Russian Revolution

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Russian Revolution
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Overarching Unit Question

• How does a society evolve and change?
• Essential Questions
• What are the characteristics of capitalism,
  socialism and communism and how did each system
  emerge in different regions?
• To what extent can revolutions be viewed as a
  process?
• One - sneak peak at the Russian Revolution

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Russian Revolution Stage 1

• 1. Weak leadership
• 2. Class conflict
• 3. Intellectuals speak out
• 4. Weak economy

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1. Weak Leadership
Alexander III (I845-1894)
Nicholas II (1868-1918)
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1. Weak LeadershipHarsh Rule by the Czars

• Alexander III (I845-1894)
• Imposed harsh measures
• Censored publications
• Russification uniform culture
• Pogroms persecutions of the Jews

• Nicholas II (1868-1918)
• Continued harsh policies
• Boosted growth in heavy industry
• Began work on Trans-Siberian Railway

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2. CLass Conflict

• From 1890s-1900 - huge push to industrialize
• Trans-Siberian Railway - 5,800 miles long
• Growth of factories led to same issues seen in
  British Industrial Revolution with working and
  living conditions

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2. Class Conflict

• Bloody Sunday The Revolution of 1905
• January 22, 1905 - protest over wages, working
  conditions
• 500 - 1000 unarmed workers, wives, and kids killed

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3.Intellectuals speak out

• Intellectuals in Russia began to turn to Karl
  Marx
• Russian Marxists split into two groups
• Mensheviks - broad popular support
• Bolsheviks - small group for radical change
• Leader Lenin

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4. Economic/Political Weakness

• 1. Russo-Japanese War (1904)
• Russian troops are defeated on land and sea by
  tiny Japan?
• Why does it matter?

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4. Economic/Political Weakness

• World War I (1914-1917)
• Unprepared
• massive casualties
• low morale
• hunger
• Rasputin

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Stage 2

• 1. Financial Breakdown
• 2. Dramatic/Symbolic events
• 3. Government cannot repress rebellion
• 4. Moderate government gains control

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2. Dramatic Events

• The March Revolution
• March 1917 - Women textile workers strike in
  Petrograd, which led to riots over bread

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3. Government cannot repress rebellionMutiny in
Petrograd and Revolutionary sailors in
Kronshtadt

• Czars soldiers join in with rioters during the
  March Revolution
• Nicholas forced to abdicate
• What happened to the Czar and his family?

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4. Moderate Government gains control

• Provisional government headed by Alexander
  Kerensky wants a constitutional monarchy
• Re-established Duma (Russian parliament)

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Stage 3

• 1. Radicals take control
• 2. Civil/Foreign war
• 3. Strong man
• 4. Terror and Virtue

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1. Radicals take control

• Lenin returns to Russia
• November 1917 - Bolshevik Red Guards took over
  Provisional government
• Lenin distributed all farmland among peasants and
  gave factories to workers
• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk to end WWI in Russia

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2. Civil War

• Mensheviks formed the White Army
• Trotsky commanded Bolshevik Red Army
• 3 years, 15 million deaths, and famine
• Red Bolshevik Army won

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3. Strong man
Lenin (1879-1924)
Influences on Lenin's early life
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4. Terror and VirtueAugust 1918 - Fear and
Paranoia

• Terror -gt Lenin arrested those who were not in
  favor of the bolshevik regime using the Cheka
  (secret police)
• Virtue - Became the Communist Party- promoted
  party ideology, education based on party ideals

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Stage 4

• 1. Return to quieter times
• 2. Tyrant takes over
• 3. Radicals Repressed
• 4. Nationalism

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1. Return to Quieter times

• Up until Lenins death in 1924, farms and
  factories were producing and the fighting had
  stopped.
• But who is now going to take over after Lenin?

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2. Tyrant takes over

• Joseph Stalin - Man of Steel
• Ruthlessly climbed to head of Communist party

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3. Repressed Radicals

• Great Purge - Stalin directed a campaign of
  terror eliminating anyone who threatened his
  power.
• Included Bolsheviks who helped with the
  revolution - ex. Trotsky
• Generals from the Soviet Army
• Resulted in 8 to 13 Million deaths

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4. Nationalism

• Stalin heavily stressed the importance of Soviet
  and Communist pride, and Russian culture
• Used propaganda, indoctrination, censorship, and
  religious persecution
• Eliminated anyone who disagreed - killed, or sent
  to Siberian prison camps (Gulags)