Transcript of Russian Revolution. The Beginning of Sorrows Russia was a troubled country Deplorable working...
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- Russian Revolution
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- The Beginning of Sorrows Russia was a troubled country
Deplorable working conditions Perpetuation of serfdom Lagging
industrialization compared with rest of Europe Inexperienced Tsar
() = king Overbearing ministers Large country lacking
infrastructure Spans two continents 6,000 miles across with
inadequate connections
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- Russian Empire 1866
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- Tsar Nicholas II Most influential advisor from his youth was
antidemocratic/constitution taught to hate freedom of speech &
press Revolutionaries were hunted down Father died unexpectedly age
45 Nicholas was thrust into Tsarhood age 26 without adequate formal
training 1896 Last of Romanov dynasty 1868-1918
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- Khodynka Tragedy Rumor spread the food ran out, precipitated a
stampede Over 1,000 trampled to death Thousands injured Interpreted
by mystics as bad omen Event marred the coronation of the new Tsar
1896 Intended as a banquent celebration open to the people, est up
to 500,000 did attend
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- Organizing the Revolution Russias growing industrialization
without improvement in working conditions led to growing unrest
Organized local political councils = Soviets of workers Large
organization Russian Social Democratic Labor Party formed in 1903
in exile Divided into two disagreeing factions: Bolsheviks, lead by
Lenin Mensheviks
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- Russo-Japanese War 1905 Disaster 6,000 miles away was Port
Arthur Overconfident, Tsar committed Russian forces in attempt to
claim Pacific port from Japanese Expected by everyone to win Russia
was soundly defeated because of inability to reinforce the remote
area
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- Russo-Japanese War Embarrassing defeat of Russian forces by
fledgling Japanese military Demolished popularity of the young Tsar
Rendered the Russian economy in shambles Lead to discontent that
preceded Revolution of 1905
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- Bloody Sunday Jan 9, 1905 Lead by socialist priest Father
Gapon, 120,000 peaceful workers converged on Winter Palace with a
petition. Carrying pictures of Tsar and singing, crowd fully
expected to meet him.
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- Bloody Sunday Against his mother & sisters advice to face
the crowd, Nicolas listened to his ministers Sent the army instead
Shots fired Probably 1,000 killed or wounded Far more damaging, the
Russian people no longer trusted the Tsar
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- Revolution of 1905 In wake of Bloody Sunday, a rash of mass
strikes spread across Russia and its federated neighbors Every
oppressed group gathered in protests: ethnic minorities, workers,
farm laborers, students, doctors, lawyers, engineers There were
ethnic uprisings between Armenians and Tartars resulting in
massacres in Caucus region. Strikes went on for months After the
assassination of his uncle Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich in Feb,
Tsar reluctantly tried to make concessions In October, Nicholas II
issued October Manifesto Formed Duma a type of parliamentary
representation
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- Revolution of 1905 Morale of all fleet sailors was low after
the defeat by Japanese Discipline was harsh Group of sailors
dedicated to revolution called Tsentralka plotted a secret mass
mutiny Mutiny on battleship Potemkin occurred prematurely Captain
and 7 of 18 officers killed Remainder placed under arrest
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- Revolution of 1905 Potemkins crew sailed to Odessa in an
attempt to support workers uprising, Lenin sent representatives to
help Tsarist troops routed the uprising slaughtering hundreds Crew
fled to ship, entire Black Sea Fleet was ordered to stop them As
the ship escaped to Romania, the crews on other ships refused to
fire upon them
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- October 28, 1987 Ivan Beshoff, Last Survivor Of Mutiny on the
Potemkin AP DUBLIN, Oct. 27 Ivan Beshoff, the last survivor of the
1905 mutiny on the Russian battleship Potemkin, a harbinger of the
Russian Revolution, died Sunday, his family said today. His birth
certificate said he was 102 years old, but he contended he was 104.
