Russian Revolution:

The Fall of Imperial Russia:

Fall of Imperial Russia:

Russia embraced war with patriotic enthusiasm in 14.

Setp 15: parties (from conserv to moderate socialists) formed the Progressive bloc.

Russia’s lower house of Parliament (Duma) voted to support the war.

It called for a completely new gov.

Conservatives anticipated expansion in the Balkans.

In answer, Nicholas 2 temporarily adjourned the Duma.

Liberals and most socialists believed that alliance with UK/FR would bring democratic reforms.

Then he left to lead Russian armies and left the gov in the hands of his wife.

1915: Russian soldiers sent to the front.

Tsarina Alexandra dismissed loyal political advisers (Rasputin).

Gov created special committees to coordinate defense, industry, transportation, agriculture.

3 high aristocracy members murdered Rasputin.

Problem of weak leadership.

Imperial Russia entered a terminal crisis.

Excluded from power, the Duma, the educated middle classes, and the masses became critical of the tsar’s leadership.

Early 1917: food shortages, short supply of fuel, breaking down economy.

The Provisional Government:

Provisional Gov:

February Revolution was the result of an unplanned uprising of hungry, angry ppl in the capital.

New gov formed in May 1917 had to share power with its rival: the Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies.

Workers anticipated better wages and more food.

It acted as a parallel gov and saw itself as a product of revolutionary democracy.

After generations of autocracy, the provisional gov established equality before the law.

Army Order No.&: stripped officers of their authority. Placed power in the hands of elected committee of common soldiers instead.

Freedom of religion, speech, assembly.

It was designed to protect the revolution from resistance by aristocratic officer corps.

Right of unions to organize and strike.

But this order led to a collapse of army discipline.

BUT liberals/moderate socialists rejected this reform.

By 1917, Russia descended into anarchy.

The new leaders wouldn’t take Russia out of the war.

This was an opportunity for the most radical/talented Russia’s revolutionary leaders, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.

Lenin and the Bolshevik Revolution:

He was an enemy of imperial Russia bc his brother was executed for plotting to kill the tsar.

Lenin was a law student and studied Marxist socialism.

He updated Marx’s revolutionary philosophy to address existing conditions in Russia.

In theory, the elites wouldn’t stop until revolution was brought to power.

His version of Marxism had a major impact on events in Russia.

He changed the way future revolutionaries engaged in radical revolt around the world.

He saw war as the product of imperialist rivalries.

War: opportunity for socialist revolution.

His promises of “Peace, Land, and Bread”.

Violent Revolution:

Certain Conditions:

Human Leadership:

Only violent revolution can destroy capitalism.

Communist Revolution possible under certain conditions.

The possibility of revolution is determined by human leadership rather than historical laws.

Denounced theories of peaceful evolution to socialism.

Peasants could take the place of Marx's traditional working class.

He called for a highly disciplined workers’ party.

Said it was a betrayal of Marx’s message of violent class conflict.

Peasants: poor and exploited.

Party controlled by small, dedicated elite of intellectuals and professional revolutionaries.

Bolsheviks:

Lenin’s radical revolutionary arm of the Russian party of Marxism socialism.

They successfully installed a dictatorial socialist regime in Russia.

Bolshevik Revolution:

Lenin demanded a small, disciplined, elitist party dedicated to Communist revolution.

Opponents wanted a more democratic, reformist party with mass membership.

Bolsheviks “majority group” VS Mensheviks “minority group”.

Bolsheviks only had tenuous majority but name was kept for propaganda reasons.

Trotsky and the Seizure of Power::

Trotsky was a Lenin supporter.

He brilliantly executed Bolshevik seizure of power.

Convinced Petrograd Soviet to form a special military-revolutionary committee and make him its leader.

Union of Trotsky’s committee and Bolsheviks.

They seize gov buildings in Petrograd.

They arrest members of the provisional gov.

They went to Congress of Soviets with a Bolshevik majority.

Power passed to Soviets and Lenin was named head of gov.

1st Reason:

2nd Reason:

3rd Reason:

By late 1917, democracy had given way to anarchy.

Lenin/Trotsky had determined/superior leadership.

Bolshevik policies appealed to ordinary Russians.

Power was there for those who would take it.

Tsarist/provisional govs lacked this.

They were eager for radical changes bc they were tired of war.

Dictatorship and Civil War:

Bolshevik seizure of power began to build a Communist society.

They proclaimed their regime a “provisional workers’ and peasants’ gov.”

November: won only 23% so they disbanded under Lenin’s orders.

Socialist Revolutionary Party: 40%.

1918: Lenin established a one-party state.

G demanded that Soviet gov give up all its western territories.

At 1st they refused but had to accept at the end.

Summer 1918: 18 self-proclaimed regional govs (several representing minority nationalities).

They challenged Lenin’s gov in Moscow.

They closed in on central Russia from 3 sides but didn’t triumph.

Lenin/Red Army beat back the counter-revolutionary White armies.

1st Reason:

2nd Reason:

3rd Reason:

Bolshevik quickly developed a better army.

Foreign military intervention.

Reds controlled central Russia and crucial cities (Moscow/Petrograd).

