The Russian Revolution

The study guides for this unit can be found under this tab, and the grades can be found below this text.

Quiz Grades:

Quiz one, (______________) - Grade: __%

QUIZ ONE STUDY GUIDE: This is a reminder to review for the quiz on the Russian Revolution and Rise of the U.S.S.R. under Lenin and Stalin, which will be administered in class on Monday, March 3^rd. Please be sure to review the following:

- Origins of the Revolution: Policies of Tsar Alexander III and Tsar Nicholas II and why these policies created immense discontent (rapid economic growth without labor reforms, persecution of non-Russian ethnic / cultural expressions, private support for anti-Semitic pogroms, lack of democratic structures), Bloody Sunday Massacre of 1905 and the response of Tsar Nicholas II, reason why the Duma initially pleased reformers yet never achieved any meaningful reforms, influence of Rasputin on Tsar Nicholas II and why this angered the Russian people.

ANSWER:

Policies of Tsar Alexander III and Tsar Nicholas II:
- Tsar Alexander III:
  - Ended Reforms to the Russian political system - effectively returning to autocratic rule, supported the Pogroms, tried to eliminate political opposition, all of which are part of his plan to create a single culture
- Tsar Nicholas II:
  - Continued his fathers anti-reform agenda, strictly censoring written works & newspapers, and used a heavy secret police force to spy and exile.
  - Promoted rapid industrialization, wanting to maximize the use of Russia's vast mineral and oil resources, also constructed the Trans-Siberian Railroad
    - Coal, steal and oil production tripled by 1900
      - Characterized by horrible working conditions.
Why did the Tsars' policies create immense discontent?
- The Policies of the Tsars’ Alexander II and Nicholas II fostered immense discontent in Russia because they Prioritized rapid economic growth without addressing the welfare of the workers, leading to harsh working conditions, angering people. Their refusal to implement labor reforms stemmed from a fear of undermining the monarchy’s authority, making conditions hard to survive in. the secret support of the Anti-semetic Pogroms, describing a lack of empathy. And Nicholas II ‘s repeated dismissal of the Duma only made it worse. (In addition to this, the third section suppressed dissent, and drove radicals underground, creating an environment ripe for revolutionary ideologies.

Bloody Sunday (1905)

Bloody Sunday was a peaceful protest (turned not peaceful) to deliver a petition for reforms to Tsar Nicholas II but they were shot down in cold blood by the imperial guards
- Led to Nicholas II agreed to form the duma, BUT no other steps.

Bloody Sunday Response from Tsar Nicholas II
- Tsar Nicholas II agreed to form the Duma (which was dissolved later), with nothing further.
  - Kept dissolving the Duma, and making it unfair anyways.
Duma and why it initially pleased reformers yet never achieved meaningful reforms
- The Duma was initially pleasing to the reformers because its formation suggested that Russia was transitioning towards a constitutional monarchy, it seemed like meaningful change, however the Duma never achieved meaningful reforms, due to Nicholas II’s repeated dismissal. This meant that Russia did not follow the pathway of Great Britain or Germany. Which had avoided working-class revolutions through gradual democratization.
Influence of Rasputin on Tsar Nicholas II
- Rasputin, weirdly had much influence on the Tsar Nicholas II, Rasputin gained the trust of the Tsar and Tsarina because they believed he was curing their son Alexei’s hemophilia. Which granted him increasing influence in the government. He used his position to block critical reforms that the Russians wanted, and advised Tsarina on domestic issues and Nicholas Ii on military strategy (huge blunder). Even telephoning military advice to Nicholas II, which led to disastrous outcomes for Russian Troops.
Why did the Influence of Rasputin anger the Russian Peoples
- Rasputin’s influence angered many of the Russian peoples because he obstructed crucial reforms, provided disastrous military guidance in military affairs, and embodied the corruption and incompetence that plagued the Tsarist regime. His presence at the highest levels of power fueled the growing discontent and ultimately contributed to the collapse of the Romanov Dynasty

- The February Revolution: Impact of total war production and Russian losses on the Eastern Front on the Russian populace as a whole (link to anger that led to labor strikes in Petrograd), early strikes in 1917 (page 6 of syllabus) and why this led to tsar’s abdication, policies of the Provisional Government under Alexander Kerensky (early reforms), reason why Kerensky and the Provisional Government stayed in World War I and why this was so unpopular.