Born near the Black Sea port of Odessa, Mr. Beshoff abandoned
chemistry studies and joined the navy, serving in the engine room
of the Potemkin. The mutiny over poor food was the first mass
expression of discontent in Czar Nicholas II's military and later
came to be seen as a prelude to the 1917 Russian Revolution. The
mutineers killed the captain and several officers. The entire Black
Sea fleet was ordered to suppress the rebellion, but crews refused
to fire on the battleship, and it sailed for 11 days before
surrendering. Mr. Beshoff had said he fled through Turkey to
London, where he met Lenin. He settled in Ireland in 1913, saying
he had tired of the sea. Mr. Beshoff worked for a Soviet oil
distribution company and was twice arrested as a Soviet spy, but
became a beloved figure in the Irish community. After World War II,
he opened a fish and chips shop in Dublin. His sons opened branches
elsewhere in the city.
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- Revolution 1905 Most significant event occurred in Moscow in
Dec Dec 5 General Strike began Dec 7 government troops crack down
Bitter street fighting followed Artillery used to break up
demonstrations and shell workers districts Thousand people killed,
city in ruins Dec 18 Bolsheviks surrender
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- Revolution 1905 By April1906, the Revolution was ended 14,000
executed, 75,000 imprisoned Tsarist forces had stabilized the
country 1905 was a dress rehearsal, the revolution of 1917 would be
conclude what had been started Unlike that of 1917, the was no
central organization behind the Revolution of 1905
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- Terrorist Activity 1906-1909 Socialist Revolutionary Party
& Bolsheviks carried out campaign of terrorism Killed 7,293
people including 2,640 assassinations of government officials
Wounded 8,061 Dmitry Sipyagin Minister of Interior. Killed April 2,
1902 in Saint Petersburg. Nikolai Bobrikov Governor-General of
Finland. Killed June 17, 1904 in Helsinki. Vyacheslav von Plehve
Minister of Interior. Killed July 28, 1904 in Saint Petersburg.
Eliel Soisalon-Soininen Chancellor of Justice of Finland. Killed
February 6, 1905 in Helsinki. Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of
Russia Killed February 17, 1905 in Moscow. Victor Sakharov former
war minister. Killed November 22, 1905. Admiral Chukhnin the Black
Sea Fleet commander. Killed July 11, 1906. Aleksey Ignatyev Killed
9 December 1906.
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- Stalin, Lenin & Trotsky
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- Lenin Born Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, pseudonym Nikolai Lenin
Father was practicing Christian, an official in Tsarist regime who
labored to improve the lot of the people by establishing schools
Lenins natural arrogance kept in check by father Two tragedies
profoundly affected him At age 16, his father died unexpectedly
While at University of St Petersburg, his older brother Aleksandr
was arrested for involvement in revolutionary plot to kill the
Tsar. He was hung May 7, 1887 Transformed Lenin into political
radical He vowed to make them pay
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- Lenin at Kazan University Assisted by Prof. Kerensky young
Lenin was able to get in to Kazan University As law student he
applied himself to study Marx & other revolutionaries Eloquent
orator and superb organizer Lenin welcomed into Marxist student
society Involved in riot, Lenin was expelled, then kept under
surveillance by police
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- St Petersburg and Back Finished law here; 1892 awarded first
class law diploma, distinguished in Latin & Greek, fluent in
German Practiced law in Samara a few years 1892 famine struck farms
surrounding Samara and peasants fled to the city Lenin refused to
take part in humanitarian relief efforts: ...famine today performs
a progressive function...Psychologically this talk of feeding the
starving is nothing but an expression of the saccharin sweet
sentimentality so characteristic of our intelligentsia. 1895
founded League of Struggle for the Emancipation of the Working
Class in city of St Petersburg Arrested Dec 1895 for plotting
against the Tsar In 1897 exiled to Siberia
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- Siberia There he met Georgy Plekhanov, who introduced Marxism
to Russia Met Nadyezhda Krupskaya who help him organize a worldwide
network of revolutionaries She became his wife
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- Russian Social Democratic Party Lenin came to prominence in
