“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