ANSWER:

Impact of total war production and Russian losses on the Eastern Front on the Russian populace
- The impact of total war production on the Russian Populace was marked by significant economic strain, and societal upheaval. The Government's prioritization of military needs led to critical shortages of food and essential goods, driving inflation rates very high. Overall making people very angry. The unparalleled experiences of loss, suffering, and social disparity during this tumultuous period paved the way for a radical transformation in Russian governance and societal structure.
(Link to anger that led to the labor strikes in Petrograd)
- The anger that led to the labor strikes in Petrograd during WW1 can be traced to a confluence of economic struggles, governmental ineptitude, and a growing sense of solidarity among workers. This atmosphere of discontent provided fertile ground for organized labor protests, and collective actions that ultimately culminated in the February Revolution of 1917
Early strikes in 1917 (page 6 of syllabus)
- The Early strikes in Petrograd held much impact, acting as a catalyst for broader revolutionary events:
  - It was an indicator of unrest, which focused on specific grievances, eventually serving as a catalyst for broader action.
    - In February of 1917 workers at Petrograds largest industrial plant The Putilov Iron Works, went on strike to protest the excessive working conditions due to the war effort. As this strike gained in strength, female textile workers across the city led a massive protest of their conditions and the lack of concern exhibited by Nicholas II and the Government.
      - Created intense Political mobilization, contributed to the February Revolution, and opened the door for the Bolsheviks
Why did the Early strikes lead to the Tsar’s abdication
- The strikes combined with other factors such as Russia’s involvement in WW1 created growing discontent within the Russian Populace, which groups like the Bolsheviks could capitalize on and gain influence to push for more radical change. By late February, the strikes had escalated to encompass the entire city of Petrograd, these events demonstrated the clear rejection of the Tsarist regime, which helped to fuel the February Revolution of 1917, leading to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the end of the Romanov Dynasty.
Policies of the Provisional Government under Kerensky (early reforms)
- The Provisional Government under Alexander Kerensky put forth several policies and reforms in an attempt to establish a happy Russia (failed)
  - Establishment of a republic
  - Amnesty for political Prisoners
  - Abolition of the death penalty
  - Freedom of speech
  - No further action against the Romanovs
  - Education of the Masses
  - etc.
    - Despite these reforms, the Provisional Government faced significant chall;enges such as continuing the war, which ultimately angered the Russian populace and undermined its efforts, contributing to the October Revolution
Reason why Kerensky and the Provisional Government stayed in WW1, and why it was unpopular.

- The “Red” October Revolution: Ideology of Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, and the Bolshevik faction of the Russian communists, reason why Kerensky armed the Petrograd soviet (review what the soviets were in each Russian industrial city) and how this led to the October Revolution, early steps by Lenin and the Bolsheviks to seize complete power over Russia, reason for the formation of the Cheka and the initiation of the Red Terror, reason for the Russian Civil War (review who comprised the White and Red Armies), end result of the Red Terror and Russian Civil War.

ANSWER:

