Russian Revolution Notes

Russian Revolutions

Before the 1905 Revolution

  • Russia was ruled by a Tsar, an autocrat wielding unlimited power.
  • The Romanov Dynasty was in power from 1613 to 1917.
  • Nicholas II reigned from 1894 to 1917.
  • Russia was backwards relative to the rest of the West in several aspects:
    • Industrially
    • Agriculturally
    • Militarily
    • Politically

Discontented Populations' Wants

  • Peasants wanted food and land.
  • Industrial workers wanted better working and living conditions.
  • Non-Russians desired self-determination.
  • The Intelligentsia (Academics) wanted a democratized government.
  • The Nobility wanted to stop the decline of their prestige.

1905 Revolution

  • Causes:
    • Discontent of the people.
    • Spark: Bloody Sunday, January 9th, 1905.
      • A protest of 30,000 industrial workers led by Father Georgii Gapon.
      • They marched on the Winter Palace to plead with the Tsar (who was not there).
      • Cossack army fired on the crowd, resulting in 130 killed and 400 wounded.
  • Nationwide strikes, peasants seizing land, and mutinies occurred.
  • October Manifesto - October 17th, 1905, ended the Revolution.
    • Civil Liberties granted: speech, press, etc.
    • Elected State Duma (representative legislature) to approve legislation.
    • Ended the General Strike.
    • Split the liberal opposition.

Russia during World War I

  • Russia entered the war to help its position with other Slavic countries.
  • The German offensive took Western Russia and caused 2 million casualties.
  • There was a shortage of food and supplies in Russia.
  • Tsar Nicholas II was the Supreme Leader of the military.
    • He believed troops would fight harder for him.
    • However, he was inept and was not involved with strategy.

Empress Alexandra

  • Empress Alexandra called the shots in the capital, Petrograd (St. Petersburg), while the Tsar was away.
  • She was not trusted by the people/Duma.
    • She was German-born and heavily influenced by Rasputin.

Rasputin

  • Rasputin was a self-proclaimed holy man, but was really a scoundrel.
  • He had a heavy influence on the Royal family, especially Alexandra.

February Revolution

  • 2/23/1917 – Protest begins from women turned away at bread lines.
  • 2/25/1917 – General strike by all workers in Petrograd.
  • 2/26/1917 – Soldiers fire on protestors.
  • 2/27/1917 – Soldiers mutiny and join protests.
  • 3/1/1917 - Duma and Generals tell Tsar to abdicate.
  • 3/2/1917 – Nicholas II abdicates the throne.

Between the Revolutions

  • Power was split between the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet.
  • The Provisional Government was based on the State Duma.
  • The Soviet gained power from workers and soldiers.
  • Rise of the Bolsheviks:
    • Leader: Vladimir Lenin.
    • Did not support the war.
    • Slogans resonated with the people (Was everything they wanted):
      • “Peace, Bread, Land”
      • “Workers Control”
      • “All Power to the Soviets”

July Days – 7/3/1917 – 7/5/1917

  • Violent strikes and demonstrations.
  • Bolsheviks try guiding demonstrations.

Kurnilov Affair

  • Orders troops to Petrograd – people afraid he will restore Tsar.
  • People take up arms against him (even Bolsheviks).
  • Says leader of government (Kerensky) told him to do so, they lose influence.
  • Bolsheviks seize a majority in the Soviets (especially Petrograd and Moscow).

October Revolution

  • 10/24/1917
  • Kerensky knows of the Bolshevik plan to overthrow the government.
  • Orders troops to occupy key points in Petrograd and shuts down Bolshevik newspapers.
  • Leon Trotsky (Lenin’s right-hand man):
    • Dispatches Red Guard (Soviet militia) and soldiers to retake Petrograd.
    • They meet little resistance and take the city.

Creation of a New Government

  • Council of Peoples Commissars
  • Try to consolidate power – October and November 1917
  • 10/26/1917 – Decree on Peace
  • 10/26/1917 – Decree on Land
  • 11/2/1917 – Decree on the Rights of the Peoples of Russia to Self Determination
  • 11/14/17 –Decree on Workers Control
  • This was everything the people wanted since the 1905 Revolution

Russia after the Revolutions

  • Leaves WWI early by signing the treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918.
  • Reds vs Whites Civil War (May 1918 – October 1922).
  • Bolsheviks (Reds) won.
  • Formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1922, also known as USSR and Soviet Union.
  • Lenin as the leader.
  • Will become dominant in Interwar Years and WWII.