Russian Revolution

1
Russian Revolution

• Chapter 16 Section 3

2
Background to Revolution

• Main Idea
• In March 1917, a revolution ignites after period
  of worker unrest and Russian failure in WWI

3
Background to Revolution

• Russia enters WWI unprepared from previous
  military encounters with Japan in 1905 and the
  Revolution of 1905
• Does not have military technology
• Cannot produce weaponry or even have adequate
  supply
• Does not have qualified, experienced leaders
• Czar Nicholas believes he can control the army
• Does not have any military experience or knowledge

4
Background to Revolution

• Russia is unable to engage in war at even playing
  field
• Loses 2 million soldiers between 1914 and 1916
• 4 -6 million soldiers injured or captured
• By 1917 the people have NO will left to fight

5
Beginnings of Upheaval

• Czar Nicholas
• Relied on army and bureaucracy to uphold his
  regime
• Rasputin intervenes in personal life through
  Alexandra, Nicholas wife
• Gained her trust through Alexia who was a
  hemophilic
• Rasputin led her to believe he had magical powers
  and could heal her son
• Alexandra made important decisions in Nicholas
  absence through Rasputin
• This gave Rasputin the power behind the throne

6
Nicholas II and his son Alexei
7
Rasputin claims the ability to heal the sickly
child of hemophilia a blood clotting disorder
Nicholas II goes to the eastern front and leaves
the czarina in charge of the government.
8
Nicholas and family
Many hated Alexandra, his German wife. During
the war she was accused of being a spy.
9
Beginnings of Upheaval

• Problems with czarist regime
• People grow more upset with Czar as their
  military advances and economic adventures fail
• Conservative aristocrats mirrored their feelings
• What do they usually want?
• Assassinated Rasputin ? shot him 3 times, bound
  him, and threw him in the water and he still
  managed to untie his arms

10
The royal family lived a life of luxury while
poverty plagued most of the Russian people
Faberge eggs given as Easter presents
11
The March Revolution

• Bread had been rationed for war effort which
  caused bread prices to increase dramatically
• Working-class women led a series of attacks in
  Petrograd, the capital, after standing HOURS in a
  bread line after working 12 hours a day
• 3/8 10000 women marched demanding peace and
  bread ? more women joined and soon were
  demanding a general strike

12
The March Revolution

• Factories went on strike and closed down for 2
  days
• Alexandra alerts Nicholas
• This is a hooligan movement
• He orders soldiers to fire into the crowd to
  disperse the women
• the soldiers refused and some joined

13
Duma meets

• The Duma, a legislative body Nicholas tried to
  dissolve, met and established a provisional
  government
• Mostly middle class Duma representatives
• They forced Nicholas to step down, ending the 300
  year Romanov dynasty
• Did not have support of military or aristocrats
• Was going to place son as next czar but realized
  sons health was not strong enough to be away
  from family and his brother, Grand Duke Michael
  became Emperor of Russia ? did not take up throne

14
The czar is arrested in 1917 and his family is
put on house arrest
The royal family must do their own work
15
Alexander Kerensky becomes the leader of the
provisional government

• He makes the fatal mistake of trying to continue
  the war to maintain honor
• Further aggravated workers and peasants unrest
  who wanted an end of war

16
Alexander Kerensky visits troopsHe launched the
last Russian offensive attack
17
Provisional Government

• Soviets
• Council made up of representatives from soldiers
  and workers
• In 1917 sprang up in army units, factory towns,
  and rural areas
• Mostly socialists
• Radical interest group
• Bolsheviks were subgroup who will play a big role

18
From Czars to Communists

• Lenin and Bolsheviks gained control, who ended up
  overthrowing the provisional government

19
From Czars to Communists

• Bolsheviks began as Russian Social Democrats ?
  part of a Marxist party
• - "bolshinstvo is Russian for majority
• Lenin was leader
• Believed only a violent overthrow would eliminate
  capitalistic system
• A vanguard of activists must form a small party
  of well-disciplined, professional revolutionaries

20
Lenin and the Bolsheviks

• While in exile, Lenin saw the perfect opportunity
  for an overthrow with the Bolsheviks as the
  provisional government was being established
• Germany sent Lenin to instigate a revolution
• Want to ruin Russia while preserve Germany

