Russian Revolution

DO NOT CLICK FLASHCARDS FROM HERE (OR STUDY) Click Here

The Leadership of Russia:

• Originally Russia was led by a Tsar.
  • Tsar: King or Monarch in slavic countries. The Tsar was an Autocrat. Which means he had complete control over the government.
• The final Tsar was: Tsar Nicholas II.
  • He was described as Shy and Weak.
  • Was not ready to rule.
  • He married Alexandra Feodorovna. She was rumored to be a Traitor Was also German.

Bloody Sunday and The First Revolution:

• Workers were upset with their Working Conditions and Pay.
• Workers Marched on the Tsar's palace in St. Petersburg.
• There they demanded for better conditions and pay
• They were led by Gregory Gapon, who was a Radical priest.
• This march was Peaceful. The Imperial forces at the palace responded by Firing on the crowd.
  • This event made many workers go on Strike.

Reasons the people were discontent with the government:

• Poor working conditions
• Losing the war with Japan
• Little pay
• Bloody Sunday

→ Most of the revolution consisted of Strikes, some of which turned Violent.

• The Revolution also spread to some other Eastern countries like: Poland, Finland, and other Balkan areas In these countries the strikes were more about the Railroads.
• The Revolution was quelled with Tsar Nicholas promising A Duma.
• Duma → Representative Assembly which would work toward reform.

The October Manifesto:

→ After the first Duma, they came up with the October Manifesto Nicholas was forced to make it, due to the strikes.

• Changed Russia to a Constitutional Monarchy.
  • Similar to the Magna Carta
• The Tsar didn’t like it much, but he knew it would Solve/quell their current problems.

Rasputin:

• Was known for being a Mystic Healer.
• Was called to help the royal family with their son Alexei.
  • Suffered from Hemophilia.
• Became close with the Royal Family, and moved in with them.
• Some people became Suspicious of him after a while.
  • He was killed in 1916, by Nobles trying to end his Influence over the Tsar’s.

Communism: (Review)

→The Government owns everything

→ Everybody is Equal

→ Started by Karl Marx

→There is no Competition.

Vladimir Lenin:

• Became a revolutionary because his brother was Killed.
• Really liked Communism, after reading the Communist Manifesto.
• Was very against the rule of the Tsar.
• Created some Marxist groups in Russia.
• Led to him being Exiled in 1895.
• Left Exile in 1900 and moved to Western Europe.
• In Europe he met a group of marxists who’s name was RSDWP. He caused a division in the group, and his side was The Bolshvicks.
  • It means Majority in English. They were usually in the minority though.
• The other side was called The Menshiviks. It means Minority in English. They were usually in the majority though
• Lenin Returned to Russia after The First Revolution.

World War One (The Great War):

• Russia joined the War because they wanted to defend the Russian people in Serbia. They also had an alliance with France.
• Tsar Nicholas went out and became Commander-In-Chief.
• This left Rasputin and his wife back at the palace.
  • It would lead to Rasputin gaining more Power.
• At first the people were United over the war, and wanting Russia to win.
  • Morale started to fade, once Russia lost some of the battles.
• They lost lots of Money and people in the war, leading to a poor economy.
  • All of these factors led to more discontent with the Tsar.
• Some people like Lenin wanted Russia to Lose.
  • It would make the people Suffer, giving more cause for a Revolution.

Leon Trotsky:

• Was in the same Marxist group as Lenin, but was on the Menshevik side.
• He Became a Leading Speaker at the St. Petersburg Soviet.
  • Soviet → A Council that made a unit within the Soviet Union.
• He was Exiled for being against the Tsar.
• Wrote “Results and Prospects ” Brought about the idea of Permanent Revolution.
• He was also very against the War (Like Lenin) This idea got him kicked out of France and Spain Made him move to NY.

The 1917 Revolutions:

→ There were two parts to this revolution:

→ The February revolution, and The Bolshevik revolution.

February Revolution:

• Started because of widespread Inflation and food shortages.
• Led to them taking the Tsar out of power.
• The Duma made a Provisional Government .
• This was led by a prime minister: Alexander Kerensky.
  • He tried to fight back against the Bolsheviks later on, by trying to get allies to fight. This plan ended up Failing.

Bolshevik Revolution:

• Russia was running low on Supplies because they were still in WW1.
  • Made people upset.
• The Bolsheviks launched a peaceful Coup d’état on the new provisional government.
  • They were led by Lenin.
• They were upset because the provisional government was made mostly of the Upper Class.
• They then changed Russia to a Soviet Government, which would be ruled by Councils of Soldiers, and the Lower Class.
• They then pulled Russia out of the War.
• The main goal of this revolution was

“Peace, Land, and Bread”

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk:

→ Treaty took Russia out of WWI.

• Gave lots of territory to Germany.
  • As well as other central powers.

Treaty of Versailles reaction:

• Russia hoped to get their Land back.
  • This is because they fought on the Winners side for most of the war.
• In the end Russia got Nothing from the treaty.
  • Most of the land which they gave up became Independent countries.

The Civil War:

• The Tsar and his family were captured by Bolsheviks, in 1917 One night they were told to get ready for a Move. On the way out the family was Attacked and Killed.

  </p>

• The Civil War began after the Bolshevik Revolution.

• Lasted until 1923.

The Two sides:

• The Red Army →Lenin’s side. Wanted Communism.
• The White Army →Any groups which opposed Lenin. Wanted anything but Communism.
• The U.S tried to help the White Army, to stop the spread of Communism.
• The Red Army ended up winning.

Joseph Stalin:

• Joined Lenin, and served on the First Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party.
• After the revolution he became Secretary of The Central Committee of the Communists.
  • Was able to appoint people for government jobs.
• Lenin ended up dying from Strokes in 1924.
• Stalin was able to Move Past his competition.
  • Got rid of most of them.
• Took over for Lenin and became the next Dictator of the Soviet Union.
• Stalin started to make “5 Year Plans”
  • These were intended to modernize Russia through Industrialization.
  • Wanted the Government to control Farms.
  • Destroyed lots of Russian history
• He ruled through Fear and totalitarianism.
  • Totalitarian →Government (usually a dictator) with Complete/Total control.
• Made a secret police
• Those who opposed him were either killed or sent to labor camps (Gulags)
• The Great Purge→ A bunch of campaigns which worked to rid the Soviet Union's of “threats” to Stalin.

The Holodomor:

• A Famine in Ukraine.
• Happened because of many Agricultural acts.
• The government controlling farms
  • Also Stalin wanted to Starve and weaken Ukraine.
• About 3.9 million Ukrainians died in this event.
• This was a smaller part of the Soviet Famine. In total (including Ukraine) the famine killed about 5 million people.

\

Next Lesson: World War Two