Ideologies:
- Vladimir Lenin
  - Vladimir Lenin’s ideology, Marxism Leninism, advocated for a (violent) revolution led by “professional revolutionaries” to overthrow the bourgeoisie. Lenin believed the working class needed guidance and that communism could only be achieved in a single-party state, suppressing any opposition in the name of a egalitarian future
  - Supported most of Marx’s beliefs (give or take)
- Leon Trotsky
  - Leon Trotsky shared most of Lenin’s beliefs (give or take) he also shared the idea that the “professional revolutionaries” had the right to seize power on behalf of the workers, particularly to end Russia’s involvement in the war, with the timing of the revolution being a primary concern for Trotsky.
- Bolshevik faction
  - The Bolshevik faction was united in its opposition to the provisional government, seeking a more radical revolution and believing that communism could not succeed in a multi-party system. They aimed to control soviet workers’ councils to establish communism, suppressing internal disagreement, and ultimately establishing the Bolshevik party as the only legal political entity, eliminating perceived enemies.
Reason why Kerensky armed the Petrograd soviet, & how this lead to the october revolution (IMPORTANT):
- Kerensky armed the petrograd soviet in august of 1917 because of a threatened military coup. A Russian general appeared to defy the provisional government and began moving his troops toward the capital. With no troops left in Petrograd to defend the Provisional government from the impending military coup (from the July days), Kerensky made the fateful decision to turn to the Petrograd soviet for help. When the general and his soldiers arrived, the Soviet council convinced them to leave without firing a shot.
  - In return for the workers assistance, Kerensky was asked (and he complied) to release thousands of prisoners from Russia's jails. Kerensky took a gamble by giving weapons to the Petrograd soviet because the workers council could now force the government to follow other demands, if the 40,000 members turned on them there would be nothing to combat it.
    - One of those prisoners Kerensky released was Leon Trotsky, who was soon elected as chairman of the Petrograd soviet.
      - Seeing this opportunity, Lenin snuck back into Russia and convinced Trotsky and his 40,000 soldiers to support a revolution
        Where they started seizing important positions in the capital, and on october 25th elite, pro-Bolshevik Russian sailors station outside the Provisional Government headquarters, where they were met with no resistance and arrested all of the government leaders (except Kerensky who left because they wanted him dead)
        Russia was not in the hands of the Bolsheviks, and the “red” October Revolution had succeeded in what appeared to be a second bloodless revolution however, it would not remain bloodless for long.
(review what the soviets were in each Russian industrial city)
Early steps by Lenin and the Bolsheviks to seize complete power over Russia
- Influencing groups about how communism will be beneficial to Russia
- Forming radical factions
- Creation of the Bolsheviks, who would surprisingly take control of Russia in a mostly bloodless revolution (Hooray!), but not for long (oh crud…)
Reason for the formation of the Cheka
- The Cheka was formed as the Bolshevik party’s secret police force to eliminate perceived political enemies and opponents of communism. Lenin justified the Bolsheviks’ use of police terror as being in the “general good” because it was (supposedly) for the protection of the workers and not the tsarist regime. The Cheka sought out not just the opposition, but anyone expressing dissent.
Reason for the initiation of the Red Terror
- The Red Terror was triggered by growing unrest caused by the emergence of the White movement and the second (more serious) assassination attempt on Lenin in August of 1918.
  - The Red Terror was a campaign of execution conducted by the Cheka, targeting anyone expressing dissent / disagreement, The Chekas death-penalty powers were expanded to enable its agents to execute any (suspected) counter-revolutionaries on the spot without trial or further investigation.
Reason for Russian civil war
- There are a multitude of reasons:
  - Resistance to Bolshevik Power
  - Resistance to Collectivization (collective agriculture - kulaks)
  - Emergence of the White movement (second assassination attempt on Lenin)
  - Red Terror, and the opposing support of the white movement by Britain, Canada, USA, Australia, etc.
(review who comprised the White and Red Armies)
- White Army
  - Anti-communist group united by a goal of resisting the Bolsheviks seizure of power
    - Comprised of people with differing political ideologies, including moderate socialists, capitalists, and monarchists (just not pro-communists)
      - Received supplies and military aid from Great Britain, the United States, France, and numerous other European states.
        Made the opposing army angry 😠
- Red Army
  - Formed by Bolsheviks to combat White movement
    - Consisted of Pro-communist soldiers and volunteers
End result of the Red Terror and Russian Civil War:
- Red Terror
  - Consolidated Bolshevik power, characterized by fear and oppression.
- Russian Civil War

- Structure of the U.S.S.R. and Policies of Stalin: Review the structure of the U.S.S.R. and what its name implied vs. why the Communist Party actually held power rather than the officially elected government, structure of the Communist Party’s hierarchy (review the role of the General-Secretary, Politburo, and the Central Committee, and why the Central Committee could not be viewed as representative of the Soviet population as a whole), means by which Stalin established a totalitarian state in the Soviet Union, how and why Stalin created a “cult of personality”, purpose and impact of the Five Year Plans, reason for the intentional starvation of Ukrainian kulaks, censorship of art, literature, and media and persecution of religious leaders and worship.

ANSWER:

