Russian Revolution1917

What is Socialism?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3u4EFTwprM

• Socialism – based on input, people themselves, economic

• Communism – based on needs, ruled by one party, economic and political

Overview

• Series of revolutions in 1917 that ended the Tsarist autocracy

• First revolution in February causes Nicholas II to abdicate

• Second in October, Provisional Government removed and replaced by the Bolsheviks

Causes of Unrest

• Had been revolution in 1905 that led to political changes

• World War I deaths, loss of trade routes through Ottoman Empire• Developed a weariness in the city

owing to a lack of food, inflation• Thought Nicholas II was unfit to

rule• Widespread strikes in 1916,

aided by German funding• Ironic, Petrograd had been changed

from St. Petersburg to limit German recognition early in the war

Economic and Social Tensions

• Revolutionary committees rising• Considering confidence in Tsar

Nicholas II• Workers with great reasons

for discontent at this time, overcrowding

• Centuries of oppression of the lower classes building up during the war• Proletariat growing, living

conditions rough• Conscription had swept them

up, war demands intense

Political Tensions

• Nicholas II, part of the Romanov monarchy, had been super conservative, maintained strict authoritarianism• Individuals expected to show self-restraint,

devotion to the community, deference to the social hierarchy and a sense of duty

• Attached his fate to his family’s dynasty• Maybe a reason he jumped in to WWI against

a common and ancient enemy• Probably blinded him to the nation’s

problems• Progressive reforms may have saved him

• Had tried this in 1905 by establishing the Duma, democratic parliament, then dismissed the first two

• Previously had killed hundreds of unarmed protestors on Bloody Sunday

Warning During WWI

• Heavy casualties, mostly defeats early in the war• The Great Retreat of 1915• Officers more and more coming

from the lower classes• Morale was not terrible until the

situation deteriorated in homes• Couldn’t envision victory• Shortages, strikes, suffering, crime

• Nicholas II had taken over command, whoops

• State Duma officially warned Tsar in late 1916 of the need for constitutional government• Ignored

• February 1917, Petrograd, capital workers began strikes• Demands of bread• Each industrial enterprise was shut

down• Academics joined in as well

• Nicholas II looked to the army, only had about 12,000 reliable, reluctant to move in on women• Troops began to mutiny• Symbols town down, government

authority collapsed• Tsar had stripped the Duma of its

powers, couldn’t help, did manage to restore some order

• Socialist parties begin to organize into Petrograd Soviet

Abdication of the Throne

• March 14, Nicholas II on train to Petrograd, stopped by a group of disloyal troops• Suggested he abdicate the

throne• Did so the next day, his son as

well, gives it to his brother• Michael says “No way, Jose!”• Nicholas II reunited with his

family, placed under house arrest• Addressed as Nicholas Romanov

Effects of the February Revolution

• Widespread atmosphere of elation and excitement in Petrograd

• Provisional Government announced, majority center-left• Chaired by Prince Georgy

Lvov, Constitutional Democratic Party

• Socialists formed their rival body, Petrograd Soviet • Competed for power

“Dual Power” Period

• Provisional Government’s authority challenged by the Petrograd Soviet• Latter had the ability to mobilize

workers and soldiers• Creation of councils for representation

• Petrograd Soviet• Believed they represented classes, not

the whole nation• Believed Russia was not ready for

socialism• Wanted to pressure “bourgeoisie” to

provide democratic reforms• Popular democratic lobby

• Provisional Government said they would be taken into account, but would not be pressured• “Dual Power” was what really happened

“Dual Power Period”

• Series of political crises• Between population and

government• Between Provisional Government

and Soviets• Relationship changes when

Socialist Alexander Kerensky, a Soviet, agreed to join the new cabinet, became Prime Minister• Very democratic, still problems

• Undermined from other groups• Heavy military losses and defections• War was now unpopular• Shortages

Rise of Lenin

• New group, Bolshevik Party, led by Vladimir Lenin• Had been in exile in Switzerland• Return to Russia now a possibility,

Germany helps him, hoping it would weaken Russia or lead to their withdrawal• Traveled in a sealed train, arrived in

Petrograd April 1917• Popularity grows throughout the

spring• Growing through dissatisfaction

with the Provisional Government, always pushes people to radicalism

• Very little real power though• In fact, Lenin was probably

unprepared for this shift in the summer

Bolsheviks Gain Power

• June 18, Provisional Government launched an attack on Germany, total debacle

• Violent protest of the military, calling for “all power to the Soviets”• Lenin actually disowned the protests

• Had been unprepared, threatened with arrest, embarrassing

• Cost him support from the soldiers and workers

• Only temporary failure

• Bolshevik Party grown from 24k to 200k in six months, now majority in Moscow and Petrograd, also had political control of the provinces

Kornilov Affair and Other Events

• General Lavr Kornilov in command of the military• Thought Petrograd had been captured by

radicals• Would use it as an excuse to take over the

government• Ordered troops to pacify the city• Kerensky asked Bolsheviks for help, also the

Petrograd Soviets, Bolsheviks now majority in Petrograd Soviet

• Bolsheviks used influence over transportation and communication to stop the army, strengthened Lenin’s support

• Bolsheviks grow as only organized opposition to Provisional Government

• Lenin returns in October to a radical city• Began pressing for immediate overthrow of

the Kerensky government• Resolution calling for dissolution of Provisional

Government in favor of Petrograd Soviet• October Revolution began

October Revolution

• Based on Lenin’s writings on Marx• Beginning of the spread of communism

in 1900s• Far less sporadic than the one in

February• Deliberate planning and coordination

• Lenin not present during takeover, did provide motivations

• Leon Trotsky, leader of the Petrograd Soviet, was really responsible

• New government was coalition of Soviets, local councils elected by workers and peasants

• Will not be accomplished until the end of the Civil War