Russian revolutions
Those darn Russkies – The Revolutions of 1917.
Some notes on Vladimir Ilyich (Ulianov) Lenin.
Born 4/22/1870. Died 1/21/1924. Stroke.
Lenin never met Marx or Engels, both of whom began to think of Russia in the 1860s as the most likely place for a Socialist revolution to begin. Lenin found them too soft.
His contemporary Marxists believed that a revolution should occur naturally and gradually from the people. Lenin believed that this revolution must be abrupt and led by a select group of professional and well-motivated revolutionaries. (Rousseau) The masses were a directionless force that could be a very effective tool to be employed when the leaders needed them, but they could not be counted on to create the revolution.
Soviet – advice. Council. First soviet organized in the strikes of 1905. Part of the momentum behind the October Manifesto. Unions become intermittently legal on the local level in 1906. Workers and peasant soviets organize to improve the conditions throughout Russia. Socialist presence is unmistakable and undesired by Tsarist government. A series of strikes and crackdowns shape the period between 1906 and 1917.
March 8 – 12, 1917 (Feb. 23 – 27 Old Style) Riots and demonstrations against the war and tsarist regime begin to include soldiers. Reserve battalions sent to suppress the riots join them instead, leaving no troops to defend the city and the government. Nicholas is at the front, no representative of the tsar steps forward to resolve the situation. Petrograd turns to the dissident Duma for action. Tsarist government orders the dissolution of the Duma. The Duma ignores this order.
March 12, 1917 - Provisional Government formed.
March 15, 1917 – Nicholas II abdicates in favor of his brother Michael.
March 16, 1917 – Michael abdicates.
Political parties of the Provisional Government:
LEFT
Left wing Socialist Revolutionaries
Bolsheviks – only a minority at the start
Anarchists – farthest to the left.
CENTER
Non-Marxist Socialists (Kerensky) – strong orderly democracy
Right Wing Mensheviks – orthodox Marxism
Right wing Socialist Revolutionary Party – loose federalism
Left Wing Mensheviks - Trotsky
RIGHT
Octobrists – Return to 1905 October Manifesto
Constitutional Democrats – British style Parliament
Public Men – Gradual and cautious change.
Bolshevik Strengths:
- Ability to capitalize upon disorganization of opponents.
- Manipulate public opinion against opponents with strong underground print network.
- Adopted popular policies of other parties.
- Ability to simplify “Bolshevik Program” to Russian people.
Lenin’s April Theses:
- Immediate withdrawal from WWI
- Overthrow of capitalist system responsible for the war.
- Introduction of government of workers and peasants
(Lenin had been allowed to leave his exile in Switzerland by the Germans in order to cause trouble and revolution in Russia. He enters via Finland, April 16,1917)
Lenin is the penultimate figure of the Bolshevik Revolution. No Lenin = No Bolshevik victory. Lenin believes that power should reside with the Soviet of Workers and Soldiers Deputies. This Soviet becomes the leader of opposition to the Provisional government.
As a result, support for the Bolshevik party builds in factories and armed forces. Bolsheviks seek out and gain support of factory and military committees.
June 16,1917 – First All Russian Congress of Soviets. Petrograd
265 Socialist Revolutionaries.
248 Mensheviks
105 Bolsheviks.
Lenin stuns all with his audacity at pronouncement that Bolsheviks are ready to assume power by hanging 100 prominent capitalists and denounce all others as enemies of the people. His popularity spreads rampantly. “PEACE, BREAD, and FREEDOM” slogans of the Bolshevik party dominate public demonstrations.
Provisional government focuses upon Bolsheviks. Arrests many, causes flight of others.
Ensuing riots, strikes, and uprisings are unmanageable by the Provisional Government. Continue throughout June – October. Bolsheviks reemerge.
Kornilov Affair – Kerensky and Provisional Government order General Kornilov to put down Soviet uprising in Petrograd. Kerensky then appeals to public to stop Kornilov’s “threat to the revolution.” Provisional Government releases Bolsheviks from jail and arms them to assist in the defense of Petrograd. Kornilov offensive disintegrates amid confusion. Provisional Government demands weapons back, Bolsheviks refuse. Bolsheviks use acquired arms to gain influence in Petrograd and Moscow Soviets.
Bolshevik’s immediate goals:
- Establish Soviet Republic
- Seize land. Give to Peasant Soviets.
- Seize factories. Give to workers Soviets.
- Annul treaties.
- Declare Peace.
Bolsheviks voted into control of Presidium. Trotsky named Chairman.
Lenin – in Finland – urges Bolsheviks to continue complete seizure of power. “History will not forgive us if we do not take power now.”
Many Bolsheviks fear that moving too quickly will cause them to lose their chance to consolidate power, by causing others to fear them. The Provisional Government helps out again by threatening to move to Moscow. Bolshevik consolidation of power within Military Revolutionary Committee allows them to proclaim that no action can be taken in or around Petrograd without its approval. Trotsky in charge.
Lenin returns to form Political Bureau (Politburo) to seize final power.
11/7/1917 Bolsheviks seize control.