“The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles”

-Manifesto of the Communist Party- Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels

Huge Empire

• Russia one of great powers of Europe, first half 1800s

• Troops helped defeat Napoleon; leaders helped reorganize Europe after his fall

• Russia very different from other European powers

• Empire huge, stretched eastward far into Asia, included many different ethnic groups

Absolute Power

• To govern large, diverse empire, Russian monarchs ruled with absolute power

• Called czars, controlled most aspects of Russian life

• Believed in autocracy, government by one leader with unlimited powers

Russian Revolution Background

Agricultural Society• Russian society under

czars mostly agricultural• Unlike other European

countries, Russia had not industrialized

• Much of the population were serfs—workers considered part of land they worked

Serfs• Controlled by lords,

wealthy nobles who owned land

• Technically not slaves; living conditions, lack of freedom, resembled slavery

• Not allowed to leave property where born; did not own land they worked

Serfdom

Societal Problem• Serfs had to make

regular payments of goods, labor to lords

• Some in government wanted to improve conditions, unable to make reforms

• Russian serfdom way of life, a major problem in Russian society

Serfdom

Russia Lagging Behind• Alexander II came to

power after Nicholas, 1855, near end of Crimean War

• Loss of war showed Russia far behind rest of Europe

• Did not have modern technology, industry to build competitive military

Reforms of Alexander II

Reforms • Alexander II began

program of reforms • 1861, freed Russia’s

serfs, gave them right to own land as part of commune

• Believed terrible living conditions could bring rebellion

Economy • Alexander II hoped

giving serfs own land would build market economy

• Government set up system for peasants to buy land they worked on from landowner, usually with government help

Reforms of Alexander II

Reform and RepressionAlexander II made other reforms to

modernize Russia • Set up new judicial system

• Allowed some local self-government

• Reorganized army, navy• Despite reforms, revolutionary movements

continued to gain strength, call for more changes

• 1881, radical group, The People’s Will, assassinated Czar Alexander II

Alexander III• Alexander’s son, Alexander

III, became next czar• Alexander III a reactionary,

wanted to go back to way things were in past, ended father’s reforms

• Responded to revolutionary threats by going after individuals and groups suspected of plotting against government

Expansion East• Russia expanded east• Came into conflict with another

imperial power—Japan • At same time, revolution

brewing

War With Japan • Early 1900s, Japan building

empire, viewed Russia as threat

• 1904, Japanese forces attacked, defeated Russia in Russo-Japanese War

War and Revolution

Russo-Japanese War

Growing Unrest• Defeat shocked many

Russians (as well as many Europeans), added to unrest

• One group calling for change, Marxists—followed communist theories of Karl Marx

Marxist Ideas• Wanted to create

socialist republic—no private property, state to own, distribute goods

• 1902, Vladimir Lenin called for revolution to overthrow czar

War and Revolution

• 1905, many Russians ready to rebel against czar

• January 22, Orthodox priest, Father Gapon, brought petition to czar at Winter Palace, listing number of demands

• Troops fired at group; hundreds died; day known as Bloody Sunday

Revolution of 1905

• 1905, many Russians ready to rebel against czar

• January 22, Orthodox priest, Father Gapon, brought petition to czar at Winter Palace, listing number of demands

• Troops fired at group; hundreds died; day known as Bloody Sunday

Revolution Begins• Bloody Sunday inspired

many sectors of society to rise up against czar; rebellions broke out, czar’s strict rules disobeyed

• Workers went on strike, students protested in streets

• Czar promised reform, but did not follow through

• Massive strike in October; 2 million workers protested in streets

Revolution of 1905

Provisions• Manifesto

promised constitution

• Individual liberties to all, including freedom of speech, assembly

• Many gained right to vote

End Revolution• Nicholas II hoped

Manifesto would end revolution

• Did not achieve balance between own power, democracy

• People still wanted reform

The October Manifesto• In response to the rebellions and strikes, Nicholas

II issued the October Manifesto, an official promise for reform and a more democratic government.

