Revolution of 1905 and Russia in World War I

Revolution of 1905

• The Russian Revolution of 1905 was a nationwide expression of discontent with the czarist government.

• Various groups were unhappy with the government for different reasons:

  • Peasants: Slow pace of abolishing serfdom and land redistribution.

  • Radical, liberal-minded people: Autocratic, despotic, and backwards feudal government.

  • Industrialists: Lack of government support for industrialization.

  • Conservative and reactionary people: Any changes occurring in Russia.

• Russia's situation at the beginning of the 20th century:

  • Lowest life expectancy.

  • Highest illiteracy rates.

  • Highest infant mortality rates.

Soviets

• Soviets emerged as a new type of organization after the Revolution of 1905.

• During the general national strike, urban centers in Russia (e.g., Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Kyiv, Minsk) organized into local committees or councils known as Soviets.

• Definition of Soviet:

  • Localized council or government of workers and soldiers.

  • Composed of industrial laborers and local garrisons of troops and soldiers.

• Soldiers were discontented due to:

  • Losing the Russo-Japanese War.

  • Poor performance in the Crimean War against England.

  • Repressive, old-school military with corporal punishment.

• The Soviets in various cities (e.g., Saint Petersburg, Moscow) initiated strikes, protests, and riots.

• Workers and soldiers met, debated, and voted on actions to protest the government.

• Czar Nicholas II was forced to issue the October Manifesto, promising political, economic, and cultural reforms after a week of the general strike.

• Nicholas II did not implement these reforms in a meaningful way.

• The Soviets remained active, organizing protests and strikes.

• Many Soviet members were arrested, censored, and exiled, but the Soviets continued to operate.

• Soviets were popular in their local areas because they comprised common people such as workers and soldiers, not aristocrats or nobility.

• Soviets were not common in the countryside.

• The majority of the Russian population (75-80%) was rural and agricultural, consisting of serfs and peasants.

Russia and World War I, and Tsar Nicholas II

Tsar Nicholas II: Background

• Nicholas II was the oldest son of Alexander III.

• Alexander III was a hyper-reactionary conservative Czar who ruled for a couple of decades (1870s-1891).

• Historical context:

  • Alexander II: Instituted the emancipation manifesto and reforms but was assassinated.

  • Alexander III: Hyper-reactionary, rolled back reforms.

• Emancipation of the serfs was inefficient, but Alexander III did not allow streamlining.

• Alexander III had a hands-on, iron-fisted style of ruling but did not teach Nicholas how to be Czar.

• Nicholas had a military career but never participated in government affairs or negotiations.

• Alexander III believed he had time to teach Nicholas but died of kidney failure in 1891.

Nicholas II: Reign and Challenges

• Nicholas II came to power in 1891 and was considered the wrong person for the time.

• He adhered to:

  • Autocracy: Iron-fisted, divine right of king mentality.

  • Orthodoxy: Maintaining the Russian Orthodox Church.

  • Nationality: Promoting the Russification of the empire.

• Russification aimed to turn everyone into a Russian person ethnically, culturally, and religiously.

• Massive wave of antisemitism and state-sanctioned pogroms led to a large exodus of Jews from the Russian empire.

Nicholas II: Wife and Family

• Nicholas II had a loving relationship with his wife, who was a German princess.

• The Russian people were upset by this marriage because Russia was growing closer to France and further from Germany.

• She was never truly accepted by the Russian government or aristocracy, even after converting to Eastern Orthodox Christianity and changing her name to Alexandra.

Nicholas II: Alexei and Rasputin

• Nicholas and Alexandra had six children, with only one male heir, Alexei.

• Alexei suffered from hemophilia, a genetic recessive disease that prevents blood clotting.

• Hemophilia is often linked to incestuous relationships.

• Alexei's condition was hidden from the public.

• Grigori Rasputin, a wandering mystic, claimed to have healing powers and began treating Alexei.

• Rasputin gained influence within the royal family, particularly with Alexandra, and lived in the winter palace.