1903 when he joined RSDP when it held second congress in exile in
London RSDP, a Marxist organization, held its first congress but
was disbanded when all nine of its delegates were arrested in 1898
(This was what Plekhanov organized) Split into 2 irreconcilable
factions Bolsheviks (majority) Mensheviks (minority) Bolsheviks
were led by Lenin
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- Russian Social Democratic Party Lenins position on democratic
centralism * caused split Bolshevik (Lenin) members limited to
professional revolutionaries Mensheviks believed in more open
membership Bolsheviks separated in 1912 as the Russian Social
Democratic Labor Party (RSDLP) which changed to Communist Party
after 1917 * Policy to be determined by free discussion, vote, with
the Party subscribing unquestioningly to majority vote
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- Revolutionary Interlude In Nov 1905, Lenin returned to Russia
for the Revolution of 1905, but his exact role is unclear After
Tsarist defeat of the Revolution, he was forced back into exile in
1907. During ten years in exile, Lenin traveled Europe organizing
world revolution He developed Leninism which justified the
Dictatorship of the Proletariat
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- Leninism Based on failures of 1905 Revolution, Lenin made
changes Lenin adapted Marxism to the Russian agrarian society:
1.Reversed Marx order to: politics over economics 2.Allowing for
revolution to be lead by vanguard of professional revolutionaries
3.Establish Dictatorship of Proletariat 4.Education of Proletatiat
by the vanguard party 5.Decentralized democracy practiced via
Soviets (councils) where workers exercise political power
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- Dictatorship of the Proletariat ... the dictatorship of the
proletariat i.e. the organisation of the vanguard of the oppressed
as the ruling class for the purpose of crushing the oppressors....
An immense expansion of democracy, which for the first time becomes
democracy for the poor, democracy for the people, and not democracy
for the rich:... and suppression by force, i.e. exclusion from
democracy, for the exploiters and oppressors of the people this is
the change which democracy undergoes during the transition from
capitalism to communism.
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- Leon Trotsky Born Lev Davidovich Bronstein of Jewish heritage,
his family was not religious He became a revolutionary at age 18
and was arrested, imprisoned age 19 for 2 years. During which he
studied and identified with the RSDP Subsequently exiled to Siberia
from 1900-1902 Escaped in 1902 and fled to London to join party and
first met Lenin and Plekhanov. He would always be more moderate
than Lenin. At the age of 23, expected to side with Bolsheviks but
in 1903 during second Congress, he supported the Mensheviks Soon
parted company with Mensheviks and remained with the RSDP as
non-factional During Bloody Sunday, secretly returned to St
Petersburg where he helped both the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks
and tried to influence the latter to a more radical position.
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- St Petersburg Soviet Soviets (Russ. For council) =
organizations that represent workers political demands Mensheviks
established non-party St Petersburg Soviet under Khrustalyov-Nosar,
a compromise figure Consisted of a mix of Mensheviks, Bolsheviks,
others Trotsky returned from exile 1905 to be vice-chairman After
Nosar arrested, Trotsky took a more aggressive approach Soviet was
very popular among workers despite Bolshevik opposition Surrounded
by Tsarist troops, Soviet disbanded in Dec 1905 when leaders (incl
Trotsky) arrested While in court, Trotsky, delivered some of the
best speeches in his life and solidified his reputation Convicted,
he was deported and remained in exile until 1917
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- Trotsky and RSDP in Exile Trotsky joined the RSDP in London and
tried to influence a more moderate course Lenin wanted to break and
form pure revolutionary Bolshevik party Markov wanted to keep party
open Long interlude between revolutions led to heightened tension
within RSDP between competing factions Most serious disagreement
between Trotsky/Mensheviks and Lenin/Bolsheviks was over
expropriations Robbing banks & companies to acquire funds
banned by RSDP but continued by Bolsheviks Trotsky newspaper Pravda
(truth) was copied by Bolsheviks added further insult to
injury
