Russian Revolution & Beyond

Photo Source: http://www.st-petersburg-life.com/st-petersburg/1917-russian-revolution

Civil Unrest

• Prior to the revolution, Russia had been dominated by czars for hundreds of years

• The social structure was largely unbalanced– A small percentage of elites enjoyed most

privileges.– Most people suffered in dire poverty with few

rights.– This is similar to the circumstances that led to

revolution in France.

New Ways of Thinking

• The Communist Manifesto– The ideas of Karl Marx & Freidrich Engels circulate

throughout Russia.

– People begin to question the structure of Russian society.

– This would lead to the end of the last Russian Czar.

WWI

• Russia suffered tremendous losses during the early years of World War I– Approximately 2,000,000 Russians were killed in

1915 alone. (Prentice Hall, 1997)• Russia hadn’t began to industrialize and this

weakened their war effort– Troops lacked needed supplies– The weapons they had were inferior to their

enemies.

WWI Problems Continued

• In an attempt to bolster morale, Czar Nicholas II went to the front lines to assume control of the military– This did little due to the fact the Nicholas II had

little military experience

• Russia was left under the control of Nicholas’ wife Alexandra.– Alexandra lacked the trust of the Russian people.

(Prentice Hall, 1997)

March (February) Revolution• In March of 1917, tensions had grown to a

fever pitch in Russia.– Economic problems at home led to widespread

discontent amongst the citizens.– Russia continued to suffer heavy losses in the war.

– Photo Source: http://library.thinkquest.org/C005121/data/russia.htm

March Revolution Continued

• Revolutionaries forced the Czar to abdicate and a provisional government was established.

• This government makes a critical mistake and decides to continue Russian involvement in World War I.

• Russian citizens are angered by this decision and it leaves the door open to further revolution.

Photo Source: http://www.inatoday.com/leninlarryking6152010.htm

Vladimir Lenin

• Lenin believed the Marxist ideas could be applied to Russia’s social structure.

• He returns from exile in Switzerland in April 1917 and is greeted warmly by the Russian people. (Prentice Hall, 1997)

• Lenin vowed to end Russian participation in WWI.

November (October) Revolution

• In November of 1917, Lenin and the Marxist revolutionaries (Bolsheviks) overthrow the provisional government.

• This lasts only a few days as the Russian people quickly join in support of the revolution. (Prentice Hall, 1997)

Bolsheviks In Charge

• Bolsheviks ended private ownership of land– Workers were given control of factories & mines– Lenin saw this as a means of putting power in the

hands of the people

• Lenin signs the treaty of Brest-Litovsk officially ending Russian participation in WWI. (Prentice Hall, 1997)

Death of Lenin

• In 1924 Vladimir Lenin dies. (Prentice Hall, 1997)

• This marks a dramatic turning point for the direction and leadership of Russia.– Lenin’s successors have very different visions for

the path that the Russian people should follow.

Photo Source: http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/joseph-stalin-51.php

Joseph Stalin

• Stalin assumes power in Russia following Lenin’s death. • Stalin’s ideas regarding government power and

control are much more aggressive that Lenin’s – Command Economy: government controls all aspects

of production.– People are controlled with secret police and

propaganda

Stalin’s Totalitarian State

• A single party dominated politics and made all decisions.

• Communist ideology replaced religion and nothing was allowed to come before the state.

• Lenin’s Tomb becomes a holy shrine for Russians.

• Image Source: http://freemasonrywatch.org/communism.html

Totalitarianism Continued

• People were bombarded with pro-Communist propaganda and constantly reminded of the “evils” of the West.

• Compulsory education was enacted where children would learn about the benefits of atheism, collective farming, and the glorification of their leaders.

Collectivization

• Stalin places all private farms in collectives and forces them to share all of their crops.

• The government distributes crops out to the masses.– People are furious over this action and many burn

crops and kill their livestock. (Prentice Hall, 1997)

The Great Purge• Stalin used brute force and capital punishment to

ensure his position of power.• He became increasingly paranoid about an

overthrow and began to execute people that he believed posed a threat to him.– More than 4 million people were imprisoned, exiled,

or executed during Stalin’s reign as a result. (Prentice Hall, 1997)

– Many of these were his top military leaders.– This would prove to be disastrous for Russia as they

entered World War II.

References• Prentice Hall, Inc. World History: Connections To Today. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey,

1997.

• Lenin Photo: : http://www.st-petersburg-life.com/st-petersburg/1917-russian-revolution – Slide 1

• March Revolution Photo: http://library.thinkquest.org/C005121/data/russia.htm • Slide 6

• Lenin Image: http://www.inatoday.com/leninlarryking6152010.htm • Slide 8

• Stalin Photo: http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/joseph-stalin-51.php – Slide 12

• Lenin’s Tomb: http://freemasonrywatch.org/communism.html – Slide 13