Review the structure of the U.S.S.R. and what its name implied vs. why the Communist party actually held power rather than the officially elected government.
- Structure
  - The Structure of the USSR was (as the name suggests) a collection of individual Soviet Socialist Republics (SSRs) each functioning like a U.S. state but ultimately controlled by a Unified national government in Moscow
    - The Largest, the RSFSR was home to the capital but was not the only republic within the union. Despite this federal structure, power was highly centralized.
- What did the name imply vs why the Communist party actually held power
  - The name implied that the country was a collection of republics working together in a socialist system, free from ethnic or national divisions, but Russia's size gave its leaders disproportionate powers.
Structure of the Communist Party’s hierarchy (Review the role of the General-Secretary, Politburo, and the General committee, and why the Central committee could not be viewed as a representative of the Soviet population as a whole)
- General-Secretary
  - The most powerful individual, overseeing the Politburo and the entire communist party. As the leader of the party, they controlled policy decisions, government appointments, etc.
    - Essentially ruled the country
- Politburo
  - The Executive council of the Communist party, consisting of 13 voting members and several non-folding “candidate” members, responsible for creating all policies that the government implemented.
- General Committee
  - Below the Politbiro, an assembly of communist party delegates who were electred by other party members. It and almost always approved the stuff.
    - Almost always accepted stuff
- Why the Central committee could not be viewed as a representative of the Soviet populace as a whole
  - Not representative because it only included the communist party members, almost always approving the Politburo’s ideas. So Soviet citizens had no direct influence over its actions.
Means by which Stalin established a Totalitarian state in the Soviet Union
- Using police forces / Spies
- Propaganda
- Religious persecution
- Education and indoctrination
- MAJOR CENSORSHIP
- CULT OF PERSONALITY
How, and why Stalin created a “cult of personality”
- How:
  - Taking advantage of Russian citizens need for a leader
  - Taking advantage of children from different ethnic backgrounds by giving gifts
  - Taking advantage of families in general
- Why:
  - Stalin believed he was almost a kind of superhuman that made him believe that everyone had to worship him
  - To keep the people from revolting against him
  - To idolize him and put him above criticism, making people think he only does good.
Purpose and impact of the Five Year Plans
- Purpose:
  - To try and make Russia “catch up” with other countries in industrialization
- Impact:
  - Many people died to the work demand and labor
  - Many families farms were taken and those same families were worked to death on those same farms for the country
Reason for the Intentional starvation of Ukrainian Kulaks
- The Kulaks deifed the collective agriculture so he liquidated them. 😀
Censorship of art, literature, and media and persecution of religious leaders and worship.
- To keep the citizens from getting information from other countries
- To control the information within the country
- To fearmonger and establish power and loyalty for Stalin.

The following pages supply the definitions of any bolded, or underlined words in the syllabus, notes pertaining to the unit, or the test it will be taken on (Not all words will be used).

It should look like this:

PAGE(S) __:
- SUPPLIED WORD
  - DEFINITION(S)
    - IMPORTANCE.
      - ANY EXTRA INFORMATION

DEFINITION MUST BE SUPPLIED, BUT IMPORTANCE AND BEYOND IS OPTIONAL

SYLLABUS - please be advised that most of this unit is done within the discussions.

Pages 1-3:
Pages 4,5:
Page 6:
- Petrograd:
  - Petrograd, (formerly known as Saint Peterburg) was the capital of Russia from 1914 to 1924:
    - It played a pivotal role during the Russian Revolution, particularly in the Febuary Revolution of 1917, when political shifts occured, leading to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the establishment of the Provisional Government. The Events in Petrograd were crucial to the political reformation in Russia, marking the transition from autocracy to totalitarianism
      - Thus, Petrograd stands as a symbol of revolutionary fervor and complexities of early 20th-century Russian history
- Pulitov Ironworks:
  - An industrial plant in Petrograd where workers went on strike in Febuary 1917, protesting excessive working conditions and sparking wider unrest that contributed to the Febuary Revolution
    - Characterized by harsh working conditions.

