BackgroundBackground
Tsar Alexander IITsar Alexander II– Attempted to reform after Crimean WarAttempted to reform after Crimean War
Ended serfdomEnded serfdom Military reformMilitary reform ZemstvosZemstvos Judicial reformJudicial reform
Sergei WitteSergei Witte
Alexander IIIAlexander III– Political conservativePolitical conservative– Encouraged industrialization of RussiaEncouraged industrialization of Russia
Sergei Witte (finance minister)Sergei Witte (finance minister) Protective tariffsProtective tariffs TaxesTaxes Gold standardGold standard Heavy industryHeavy industry TextilesTextiles Transiberian RailroadTransiberian Railroad
Russian Social Classes circa Russian Social Classes circa 19001900
~approximately 85% peasants~approximately 85% peasants Small industrial proletariatSmall industrial proletariat Landowning aristocracyLandowning aristocracy Kulaks – landowning peasantsKulaks – landowning peasants
Social Revolutionary Party – opposed Social Revolutionary Party – opposed industry; embraced rural lifeindustry; embraced rural life
Constitutional Democratic Party - liberalsConstitutional Democratic Party - liberals
Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin
LeninLenin– Rejected SRP’s traditionalismRejected SRP’s traditionalism– Rejected the Social Dems call for industryRejected the Social Dems call for industry– Criticized trade unionism as being too limitedCriticized trade unionism as being too limited– Rejected mass democracy of votersRejected mass democracy of voters– Favored a small, organized party Favored a small, organized party – ““Bolsheviks” vs. “Mensheviks”Bolsheviks” vs. “Mensheviks”– Favored unity among peasants and Favored unity among peasants and
proletariatproletariat
Causes - Revolution of 1905Causes - Revolution of 1905
Russia was only beginning to Russia was only beginning to industrializeindustrialize
There was general discontentment There was general discontentment among peasantsamong peasants
Nicholas II was harsh, but ineffective.Nicholas II was harsh, but ineffective. Russia unexpectedly lost in 1905 war w/ Russia unexpectedly lost in 1905 war w/
Japan.Japan.
War with JapanWar with Japan
Russia Expected VictoryRussia Expected Victory In 1904/05 Russia and In 1904/05 Russia and
Japan fought for control Japan fought for control of Korea and Manchuriaof Korea and Manchuria
The Tsar expected a The Tsar expected a quick victoryquick victory
Russia suffered defeats Russia suffered defeats on Land and sea. Japan on Land and sea. Japan destroyed the Russian destroyed the Russian NavyNavy
ResultsResults
Tsar becomes more Tsar becomes more unpopularunpopular
Russia is humiliated Russia is humiliated
Government seen to be Government seen to be weak and incompetentweak and incompetent
Conditions for the people Conditions for the people get worseget worse
price rises food shortages price rises food shortages and unemploymentand unemployment
1905 Revolution1905 Revolution
Forms of struggleForms of struggle:: DemonstrationsDemonstrations Strikes, many of them politicalStrikes, many of them political Takeovers of farmlandTakeovers of farmland Armed revoltsArmed revolts Mutinies in the armed forcesMutinies in the armed forces Political self-organization of civil societyPolitical self-organization of civil society
– Creation of political parties – from Left to RightCreation of political parties – from Left to Right– Creation of labor unions, independent Creation of labor unions, independent
professional associations, etc.professional associations, etc.– Creation of “Creation of “SovietsSoviets” as new bodies of democratic ” as new bodies of democratic
government, challenging the autocratic stategovernment, challenging the autocratic state
ResultsResults
The government’s responseThe government’s response Peace with JapanPeace with Japan RepressionRepression Reforms, beginning with the Tsar’s October 1905 Reforms, beginning with the Tsar’s October 1905
Manifesto, granting political freedoms and parliamentary Manifesto, granting political freedoms and parliamentary electionselections
By 1907, the revolution subsidesBy 1907, the revolution subsides But no viable new form of state-society relations has But no viable new form of state-society relations has
been createdbeen created StalemateStalemate
– The TsarThe Tsar is a reactionary, rejects democracyis a reactionary, rejects democracy– The nobility is stuck in the old orderThe nobility is stuck in the old order– The capitalist class is too dependent on the state, too afraid The capitalist class is too dependent on the state, too afraid
to show initiativeto show initiative
ResultsResults The October ManifestoThe October Manifesto - - promise of freedom of speech, right to form political promise of freedom of speech, right to form political
parties parties Establish a DumaEstablish a Duma No new laws without consent of the DumaNo new laws without consent of the Duma Broken PromisesBroken Promises Voting system was unfair rich had more influence Voting system was unfair rich had more influence
than the poorthan the poor Duma had little influence over the Tsar and new Duma had little influence over the Tsar and new
lawslaws First two Dumas were dismissed for demanding First two Dumas were dismissed for demanding
reformsreforms Further changes introduced to excluded socialistFurther changes introduced to excluded socialist
Why Did the Revolution Fail?Why Did the Revolution Fail?
Many disparate groups w/ different Many disparate groups w/ different objectivesobjectives
Lack of organized leadership.Lack of organized leadership. Most strikes and naval mutinies were Most strikes and naval mutinies were
abandoned.abandoned. Tsar did grant some concessions which Tsar did grant some concessions which
some Russians accepted.some Russians accepted. Military was loyal to tsar and the military Military was loyal to tsar and the military
was used to arrest soviets.was used to arrest soviets.
Nicholas II Appoints StolypinNicholas II Appoints Stolypin
The Rule of StolypinThe Rule of Stolypin
– Aim of stabilityAim of stability
– 1. Repress the revolutionaries1. Repress the revolutionaries
– 2. Introduce reforms to improve living conditions2. Introduce reforms to improve living conditions
– 1911 - Stolypin assassinated1911 - Stolypin assassinated
StolypinStolypin
1. Great reduction in activities of the 1. Great reduction in activities of the revolutionariesrevolutionaries
2. Richer peasants (Kulaks) now run farms 2. Richer peasants (Kulaks) now run farms for profitfor profit
3. Kulaks now loyal to Tsar3. Kulaks now loyal to Tsar 4. Cities have more food4. Cities have more food 5. Conditions for some workers improve 5. Conditions for some workers improve
though many remain discontented. 1912/14 though many remain discontented. 1912/14 many strikesmany strikes
6. Revolutionaries like Lenin learn to adopt 6. Revolutionaries like Lenin learn to adopt new more tacticsnew more tactics