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- Split of the RSDP in 1912 Lenin & Bolsheviks expelled their
opponents from the party and renamed it Russian Social Democratic
Labor Party (RSDLP) Trotsky unified remaining factions in Vienna in
August 1912 (August bloc) His attempts to reunify with Bolsheviks
failed until 1914
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- Trotskyism While in exile Trotsky developed a form of Marxism
distinct from that of Lenin and Stalin Agreed w/ Lenin re:
establishment of vanguard party (dedicated revolutionaries) Opposed
one country view of Stalin in favor of proletarian internationalism
Worker class must act globally to defeat capitalism Reject
nationalism in favor of world communism Advocated dictatorship of
proletariat based on democratic principles
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- I osep Stalin (1878-1953) The only true proletariat among the
leadership of the RSDP Born in Georgia as I oseb Besarionis dzhe
Jughashvili Attended orthodox seminary but expelled 1899 Unclear
reasons After reading Lenins writing, joined RSDP 1903 Full time
revolutionary and outlaw Bolshevik bad guy: organizing
paramilitaries, inciting strikes, spreading propaganda and raising
money through bank robberies, ransom from kidnappings and extortion
Stalin
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- World War I The Tsar entered World War I against Germany In
defense of our brethren Orthodox Slavs in Serbia In hopes of
reviving patriotism and nationalism Ottoman Empire joined in
alliance with Germany, cutting off most Russian ports in Black Sea
By mid 1915, the war was demoralizing, dissention once again was
building Strikes mounted in 1916, the Tsar attempted to close the
Duma In early 1917, a general strike in St Petersburg erupted into
street fighting within the capitol city
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- February Revolution (1917) Beginning in Feb 1917, the Duma
refused to disband, and the army sided with the striking workers
With the arming of the workers, the police were overcome and also
changed sides Finally the ministers met with Nicholas II and
persuaded him to abdicate the throne on March 2, 1917. A
Provisional Government was established to control Russian State
apparatus under Alexander Kerensky but fell into competition with
the socialists St Peterburg Soviet
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- February Revolution (1917) The revolution caught Lenin (in
exile) by surprise, he immediately sought to return He took a
gamble and went to Germany for help. As he surmised, Germany,
wanting to get Russia out of the war, knew that further revolution
would derail the Russian war effort, AGREED They hasted Lenin in a
specially sealed military train across Germany and thru Sweden to
the Russian border
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- February Revolution (1917) Lenin denounced Provisional
Govtdenounced Stalin & Trotsky were in exile: Stalin in Siberia
and Trotsky in New York City when Feb Revolution occurred Hasted
back to St Petersburg Coalition formed of : Bolsheviks led by Lenin
Left Socialist Revolutionaries (Esers from ) St Petersburg Soviet
(workers council) led by Trotsky
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- Provisional Government The uneasy arrangement of Dual Authority
between the Provisional Government and the St Petersburg Soviet was
destabilizing Alexander Kerensky (son of Prof at Kazan Univ)
promised freedom of speech, elections and release of political
prisoners but decided to maintain involvement in WW I. He faced
insurmountable challenges: Growing unrest with unpopular
involvement in WW I Lenin openly criticized the govt and circulated
anti-govt propaganda Peoples expectations of the govt to relieve
starvation, loss of lands and jobs were no met in time
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- Bolsheviks Organize By mid 1917, the leaders of the Bolsheviks
had assembled in St Petersburg. Trotsky returned to influence the
St Petersburg Soviet, the most powerful organization in the city
Realizing the need for unity, Trotsky decided to bring the Soviet
over to Bolshevik position By October it was Bolshevik-controlled
Formed Red Army from workers Created Military Revolutionary
Committee within Soviet Lenin led Bolshevik RSDLP = the
vanguard
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- The October RevolutionOctober Revolution The Bolsheviks formed
worker militias under their control called the Red Guards The Red
Guards were led by the capable Leon Trotsky Bolsheviks came under
the leadership of Lenin Their cry was Peace, Land and Bread!
Bolsheviks allied with the St Petersburg Soviet, on signal from the
cruiser Aurora, stormed the Winter Palace & overthrew the
Provisional Government on October 25, 1917, (one month before free
elections were to be held.) Conspiracy was strong; Bolsheviks
encountered little to no opposition, almost no casualties Red
Guards secured the surrounding countryside
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- Aftermath October 26 th, 1917 congress of all Russian Soviets
met Bolsheviks had upper hand in agenda Mensheviks and SRs walked
out in protest Congress approves handing over of state power to
Bolsheviks Decree of Peace = immediate withdrawal of Russia from
World War I (Treaty of Brest-Litovsk)Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Decree
of Land = abolition of all private property, redistribution of
estates among peasants Formation of all Bolshevik government, Lenin
as chairman
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- Trotskys Rising Star Successfully defeated counter-attack by
troops loyal to provisional govt brought back from German front in
November 1917 All practical work in connection with the
organization of the uprising was done under the immediate direction
of Comrade Trotsky, the President of the Petrograd Soviet. It can
be stated with certainty that the Party is indebted primarily and
principally to Comrade Trotsky for the rapid going over of the
garrison to the side of the Soviet and the efficient manner in
which the work of the Military Revolutionary Committee was
organized.Military Revolutionary Committee By the end of 1917,
Trotsky was second only to Lenin as the leader of new
government
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- Almost a Failure National elections were already scheduled on
November 25, 1917 and rather than provoke public ire, the
Bolsheviks allowed elections to precede National elections Contrary
to their hopes, Bolsheviks received vote of no confidence SRs were
given a clear victory (almost twice as many votes as Bolsheviks)
Jan 5 th 1918, Bolsheviks by force dismissed the Constituent
Assembly and subsequently banned all opposing political parties
Russian Civil War 1918-1920 Red Army vs Whites (coalition of
monarchists, conservatives, liberals and anti-Bolshevik socialists)
White Army backed by England and America
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- Russian Civil War
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- Bolshevik actions against national elections resulted in 2-5
years of fierce fighting: European ended 1920 Asian carried on 1923
Bolsheviks formed Cheka State security force (KGB later) and also
Red Army Because of Treaty of Brest- Litovsk, Western Allies were
against Soviets & directly supported White Army
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- Russian Civil War Bolsheviks eventually were victorious and
White Army was desperately evacuated by the British Royal Navy in
1920 Between WWI and Russian Civil War 20 million Russians were
killed but more (15 million) died in the Civil War than in WWI (5
million) In 1922 there were 7 million Russian orphans street
children Cheka carried out 250,000 executions of enemies of the
people For their involvement in White Army decossackization
expelled 300,000-500,000 Cossacks
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- Russian Civil War By 1921, cultivated land had shrunk to 62
percent of the pre-war area, and the harvest yield was only about
37 percent of normal. The number of horses declined from 35 million
in 1916 to 24 million in 1920, and cattle from 58 to 37 million.
The exchange rate with the U.S. dollar declined from two rubles in
1914 to 1,200 in 1920rubles Bolsheviks were firmly in control but
not by popularity Lenin instituted New Economic Plan (NEP) in order
to provide relief and assuage public unrest Allowed some private
ventures and capitalist investments to fund industrial and
development projects
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- The Third International International Communist Organization
(Comintern) Formed in Moscow 1919 Russian becomes the official
language of Communism Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, feared that they
would be crushed by capitalism of the world unless revolution swept
all of Europe Things were ripe as Europe still reeling from
WWI
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- Kronstadt Rebellion Bolsheviks ruined their countrys economy In
1921, mine and factory production fell to 20% of prewar levels The
Ruble fell to 1/600 th of prewar value Led to uprisings in
countryside, strikes & violence in factories Kronstadt sailors
who aided the revolution in 1917 sent delegation to Petrograd to
investigate situation Learning of Bolshevik heavy-handed repression
of workers, battleship crews held emergency meeting
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- Lenins Tomb is Just Another Communist Plot