• Rasputin was hated by the Russian aristocracy due to undermining their authority and accusations of sexual assault against aristocratic women.

World War I and Russia

• After the Russo-Japanese War, Russia invested heavily in militarization, but it was poorly executed.

• Military equipment and industry were outdated compared to Germany, France, and England.

• Most spending went into enlisting troops and building weapons, with little investment in logistics.

• Russia's economy was heavily focused on militarization, neglecting education, welfare, and general well-being.

• At first, Russia made large gains against Austria-Hungary.

• After six to eight months, Germany sent troops to the Eastern Front, and Russia started to suffer massive losses due to:

  • Better-trained and equipped German military.

  • Lack of supplies, food, and medicine due to poor logistics.

  • Many Russian soldiers lacked bullets.

• Nicholas II's government requisitioned food and resources for the front lines, causing food prices to skyrocket and creating an inflation crisis.

• Nicholas II decided to command the front lines and left his German wife in charge of Russian affairs.

• The Russian people and aristocracy were upset with high food prices and the influence of Rasputin.

• The Russian aristocracy assassinated Rasputin.

February Revolution

• In February 1917, massive protests and strikes occurred due to high food prices.

• The protesters called for the abdication of Czar Nicholas II.

• Soldiers disobeyed orders to fire upon the crowd.

• Nicholas II abdicated, and his brother refused the throne, ending czarist Russia.

• The February Revolution marked the end of the Romanov dynasty's rule.

Provisional Government

• Many political factions emerged, ranging from constitutional monarchists to radical socialists.

• Alexander Kerensky and Vladimir Lenin were the two major figures.

• Alexander Kerensky:

  • Came from a well-to-do middle-class background.

  • Socialist-minded, advocating for land redistribution and political reform.

  • Initially took over the reins of government, forming a provisional government.

  • Insisted on remaining in World War I, which was unpopular.

  • Exiled Vladimir Lenin and outlawed the Bolshevik party but later recalled them due to political isolation.

• Vladimir Lenin:

  • Born Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, using Lenin as a pseudonym.

  • Came from a well-to-do middle-class family.

  • His brother's execution for plotting against Alexander III led him to political activism.

  • Became enamored with Marxist ideology.

  • Helped found the Russian Socialist Workers' Party, which later split into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.

  • Was exiled and hopped around Europe writing newspapers and articles calling for political reform.

  • Returned to Russia after the February Revolution with German assistance.

  • Was completely against World War I.

  • Bolsheviks were most represented in Soviets and were in control of the Saint Petersburg Soviet.

  • Called for violent revolution and overthrow of the system.

October Revolution

• Elections were scheduled for October to create a new permanent government.

• The Bolsheviks came in second place with 27% of the vote, while the Socialist Revolutionary Party came in first with 33%.

• Lenin realized the Bolsheviks were willing to kill and die for their cause.

• The Bolsheviks, armed, went into the Parliamentary Building and took over the government.

• This overthrow was called the October Revolution.

• Vladimir Lenin and the Communist Party were now in charge of Russia.

• Lenin claimed legitimacy because the Bolsheviks were in first place in the Soviets.

Lenin's Message and Actions

• Lenin's message to the Russian people was "Peace, Land, Bread."

  • Land: General land redistribution.

  • Bread: General state redistribution of food.

  • Peace: Withdrawing from World War I.

• Negotiations with Germany led to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which was very harsh and vindictive, taking a large amount of land away from the Russian empire.

Russian Civil War

• The Russian Civil War began due to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.

• Bolshevik Reds versus the White Movement.

• The White Movement was not a cohesive group of people, organizations, or individuals, but they all hated the Bolshevik Reds.

• The White Movement included monarchists, constitutional monarchists, other socialists and communist parties, moderate liberals, radical liberals, and republicans.

Bolshevik Victory

• The Bolshevik Reds won the Russian Civil War due to three fundamental reasons:

  • The White Movement was incredibly disunited and corrupt.

  • Leon Trotsky was an incredibly effective logistician.

  • Foreign support for the White Movement was half-hearted and not successful.