Exhaustive Study Notes on the Russian Revolution

Pre-Revolutionary Russia and the Autocratic System

• Status of Autocracy: At the turn of the century, Russia was the only true autocracy remaining in Europe. There were no representative political institutions allowed within the country.
• Accession of Nicholas II: Nicholas II became the Tsar in ${1894}$.
• Political Beliefs: The Tsar maintained a firm belief that he was an absolute ruler who had been anointed by God.
• Outbreak of Initial Unrest (${1905}$): A revolution first broke out in ${1905}$ which was precipitated by two main factors:
  • The significant loss suffered during the Russo-Japanese War.
  • The violent events known as Bloody Sunday.

The Revolution of ${1905}$ and Early Discontent

• Bloody Sunday Details:
  • Workers organized a petition to the Czar, requesting improved working conditions, increased personal freedom, and the establishment of elections for a national legislature.
  • In response, the Czar's troops opened fire on the crowd, resulting in the death of ${700}$ individuals.
  • This massacre triggered a massive wave of strikes across the country.
• Growth of the Proletariat: These events fueled the creation of a discontented working class referred to as the Proletariat.
• Worker Concentration: The vast majority of these industrial workers were concentrated in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Notably, these workers were prohibited from owning land.
• Peasantry and Industrialization: Russian industrialization occurred "on the backs of the peasants." Consequently, there was a "tremendous land hunger" among the peasant population.
• Results of the ${1905}$ Revolution:
  • The Middle Class emerged as the real winners of the conflict, as they were permitted to form new political entities.
  • Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP): This party was composed of the counterrevolutionary liberal-monarchist bourgeoisie.
  • The Duma: A newly formed parliament made up of revolutionary groups. The Duma was granted the authority to put forward laws; however, the Tsar retained the power to veto any legislation.

Conservatism and Governance From ${1905}$ to ${1917}$

• Treatment of the Duma: The Tsar largely ignored the Duma. The body was routinely harassed, and various political parties were suppressed by the state.
• Personal Character of the Tsar: Nicholas II was regarded personally as a very weak man.
• Remote Leadership: As a ruler, the Tsar became increasingly remote and disconnected from his subjects.
• Alexandra: The Power Behind the Throne:
  • The Tsar's wife, Alexandra, was even more blindly committed to the concept of autocracy than her husband was.
  • The Influence of Rasputin: Rasputin exercised significant power over Alexandra.
  • Discrediting the Monarchy: Constant scandals surrounding Rasputin's influence and presence served to severely discredit the monarchy.
• The Imperial Successor: The couple's son, Alexis, suffered from hemophilia.

World War I: "The Last Straw"

• Exposure of Ineptitude: The war highlighted the arrogance and ineptitude of Russia’s aristocratic elite.
• Military Leadership: The military leadership was characterized as corrupt and showed blatant contempt for the ordinary Russian people.
• Peasant Apathy: The average peasant had very little personal interest in the war efforts.
• Army Disintegration: Due to poorly supplied troops, the Russian Army faced chaos and eventual disintegration, leading to widespread discontent.

The Collapse of the Imperial Government

• The Tsar at the Front: In September of ${1915}$, Nicholas II left the capital to oversee the war front.
• Chaos in Government: In his absence, Alexandra and Rasputin threw the central government into a state of chaos.
• Accusations of Treason: Alexandra and other high-ranking government officials faced accusations of treason.
• Death of Rasputin: Rasputin was eventually assassinated in December of ${1916}$.
• Economic Failure: The wartime economy suffered from complete mismanagement.

The Two Revolutions of ${1917}$

• The March Revolution: Occurred on March ${12}$.
• The November Revolution: Occurred on November ${6}$.

The March Revolution of ${1917}$

• Origins: The revolution began with food and fuel riots and strikes aimed at ending the war.
• Military Defection: In a critical shift, Russian soldiers chose to side with the rioters rather than suppress them.
• Provisional Government: On March ${12}$, the Duma declared itself a Provisional Government.
• Abdication: Tsar Nicholas II abdicated his throne on March ${17}$.
• Leadership of Alexander Kerensky: Kerensky became the head of the Provisional Government; however, he made the choice to keep Russia involved in World War I.

Bolshevik Ideology and the Rise of Lenin

• Radicalism: Bolshevik ideology was significantly more radical and revolutionary than the Provisional Government led by Kerensky and the Duma.
• Marxist Influence: The movement was primarily influenced by Marxist socialism.
• Internal Factions:
  • Mensheviks: Those who favored a moderate approach.
  • Bolsheviks: Those who favored a radical approach.
• Vladimir Lenin (Founder of Bolshevism):
  • Exile: Lenin was exiled to Siberia in ${1897}$.
  • Core Beliefs: He was deeply committed to revolution and the class struggle.
  • International Ties: He moved to London in ${1902}$ and formed a friendship with Leon Trotsky.
  • Literary Influence: He wrote What is to be Done?, a book outlining the necessary economic transitions for Russia.
• The Revolutionary Party: Lenin emphasized the "Dictatorship of the Proletariat" and the key role of the Party.
• Bolshevik Formalization: The Bolsheviks officially split from the Russian Socialist Party in ${1912}$.
• Key Figures and Media:
  • Joseph Stalin: A central figure in the movement.
  • Pravda: The official Russian political newspaper of the party.

The Leadership Vacuum and Bolshevik Consolidation

• The Petrograd Soviet: Also known as the Council of Workers, this group was dominated by the Mensheviks.
• Failure of Provisionals: The Provisional Government failed to establish control.
• Civil Disobedience: Workers refused to work, and soldiers refused to fight.
• Peasant Land Redistribution: Peasants began confiscating land outright.
• State of Power: Political power was described as "literally lying in the streets of Petrograd."
• Lenin’s Return: Following an amnesty for political prisoners in March ${1917}$, Lenin arrived in Petrograd.
• Charisma and Slogans: Using his charismatic personality, he advocated for:
  • "Peace, Land, Bread."
  • "All Power to the Soviets" (Councils of Workers).
• Expansion: Bolshevik party membership increased drastically, leading to the consolidation of power.

The November Revolution of ${1917}$

• Storming the Winter Palace: Factory workers in Petrograd stormed the Winter Palace to seize control.
• Economic Changes:
  • All private property owned by the wealthy was abolished and redistributed among the peasantry.
  • The nation's largest industries were nationalized.
• New Organizations:
  • CHEKA: The organized political police unit.
  • Red Army: The revolutionary military force created with Leon Trotsky in charge.
• Political Renaming: The Bolshevik Party officially renamed itself the Communist Party in March of ${1918}$.
• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: This treaty was negotiated with the Germans to end Russia's involvement in the fighting on the eastern front.

The Russian Civil War (${1917}$ - ${1920}$)

• Conflict Duration: The civil war was fought between ${1917}$ and ${1920}$.
• The "Reds": This faction consisted of the Communists (formerly the Bolsheviks).
• The "Whites": This faction was a coalition of all other opposing political groups, including:
  • Conservatives.
  • Pro-Democracy groups.
  • Moderate Socialists.
• Societal Impact: The war resulted in the complete breakdown of the Russian society and economy.

Interpretations of the Russian Revolution

• Marxist Interpretation: Focuses on the official importance of a permanent international revolution.
• Cultural/Historical Function: VIEWS the revolution as a function of specific Russian history and culture.
• Social Revolution: Views the event as a fundamental social transformation.