Trotsky re-established strict discipline and effective fighting force.

Western Allies sent troops to stop spread of communism:/support White armies.

Poorly defined political program of the Whites.

Disobeying/deserting soldiers were immediately shot.

(US, UK, FR, JPN) their efforts were limited bc Westerners were sick of war.

They were incapable of uniting Bolshevik’s enemies.

Former tsarist army officers were actively recruited and given unprecedented power over troops.

Allied intervention failed to offer effective aid.

Bolsheviks: ethnic minorities autonomy in Russian-controlled territories.

Whites: preserve tsarist empire.

Civil War (Following Part):

Bolsheviks established system of centralized controls “War Communism”.

Nationalization of banks, industries by leadership.

Revolutionary terror contributed to Communist victory.

Cheka imprisoned/executed without trial 10k of “class enemies.”

Spring 1920: White armies completely defeated.

Bolsheviks retook much of the territory ceded to G under Brest-Litovsk Treaty.

Red Army reconquered Belarus/Ukraine (they briefly gained independence).

They failed to expand communism in Poland so they stopped their attempts.

End of Civil War and Bolsheviks won impressive victory.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk:

Peace treaty signed in March 18.

Btw Central Powers and Russia.

Ended Russian participation in WW1.

Cede Russian territories containing ⅓ of Russian empire’s population to the central Powers.

The Whites:

The Cheka:

Came from many social groups.

1st Soviet secret police organization.

United only by their hatred of communism and Bolsheviks (the Reds).

Established after Bolsheviks came to power during Russian Revolution.

They closed in on central Russia from 3 sides.

Suppressed political opposition and counter-revolutionary activities.

But they didn’t triumph.

Powerful repression tool.

End of the War: (page 849)

Revolution in Austria-H and G:

(...)

(...)

Treaty of Versailles:

Treaty of Versailles:

January 1919: 70 delegates from 27 nations met in Paris.

G’s African/Asian colonies were given to FR,UK,JPN.

Versailles Treaty laid out terms of postwar settlement with G.

Alsace-Lorraine was returned to FR.

Peace negotiations inspired great expectations.

G had to limit its army to 100k men.

Conference controlled by the Big Three (USA, UK, FR).

Cannot build military fortification in Rhineland.

G, Austria-H, Russia excluded.

Must accept temporary FR occupation of Rhineland.

IT took part, but limited role.

Article 231: war guilt clause.

Africa, Middle-East, Africa attended but their concerns were ignored.

G (and Austria) entirely responsible for the war and had to pay reparations.

Wilson believed only permanent international organization could avert future wars.

Expression of FR/UK demand for revenge.

The question what to do with G dominated Big 3 discussions.

Crippling financial burden for G and insult to national pride.

Clémenceau wanted G to pay for its aggression and wanted revenge.

Many Germans believed G was innocent victim forced into war (bc of propaganda).

He required creation of buffer state btw FR/G.

G was punished but not dismembered.

Permanent demilitarization of G and vast reparations payments.

Allied leaders seen speed as essential.

Lloyd George supported Clémenceau but was less harsh.

They feared Bolshevik Revolution might spread.

Wilson disagreed (violated his sense of Christian morality).

They believed peace, tranquility to be the best response to Lenin’s calls for worldwide upheaval.

Clémenceau agreed to compromise bc he feared G agression.

FR gave up its demand for Rhineland.

UK/US promised to help FR if attacked by G.

Agreements redrew European map.

New independent nations created from Austro-H and Russian empires: Finland, Baltic States, Yugoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia.

Ottoman empire split apart.

Wilson 14 Points:

Plan calling for open diplomacy, armaments reduction.

Freedom of commerce and trade.

Establishment of League of Nations.

League of Nations:

International body designed to provide place for resolution of international problems.

Wilson asked peace to be based on the national self-determination principle.

Ppl should be able to choose their own national govs through democratic majority-rule elections.

Ppl should be able to live free from outside interference in territories with clearly defined, permanent borders.

1st Reason:

2nd Reason:

US Senate and American ppl rejected Wilson’s handiwork.

The national self-determination principle was good in theory but flawed in practice.

Republicans believed the treaty gave away Congress Constitutional rights.

New states borders were a mix of ethnic/religious groups.

The right to declare war.

These groups often despised each other.

Thus, they demanded changes in articles.

New central European nations were economically weak.

So Wilson rejected all compromises.

They were politically unstable.

He ensured the treaty would never be ratified by the US.

Made sure US would never join League of N.

America turned its back from Eur.

It refused forming defensive alliance with FR/UK.

Isolationism: tragic renunciation of international responsibility.

War Human Costs:

War Human Costs:

Total battlefield deaths: 8M soldiers.

10% G civilians were direct victims.

Russia: highest number of military casualties.

G gov struggled to take care of victims.

Btw 7/10M civilians died bc of war.

Bodies moved to formal cemeteries.

Hundreds of thousands of bodies remained unidentified.

Towns/villages across Eur raised public memorials to honor them.

Victims (millions of widows, orphans, veterans).

Soldiers suffered from “shell shock”. It was termed post-traumatic stress disorder.

10M soldiers came home disfigured/mutilated.