21
Lenin and the Bolsheviks

• Encouraged Bolsheviks to gain control of soviets
  of soldiers, workers, and peasants ? already
  wanting a change power
• Bolsheviks reflected the hard times of the people
  
• Wanted an end to war
• Wanted peasants land back
• Wanted factories and industries to be controlled
  by the people and not be capitalistic
• Wanted soviets to replace provisional government

22
The Bolsheviks demand that power be given to them
when Lenin returned
Lenins slogan Land, Peace, Bread
23
Bolsheviks Seize Power

• Bolsheviks comprised most of Petrograd and Moscow
  soviets
• Party grew from 50000 to 240000
• Leon Trotsky
• Dedicated revolutionary and head of Petrograd
  soviet
• Bolsheviks in good position

24
Bolsheviks Seize Power

• November 6th
• Seized the Winter Palace, the seat of the
  provisional government
• Government collapsed with little bloodshed
• Overthrow coincided with Congress of Soviets
• Lenin gave government power to Congress of
  Soviets
• made Lenin leader
• Renamed themselves --- Communists

25
Bolsheviks Seize Power

• Lenin promised peace, even though it was not easy
• He signed Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
• Gave up eastern Poland, Ukraine, Finland, and
  Baltic provinces

26
Bolsheviks Seize Power

• To his critics
• Lenin said land was not a concerned
• spread of socialist revolution goes beyond
  borders
• He promised peace
• Peace did not come and a civil war broke out

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Civil War in Russia Views

• Bolshevik (communist ) party
• Get rid of the monarchy
• Revolution

• Anti-Lenin socialists
• Supported czar, were liberal or anti-Lenin
  socialists
• Liberals supported constitutional monarchy
• Socialists wanted gradual reform
• Wanted a democracy
• Allies joined with socialists because they did
  not want communism to spread

28
Civil War 1918-1921

• Allies help the socialists
• Sent thousands of troops to Russia to encourage
  Russias re-entrance into the war
• Gave material and supplies to anti-Communist
  supporters (White)
• Red Army fought back

29
Civil War 1st Threat

• Serbia ? 1st serious threat
• White force attacked and moved toward the Volga
  River before being stopped

30
Civil War April/July 1918

• Czar was even victim to war
• He and family were held prisoners
• They were moved to a mining town in the Urals
• They were killed and buried in a mine shaft

31
Lenin orders the murder of the royal family
32
The women had sewn jewels in the bodice of their
dresses
Their executioners were surprised when the
bullets didnt penetrate
33
In 1979 the grave of the family was finally
found. DNA testing in 1994 confirmed the nine
skeletons are Romanovs
It has been agreed that the bodies of Anastasia
and Alexis are missing
34
Civil War Mid 1919

• Attacks also came from Ukrainians and Baltic
  regions
• Whites swept through Ukraine and was heading
  toward Moscow before being forced back

35
Civil War by 1920

• One year later, White forces were defeated and
  Ukraine retaken by the Reds
• Communists took over more independent nationalist
  governments in other countries

36
Result By 1921

• Communists were in total control
• Russia was centralized state with one party in
  control
• Very anti-Allies because they had helped the
  Whites
• Why did they win?????

37
Triumph of the Communists Reasons why Lenin
succeed against the odds

• 1. Red Army was well-disciplined because of
  Trotsky who demanded rigid discipline and the
  draft
• Executed anyone who deserted or disobeyed orders

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Triumph of Communists

• 2. Disunity of anti-Communist forces
• Some felt differently about political issues
• Some wanted Czar back
• Some wanted new liberal and democratic government
• Communists had ONE plan
• Had revolutionary spirit and convictions

39
Triumph of Communists The plan

• War of Communism ? ensure supplies
• Government controlled banks and most industries
• Took food and grains from peasants
• Had a central government
• Revolutionary Terror was another effective method
• Red secret police (Cheka) began red terror
• Destroy those who oppose order

40
Triumph of Communists

• 3. Patriotism brought to new level to revolt
  against foreign armies on their soil
• No one liked the idea of foreign militaries in
  their country