THESE WORDS (pages 7-20) ARE FROM THE GRADED DISCUSSION AND ARE IN THE SYLLABUS

Pages 7,8:
Page 9:
- Vladimir Lenin:
  - A russian readical and the key leader of the Bolsheviks. Lenin adapted Marxism to Russian conditions and led the october Revolution to implement a communist state. His ideology, known as Marxism-Leninism, advocated for a violent revolution led by “proffessional revolutionaries”
- Leon Trotsky:
  - A fellow russian communist who worked with Lenin and helped implement communism. Trotsky played a key role in seizing power during the October Revolution
- “single-party state”
  - A political system in which only one political party is allowed to exist, in this case, the communist party.
    - Lenin and Trotsky created a “single-party state’
      - Allowed for little opposition
Page 10:
- Professional Revolutionaries:
  - Lenin argued that a group of elite revolutionaries had to take charge and forcefully guide the masses towards communism.
Page 11:
- “Bolsheviks”
  - A faction, led by Lenin, advocating for a communist, revolution by elite revolutionaries
- Joseph Stalin:
  - A member of the Bolsheviks who rose to power after Lenin’s death and transformed the Soviet Union into a totalitarian dictatorship.
- Alexander Kerensky:
  - A socialist leader who gained control after TSar Nicholas II abdicated in the Febuary Revolution of 1917. His provisional Government aimed to establish a multi-party democracy, among other things.
Page 12:
- Provisional Government:
  - The government that took charge after the Febuary Revolution, before being overthrown in the October revolution
- Soviets:
  - Local workers’ councils that were organized in Russian cities. The largest and most influential was the Petrograd Soviet
Page 13:
Page 14:
- October Revolution:
  - The Bolshevik-led revolution in october 1917 that seized power from the Provisional Government
- “Peace, Land, and Bread.”
  - Lenin’s primary slogan and promis to the Russian Populace.
Page 15:
- Treaty of Brest-Litovsk:
  - A peacy settle ment reached between the bolshevik leadership and the Central powers in March 1918
    - Humiliating to the Russians
    - Heavily disliked by the Russians
Page 16:
- Cheka:
  - The Bolshevik secret police force used to eliminate political opponents, spy, and enforce communism
    - Also killed religous leaders
- “Red Army”
  - A pro-communist army forced to combat with the White movement
- White Movement:
  - An anti-communist movement with the goal of resisting the Bolshevik seizure of power
- collectivize agriculture:
  - Placing all agricultural production under state control
    - Resisted by the kulaks
      - Were killed as a result
- Russian Civil War:
  - The conflict between the Bolsheviks’ red army and the anti-communist white movement.
- Red Terror:
  - A period of violenceand execution conducted by the cheka to eliminate opposition to the Bolsheviks
Page 17:
Page 18:
- New Economic Policy:
  - Lenin’s strategy to promote economic recovery by instituting small-scale capitalism
- Communist Party:
  - The new name for the Bolsheviks after the Russian civil war, which became the only legal political party in russia.
Page 19:
- Union of Soviet Socialist Republics:
  - The new, permanant government formed in 1922, also known as the soviet union.
- Soviet Union:
  - See union of soviet republics above for more information
- Leningrad:
  - The Renamed city of Petrograd.
    - see Petrograd above for more information
- Moscow:
  - The capital of the Soviet Union after the transfer from Petrograd
    - Government operations, kremlin base, etc.
- Kremlin:
  - The Centuries-old fortress and former Romanov palace complex in Moscow, which became the headquarters for the Soviet government and the Communistic party.
- Red Square:
  - The Location of the Kremlin in Moscow
    - See kremlin and moscow above for more information
- Central Committee:
  - An assembly of party delegate elected by other party members
Page 20:
- Politburo:
  - The executive council at the top of the Communist Party led by the General-secretary, which drafted policies and laws for the Soviet union.
- General-Secretary:
  - The leader of the communist parties Politburo and the most powerful individual in the Soviet union.
- Central Committee (REPEAT):

END OF GRADED DISCUSSION PAGES

THESE WORDS (pages 21-24) ARE FROM THE GRADED DISCUSSION AND ARE IN THE SYLLABUS - THIS IS ALSO INCLUDING THE TEXTBOOK PAGE THAT HE SUPPLIED.

Page 21-24:

TEXTBOOK

THESE WORDS ARE INCLUDED IN THE DISCUSSION

Page 1 (P.440):
- Totalitarianism:
  - A form of government that takes total centralized state control over every aspect of public and private life
Page 2 (P.441):
Page 3 (P.442):
- Great Purge:
  - Stalins campaign to eliminate his rivals and consolidate power.
Page 4 (P.443):
- Command Economy;
  - A economic system in which the government controls the production and distribution.
- Five-year plans:
  - Stalins plans to rapidly industrialize the Soviet Union.
    - Worked but characterized by bad working conditions.
Page 5 (P.444):
- Collective Farms:
  - Farms worked on by hundreds of families to reduce the number of workes and resistance.
    - Kulaks did not like; resulting in there liquidation.
Page 6 (P.445) - 8 (P.447):

END OF THE SECOND DISCUSSION

NOTES

Note 1:
- Tsar Alexander III:
  - Ended reforms to the Russian Political system and returned to autocratic rule. He held all the power and tried to eliminate political oppositon, with many arrested or executed. Alexander II attempted to create a a unified Russian culture, and supported violent pogroms, which were attacks on Russian Jews
- Autocratic Rule:
  - An autocratic rule is centralizing power and suppressing opposition
- Pogroms:
  - Violent stuff against Russian Jew
    - Part of Alexander III’s plan for cultural unification
Note 2:
- Tsar Nicholas II:
  - Mainhtained his fathers anti reform policies including strict censorship and a secret police.
- Trans-Siberian Railroad:
  - Nicholas II promoted rapid industrialization and oversaw the construction of this railroad, boosting trade.
Note 3:
- Marxism:
- Proletariat:
- Bolsheviks:
- Vladimir Lenin
Note 4:
- Bloody Sunday (1905):
- Duma:
Note 5:
- Tsarevich Alexei
- Hemophelia
- Grigori Rasputin
Note 6:
- Petrograd: