Revolutions in Russia PDF

REVOLUTIONS IN RUSSIA - Revolution started at 1917 ​ -revolution: significant change in the social, political, and economic structures of society Earlier revolutionary activities(set the stage for revolution) - The cruel, oppressive rule of most 19th-century czars caused social un...

REVOLUTIONS IN RUSSIA - Revolution started at 1917 ​ -revolution: significant change in the social, political, and economic structures of society Earlier revolutionary activities(set the stage for revolution) - The cruel, oppressive rule of most 19th-century czars caused social unrest for decades. ​ ​ > army officers revolted(1825) ​ ​ > Secret revolutionary groups plotted to overthrow the government. - A czar, Alexander II was assassinated by angry revolutionaries due to slow political change.(1881) Czar Resists Change ​ - Alexander III succeeded his father(1881) ​ ​ - stopped all reforms ​ ​ - followed principles of autocracy(Nicholas I) ​ ​ ​ > autocracy: a form of government in which he had total power. > if u question authority, worshipped outside Russian Orthodox church, or speak a language other than russian = dangerous ​ ​ - To wipe out revolutionaries, Alexander III used harsh measures ​ ​ ​ > strict censorship codes on published material ​ ​ ​ > watched schools ​ ​ ​ > teachers send detailed reports on each student ​ ​ ​ > political prisoners were sent to Siberia - To establish a uniform Russian culture.. ​ > oppressed other national groups in russia ​ > made Russian the official language ​ > forbade use of minority languages, like Polish, in schools -Alexander made Jews target of persecution ​ >“pogroms”-- organized violence against jews - Russian soldiers watched as Russian citizens loot and destroy Jewish areas. ​ ​ - Nicholas II(son of Alexander III) continued Russian autocracy. Unfortunately, he was blinded by the changing conditions of his time ​ ​ Russia Industrializes - Number of factories doubled - Nicholas II’s most capable minister launched a program to move forward ​ > government sought foreign investors and raised taxes for funds ​ > resulted in growth of heavy industry, particularly steel(4th ranking producer)(U.S. Germany, G.B) - British and french investors helped Russia with building the world’s longest continuous rail line–the Trans Siberian Railway(1891 - 1916) > connected Euro Russia at West - Russian ports on the pacific ocean in the Eas t ​ - rapid industrialization stirred discontent among Russians. - Growth of factories caused problems like bad working conditions, low wages, and child labor and trade unions became outlawed. (trade union: an organization formed by workers to improve working conditions) - to improve lives, they organized strikes 1)​ - as a result, revolutionary movements began to grow and compete. ​ ​ > Group that followed views of Karl Marx ​ ​ >they believed that the workers would overthrow the czar. ​ ​ > they would then form “a dictatorship of proletariat” – the proletariat(workers)--would rule the country. 2)​ - Russian Marxists split into 2. > Moderate Mensheviks - wanted a wide support from many groups of people not just workers > radical Bolsheviks - believed revolution should be led by a small group of revolutionaries, without broad public support ​ ​ - Major leader named Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov(Lenin) ​ ​ - engaging and excellent organizer, but also ruthless ​ ​ - he fled western Euro to avoid arrest by the czarist regime. -LENIN- > at `17, Alexander his brother was hanged for plotting to kill the czar > Alexander’s execution influenced Lenin( but he already had ill feelings against gov.) > After the revolution(March) in 1917, Russians revered him as the “Father of the Revolution.” > government placed his tomb in Red Square in Moscow, with body preserved​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Crises at Home and Abroad -​ 1904-1917, Russia faced a series of crises that paved the way for revolution. -​ Russia and Japan competed for control of Korea and Manchuria. (Russo-Japanese War)  > they signed a series of agreements but Russia broke them. Japan then attacked at Port Arthur, Manchuria. -​ News of repeated Russian losses sparked unrest at home and led to a revolt in the during the war.(1904) Bloody Sunday: Revolution of 1905 -​ On January 22, 1905, 200,000 workers and their families approached the czar’s Winter Palace in St. Petersburg bringing a petition asking for better working conditions, more personal freedom, and an elected national legislature. -​ Nicholas II’s generals ordered soldiers to fire on the crowd (1000 wounded, hundreds dead) -​ Bloody Sunday provoked a wave of strikes across the country -​ In Oct 1905, Nicholas promised more freedom ( creation of Duma, a russian council)--Russia’s first parliament > its leaders were moderates who wanted Russia to be a constitutional monarchy like Britain. > constitutional monarchy: single ruler heads the state and shares authority with elected Lawmakers > bcs he was hesitant to share power, he stopped duma after 10 weeks WW1 - The Final Blow -​ Nicholas dragged Russia in WW1(1914) -​ Russia was unprepared to handle military and economic costs. -​ Weak generals and poorly equipped troops -​ No match for German army -​ Before a year passed, more than 4M russian soldiers dead, wounded, imprisoned. -​ Russia’s involvement revealed the weaknesses of czarist rule and leadership -​ Nicholas moved his headquarters to the war front to rally his discouraged troops to victory -​ Wife, Czarina Alexandra, ran the government while he was away ​ > ignored chief advisers > influenced by Rasputin, a self described “holy man”, claims he has healing powers. -​ Son, Alexis, suffered from hemophilia, Rasputin seemed to ease his symptoms -​ To say thanks, Rasputin was allowed to make political decisions > opposed reform measures and gave his friends positions -​ A group of nobles murdered Rasputin because they feared his role in gov affairs -​ War front soldiers mutinied deserted and ignored orders7 -​ Home front soldiers, food anf fuel supplies were lessening. Prices inflated -​ People wanted change and end to the war, and Nicholas and alexandra can't do anything The March Revolution -​ Women textile workers in Petrograd led a citywide strike -​ In the next 5 days, riots flared up with shortage of bread and fuel -​ 200k workers swarmed streets – “down with autocracy!”, “Down with the war !” -​ At first soldiers shot them but then sided with them -​ The protest exploded into an uprising– the March Revolution = Forced Nicholas II to step down the throne > him and his family were executed by revolutionaries a year later and brought the three century rule of the Romanovs to an end. -​ March Revolution failed to set up a replacement to replace Nicholas II -​ Leaders of the Duma established a provisional government( temporary gov) ​ > led by Alexander Kerensky -​ He chose to continue fighting in WW1, which cost the support of the people anf Russia worsened. ​ > peasans demanded land competing for power, and formed soviets -​ Soviets: local councils consisting of workers, peasants and soldiers. And insome cities, the Soviets had more influence than gov. -​ Lenin returned to Russia and Germans thought that he would destabilize and stir unrest in Russia so they arranged his return traveling in a sealed railway boxcar, he arrived in Petrograd in April 1917. -​ The Bolshevik Revolution -​ Lenin and the Bolsheviks soon gained control of the Petrograd soviet and other soviets in other major cities. -​ fall of 1917, people in the cities were rallying “All power to the soviets.” -​ Lenin’s slogan—“Peace, Land,and Bread”—gained appeal. Lenin decided to take action. -​ The Provisional Government Topples In November 1917 -​ armed factory workers stormed the Winter Palace in Petrograd. Calling themselves the Bolshevik Red Guards -​ they took over government offices and arrested the leaders of the provisional government.(Kerensky) -​ Lenin ordered all farmland be distributed to the peasants -​ They gave control of factories to workers -​ Bolshevik gov. Signed truce w germany to stop fighting -​ In March 1918, Russia and Germany signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ​ > Russia surrendered a large territory to Germany and its allies ​ >Terms of treaty angered many Russians > They objected to the Bolsheviks and their policies and to murder of the Royal Family Civil War Rages in Russia -​ The Bolsheviks now faced a new challenge—stamping out their enemies at home. -​ Their opponents formed the White Army. Groups who supported return to rule of czar, ppl who wanted democratic gov., and socialists who opposed Lenin's socialism style. -​ Desire to defeat bolsheviks united the White Army -​ The groups barely cooperated with each other. (3 White Armies vs Bolshevik’s Red Army) -​ The revolutionary leader, Leon Trotsky, expertly commanded the Bolshevik Red Army. -​ From 1918 to 1920, civil war raged in Russia. -​ Several Western nations, including the U.S., sent military aid and forces to Russia to help the White Army. However, they were of little help -​ Russians civil war was far more deadly than the earlier revolutions.(14 million died in 3 year struggle and famine that followed) -​ Destruction, losses from fighting, hunger, and flu epidemic left Rusia in chaos. -​ Bolsheviks Red Army crushed all opposition.-- Victory showed bolsheviks were able to sieze power and maintain it. -​ Russian Revolution was more like the french revolution rather than the American Revolution ​ > The American Revolution expanded English political ideas into a constitutional government that built on many existing structures ​ > he French and Russian revolutions attempted to destroy existing social and political structures. The revolutionaries used violence and terror to control ppl. -​ But the france became a constitutional monarchy while Russian revolution established a state-controlled society that lasted decades. Lenin restores order -​ War and revolution destroyed Russian economy. -​ Trade was at a standstill, industrial production dropped, and skilled workers fled to other countries. -​ Lenin wanted to revive the economy and reconstruct the government. -​ He put aside his plan for state-controlled economy and resorted to a small version of capitalism—New Economic Policy(NEP) ​ >allowed peasants to sell crops instead of turning them over to the government. ​ > gov controlled major industries but it let some small factories, businesses, and farms operate under priv ownership. ​ > they also encouraged foreign investment.  (zoom) -​ -​ -​ The new policies and to the peace that followed the civil war, Russia slowly recovered -​ Russia;s farms and factpries started producing as much as they had before WW1. -​ Bolshevik leaders saw nationalism as a threat to unity and party loyalty -​ Lenin organized russia into several self-governing republics -​ In 1922, the cpuntry was named the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), in honor of the councils that helped launch the Bolshevik Revolution. -​ Bolsheviks renamed their party to the Communist Party ​ > came from writings of Karl marx(bolsheviks r marxists) ​ >He used the word communism to describe the classless society that would exist after workers had seized power -​ In 1924, the Communists created a constitution based on socialist and democratic principles. In reality, the Communist Party held all the power. Lenin had established a dictatorship of the Communist Party, not “a dictatorship of the proletariat(workers),” as Marx had promoted. Stalin Becomes a dictator -​ Lenin had a stroke in 1922, survived -​ But this set in motion competition for the head in the communist party -​ 2 most notable were Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin -​ Stalin was cold, hard, and impersonal  -​ He changed his name to Stalin which means “Man of steel” during his early bolshevik days -​ He was a General secretary of the party(1922-1927), and he worked behind the scenes to move his supporters into positions of power(it benefits him) -​ Lenin believed that stalin was dangerous -​ Before he died, Lenin wrote about the fact that Stalin has enormous power in his hands and Lenin is not sure he always knows how to use power with caution. -​ By 1928, Stalin was already is total command of the communist party -​ Leon Trotsky was forced into exile in 1929(no longer a threat) -​ Stalin now wield absolute power as a dictator Questions with answers(select under question) 1.​ Why did industrialization in Russia lead to unrest? Industrialization in Russia led to unrest due to poor working conditions, long hours, and low wages. The rapid urbanization also created overcrowded cities, fueling dissatisfaction among the working class and creating a sense of inequality and hardship. 2.​ Why did Kerensky’s decision to continue fighting the war cost him the support of the Russian people? Kerensky's decision to continue fighting World War I angered many Russians, who were already suffering from war fatigue, food shortages, and military defeats. His failure to address these issues led to a loss of support from the people, who hoped for peace and change. 3.​ What was the extent (north to south, east to west) of the Bolshevik territory in 1919?(Map p.870) 4.​ Which European countries had territory that was no longer within Russian boundaries because of the Brest-Litovsk treaty?(Map p.870) 5.​ What role did World War I play in the two revolutions? World War I exacerbated existing economic and social problems in Russia, leading to widespread discontent. Military failures, high casualties, and food shortages contributed to the March Revolution, which then set the stage for the Bolshevik Revolution. 6.​ Why were the effects of the March Revolution also causes of the Bolshevik Revolution? The March Revolution ended the czarist regime but left a power vacuum and ongoing issues like war and poverty. The provisional government’s inability to address these problems made the Bolshevik Revolution an attractive alternative to the people. 7.​ What problems did Lenin and the Bolsheviks face after the revolution? After the revolution, Lenin and the Bolsheviks faced opposition from various factions, economic collapse, and the need to consolidate power. The Civil War, foreign intervention, and a weakened economy posed significant challenges. 8.​ How did the Communist government prevent nationalism from threatening the new state created by the revolution? The Communist government sought to control nationalism by creating a centralized state with strict political and cultural policies. They promoted a unified Soviet identity and suppressed nationalist movements within various regions of the former Russian Empire. 9.​ How did World War I help to bring about the Russian Revolution? World War I directly contributed to the Russian Revolution by exacerbating economic strain, military defeats, and civilian suffering. These factors undermined the legitimacy of the czarist regime and fueled discontent, leading to the March Revolution. 10.​ What groups made up the Red Army and the White Army? The Red Army, composed mainly of Bolshevik supporters, workers, and peasants, fought to defend the revolution. The White Army, made up of monarchists, liberals, and other anti-Bolshevik groups, sought to overthrow the Bolshevik government. 11.​ Why did the Bolsheviks rename their party the Communist Party? It came from the writings of Karl marx. And he used the word communism to describe the classless society that would exist after workers had seized power 12.​How did the czar’s autocratic policies toward the people lead to social unrest? Czar Nicholas II's autocratic policies, including repression, lack of political reform, and failure to address the needs of the people, led to widespread dissatisfaction. His resistance to change and disregard for popular opinion sparked social unrest. 13.​What do you think were Czar Nicholas II’s worst errors in judgment during his rule? Czar Nicholas II's worst errors were his inability to adapt to political change, his mismanagement of the economy, and his decision to take personal command of the army during World War I, which further disconnected him from the problems facing the country. 14.​ Which of the events during the last phase of czarist rule do you think was most responsible for the fall of the czar? The most responsible event for the fall of the czar was the February Revolution of 1917. Widespread strikes, protests, and the military's defection undermined the czar's authority, leading to his abdication and the end of the Romanov dynasty.