The Russian Revolution

Part 1: Russia before the revolution

19th century Russia (1800s)

• Vast Empire– Stretched to California!– 12 time zones!

• Believed the ideas of the French Revolution were bad– Very conservative!

• Western Europe saw Russia as backwards, barbaric, and a cultural wasteland.

• Military giant – Lots of men– Defeated Napoleon

Tsar (Czar or Tzar)

• Word was law!• Absolute power

– No checks or balances against Tsar’s power.

– People had NO power.

• Hereditary Autocracy– Family rule (like monarchy)– Based on religion– “God’s representative on

earth.”– Women could inherit.

Nicholas I (1825-1855)• Worried about small

things– Ex. Buttons on

uniforms

• Had older brother but neither wanted to be Tsar.

The Decembrist Revolt (1825)

• Liberal Nobles– Wanted a

Constitutional Monarchy.

• Took advantage of confusion between Nicholas and Constantine.

• Idolized the ideas of the French Revolution.

The Decembrist Revolt Cont.• 3,000 members in “secret

society.”• Go to Tsar’s palace to

complain.• Nicholas wanted to talk.

– The person he sent to talk was killed.

• Nicholas brings in artillery – Kills 60-70 of the

Decembrist.– Hangs and arrests the

remaining Decembrists.

The Decembrists: A very early cause to the Russian Revolution

• The Decembrists failed b/c no public support.• Decembrists scare Nicholas

– He sits in on questioning of rebels to figure out what is wrong.

– Decides that bad actions were derived from bad ideas (The French Revolution)

• Censors EVERYTHING (bad move).• Looked for codes in music, books, etc.• Ridiculously large secret police.• Decades of political repression.• Continued to stall industrialization and progress.

Alexander II (r. 1855-1881)

• Ended serfdom (slavery of Russians) in 1861.

• Helped industrialization– Way behind.

Nicholas II

• Russo-Japanese War– Japan crushes Russia

• Rapid industrialization intensifies the bad working and living conditions.

• Workers look for reform.

• The last Tsar

Bloody Sunday 1905

• Russian Revolution begins!

• Demonstrators asking for improved working conditions

• Mowed down by Royal Army.

October Manifesto

• Nicholas II caves• Promises a constitution in

the October Manifesto.• Promises a parliament

called the Duma.• Sort of stops revolution• Tsar still all powerful.• Stolypin

– Brought in to reform agricultural system.

– Wanted Peasants to own land.