Duma• Voters would

elect representatives to the Duma, assembly to approve all laws

• Czar continue to rule, but not pass laws without approval of Duma

The Years Before the War• Russia a troubled nation• Czar Nicholas II had promised

reform after 1905 revolution, but delivered little real change

• Bolsheviks sought to change life through revolution, wanted to overthrow czar

• Led by Lenin, wanted proletariat to rule Russia as socialist country

Bolshevik Plan• Adaptation of Marxist ideas

of overthrow of capitalism• Wanted elite group to keep

much of the power over Russia

• As Russia’s problems grew more serious, Bolsheviks gained more followers

• Czar Nicholas hoped World War I would cause people to rally to his leadership

Russia and World War I

Preparations for War

•Outbreak of fighting caused patriotism, rush to join military

•Otherwise Russia ill-prepared for war

– Factories unable to produce supplies quickly

– Transportation system weak

– Equipment outdated

On the Battlefield• Many Russian officers

advanced on connections, not ability

• Some initial successes on battlefield

• Losses soon outnumbered victories

• Millions of Russian soldiers wounded, killed during early battles

Russia in World War I

Czar Nicholas II took personal command of forces, 1915• Move made little sense since he knew little of military matters• Czar’s fate became linked with fate of Russian armed forces• Bad situation grew worse under Czar’s command

Russian army seemed doomed• Central Powers were able to stop Russian offensive• Destroyed Russian soldiers’ faith in leadership• Army had little strength, even less confidence

Conditions Grow Worse

Conditions in Russia worse than on battlefield• Food, goods scarce; peasants grew desperate• Unpopular Czarina relied on Grigory Rasputin, viewed as

corrupt, immoral• Shaky support for Russian monarchy dipped even lower

The Russian Revolution

• By the end of 1916, Russia was once again on the edge of a revolution. As the new year began and conditions in Russia continued to worsen, the Russian people clearly wanted a change.

Revolution Begins•Citizens protested in the

streets of Petrograd, March 8, 1917

•Police and soldiers refused to shoot the rioters

•Government was now helpless

Czar Nicholas II•Ordered legislature to

disband•His order defied•Citizens, government,

military refused to obey Czar

•Forced to abdicate, March 15, 1917

The Russian Revolution

Provisional Government• Duma established temporary

government • Led by Aleksandr Kerensky• Many unhappy with new

leadership

Bolsheviks• Led opposition to Kerensky’s

provisional government • Wanted fundamental change

in government and society• Planned Marxist revolution

The Russian Revolution

Bolshevism• Abolish private property

• Enforce social equality

• Later known as Marxism-Leninism

Vladimir Lenin• Bolshevik leader forced to live

outside Russia• Returned, April 1917• Germany hoped Lenin would

weaken Russian war effort

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

Kerensky’s final offensive

• Kerensky ordered final military offensive against Central Powers along Eastern Front, mid-1917

• Drive failed and led to widespread rebellion in Russian army

• Weakened Russian army collapse

Bolshevik takeover• Conditions ideal for Lenin• Armed Bolshevik factory

workers, Red Guard, attacked provisional government, November 1917

• Known as the October Revolution

• Kerensky’s government collapsed after nearly bloodless struggle

The Bolshevik Revolution

The Bolshevik Revolution

•Established radical Communist program•Made private ownership of land illegal•Land given to peasants•Control of factories given to workers

Lenin became leader

After the Revolution

Lenin sought to end Russian involvement in World War I

• Sent Leon Trotsky to negotiate peace with Central Powers

• Russia’s army virtually powerless• Trotsky had to accept agreement harsh on

Russia• Russia gained peace, gave up large parts of

empire

Reaction to Treaty• Bolsheviks’ acceptance of

peace treaty angered many Russians

• Bolsheviks’ opponents organized the White Army

• White Army included army leaders, political opponents, wealthy Russians opposed to Communist system

Civil War• White Army received

military help from France, U.S.

• Civil War raged for 3 years between Lenin’s Red Army and White Army

• Millions of Russians died in fighting, famines

• Bolsheviks finally triumphed, late 1920

After the Revolution

Collapsing economy• Brought on by civil war, pushed Russia to edge of total ruin• Peasants, workers especially hard hit• Lenin introduced New Economic Policy, 1921

The Soviet Union• Russia reunited with several neighboring lands, became Union of

Soviet Socialist Republics, dominated by Communist leadership• Lenin’s death in 1924 led to struggle for control of Soviet Union

New Economic Policy

Key points• New Economic Policy permitted some capitalist activity• Peasants could sell food at profit• Tried to encourage badly needed food production