bolsheviks) fight the White Army (Anti-Bolsheviks) for the future of Russia. Fifteen million die. The Red Army prevails.
November 1917 Election Results
Party Votes
Total (all Russia) 44,218,55
Socialist Revolutionaries 37% (48% including Ukrainian bloc)
Peasant 0.6%
Bolshevik Social Democrats 24%
Menshevik Social Democrats 3%
Other Socialist Parties 1%
Kadets 5%
Cossack Party 2%
Civil WarCivil War After signing peace treaty, Bolsheviks After signing peace treaty, Bolsheviks
faced armed resistance to their rulefaced armed resistance to their rule Civil war lasted from 1918 to 1921Civil war lasted from 1918 to 1921 Some non-Russian nationalities took Some non-Russian nationalities took
up arms to win independence from up arms to win independence from RussiaRussia
Great Britain, France, and the USA Great Britain, France, and the USA sent troops to Russia to defeat sent troops to Russia to defeat Bolsheviks because they did not want Bolsheviks because they did not want these ideas of revolution spread these ideas of revolution spread around the worldaround the world
Fight by Bolsheviks to establish Fight by Bolsheviks to establish communism in Russia, which was communism in Russia, which was renamed the Russian Soviet renamed the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic (USSR) Federated Socialist Republic (USSR) in 1918in 1918
Bolsheviks changed their name to the Bolsheviks changed their name to the Communist PartCommunist Part
Bolsheviks defeated their enemy’s in Bolsheviks defeated their enemy’s in 19211921
Results of Civil WarResults of Civil War
Much of Russia in ruinsMuch of Russia in ruins Cities, land, factories Cities, land, factories
destroyed after almost destroyed after almost eight years of fightingeight years of fighting
Millions died or fled Millions died or fled countrycountry
Bolsheviks had mammoth Bolsheviks had mammoth task of rebuilding countrytask of rebuilding country
And throw in the U.S. Army And throw in the U.S. Army (1918-20)(1918-20)
Effect 5:The Last Czar
Fearing the White Army will rescue and then rally around the Czar, the Bolsheviks execute Nicholas, his wife, and five children.
During the Civil War, the During the Civil War, the Romanov family…Romanov family…
…is kept under house
arrest by the
Bolsheviks
OlgaOlga
TatianaTatiana
MarieMarie
AnastasiaAnastasia
From the family albumFrom the family album
Their last home; it was torn Their last home; it was torn down in the 1970sdown in the 1970s
Today, All Saints Church stands Today, All Saints Church stands on the site of the homeon the site of the home
Lenin worries that the family will Lenin worries that the family will provide hope to the Whites, some of provide hope to the Whites, some of whom want a return to monarchywhom want a return to monarchy
• In the summer of 1918, he orders the Cheka, or secret police, to eliminate them.
Murder of the Romanovs, 1918Murder of the Romanovs, 1918Murder of the Romanovs, 1918Murder of the Romanovs, 1918
The basement of the home after The basement of the home after the murdersthe murders
The family’s remains, uncovered in The family’s remains, uncovered in 19911991
Lenin himself will die only four Lenin himself will die only four years lateryears later
• But not before the Bolsheviks have crushed the Whites—the Bolshevik revolution is secured.
Lenin was embalmed and put on permanent display in the Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow.
Before he dies, Lenin warns the Before he dies, Lenin warns the Bolshevik leadership about the Bolshevik leadership about the treachery of one of their own: treachery of one of their own:
Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin
Before he dies, Lenin warns the Before he dies, Lenin warns the Bolshevik leadership about the Bolshevik leadership about the treachery of one of their own: treachery of one of their own:
Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin
…and that is the quality that will enable Stalin to
become the master of Russia, from 1928 until
1953
Power Struggle after Lenin’s Death and Stalin’s Rule
Forced collectivization “The Great Famine” “The Great Terror” Purges Gulag
THE NEW FLAG
•Symbolized the union between the workers (hammer) & the peasants (sickle)
The first state emblem of Soviet Russia: “Workers of all lands, unite!”
Can you identify these important figures from the Russian
RevolutionAND
briefly describe the role each played in the revolution?
Note: These will be on the quiz.
Name: Czar Nicholas IIRole: Last Czar / Refused to
give up power
Name: Vladimir LeninRole: Led the Bolshevik revolution of 1917
Name: Leon TrotskyRole: Led the Red Army to victory in Russian Civil War.
Name: Female Textile WorkersRole: Their bread riot in March, 1917 began the Russian Revolution.
Name: General KornilovRole: Attempted coup (takeover) of PG in August, 1917 failed.
Name: RasputinRole: Controlled Russia through Czar’s wife while Czar was at front.
Name: Alexander KerenskyRole: Led PG (Provisional Government) from March-October 1917
Name: Karl MarxRole: His ideas of a worker’s revolt inspired the Russian Revolution.
End