The Russian Revolution

• History
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 3

The Russian Revolution

Today

1. Quick overview Russian Revolution

2. Causes Russian Revolution

3. Lenin

4. February Revolution

5. October Revolution

Quick Overview

In 1917, people in Russia were hungry and were demoralized because of the losses in World War One. The Tsar (emperor) had absolute power.  In  February the Russian people revolted and the Tsar abdicated. In October, another revolution followed

people in this lesson

Nicholas II

tsar (emperor)

Russia

Rasputin

Advisor of the Tsar

Russia

Lenin

Communist leader

Soviet Union

Karl Marx

"father" of communism

Germany

Word Duty

serfdom: Medieval system in which peasants (serfs) lived on a piece of land, owned by a wealthy landlord. The serfs paid for the use of the farm and land by giving the landlord part of their produce.

Duma: Russian parliament

soviet: revolutionary council of labourers or peasants in Russia before 1917; also: citizen of the Soviet Union (Soviet)

communism: system of social organisation in which all property is owned by the community/state and each person contributes and receives according to his ability and needs

Bolshevik: member of the political party of Lenin

February Revolution: revolution in Russia that took place in March 1917, in Russia they used a different calendar (Julian Calendar).

WORD DUTY

Russia before 1917

Around 1900, Russia was the largest country in the world, covering around a sixth of the world’s landmass. It had the greatest grain production, the most inhabitants and the biggest army in Europe. However, the country struggled with internal problems; there was a huge gap between rich and poor. Ninety percent of its inhabitants were still working in agriculture. Though serfdom was abolished in 1861, farmers still suffered cruel treatment from their landlords. They had a hard life of poverty and hunger, while nobles lived in magnificent manors. In the cities, industrialisation had advanced as quickly as in Western countries. Labourers still worked long days for very low wages. There was only a very small middle class and Russia also faced political problems. Tsar Nicolas II ruled his vast empire with absolute power, believing that God had given him this power. But gradually Nicolas II lost the support of his people. In 1905, he had used violence against Russians during a peaceful demonstration in the capital Saint Petersburg/Petrograd. This had led to a revolution, after which Nicolas II was forced to embrace reforms. One of these was the founding of a parliament, the Duma, but these reforms did not bring sufficient change and the Duma lacked real power.

Russian troops slaughtered the peaceful marchers as they converged on the Winter Palace at St Petersburg in 1905. This day became known as "Bloody Sunday".

Causes of The Russian Revolution

There were many problems in Russia which eventually led to a Revolution

1. Geography of Russia

Russia was a very large country with little industry. Most people still worked the land. 1905: Trans-Siberian Railway

2. Class system

The Russian people were divided into different classes (ex. aristocrates and peasants).

3. Condition of the peasants

The majority were peasants and worked the land for a very low pay, had to do hard work, lived in poor conditions and many did not own land.

4. Condition of workers in towns

Low wages, very bad working conditions and often had to live in communal houses

5. Police State

The Tsar feared a revolt and set up a system of harsh laws and a secret police.

6. Russification

The Tsar tried to stamp out the identities of once independent countries, but now part of Russia.

7. Rasputin

Tsar Nicolas and his wife had five children: four daughters and one son. His son and heir Alexei had haemophilia, a rare disease that caused his body not to stop bleeding when he was wounded. Many doctors had been looking in vain for a cure until a mysterious monk was invited to the palace: Grigori Rasputin. This man with his rough beard, dirty clothes, hypnotic eyes, and bad manners seemed able to heal Alexei. By doing so, he gained a lot of influence over the tsar. But Rasputin also had many enemies. Most nobles thought that he was a disgrace; it was rumoured that he was a wizard and that he had a secret love affair with the tsarina. A young nobleman felt that Rasputin was damaging the reputation of the tsar and took matters in his own hands. He tried to poison the monk, but when this failed he shot him. However, Rasputin’s death did not solve the problems of Nicolas II and Russia. People were also unhappy with the power of Rasputin over the Tsar and his family.

8. First World War

Poorly organised army, many casualties, food shortages in Russia and unrest. The Tsar took personal command of the Army in 1915, but nothing really changed

Lenin

Leader of the Bolsheviks, communist

Lenin

At the time of the February Revolution, the country was still at war. When the Germans heard about the unrest in Russia, they used this to their advantage. They contacted a professional Russian revolutionary called Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known as Lenin. Lenin was banished from Russia because he had resisted against the power of the tsar. He was inspired by the ideas of the German philosopher Karl Marx. In his book ‘Das Kapital’ (‘Capital’) Marx predicted a revolution: the poor working class would revolt against the rich. They would take power and form a society based on equality in which there were no individual possessions, so nobody would steal or feel hunger. This system of social organisation is called communism. Lenin dreamed of forming a communist state and believed he could achieve this through a revolution. To do this Lenin had formed his own party: the Bolsheviks. The Germans arranged Lenin’s trip to Russia and paid for his plans in secret. In exchange, Lenin would make peace with the Central Powers. On 16th April 1917, Lenin arrived in Petrograd by train, welcomed by hundreds of supporters.

In a Soviet painting from 1935, Lenin arrives at the Finland Station in Petrograd, April, 1917. Josef Stalin, who was not actually present, is fictitiously depicted standing behind Lenin.

Lenin’s New Economic Policy

The revolution, World War I and the civil war had led to a destruction of agriculture, which caused widespread famine. Lenin had also forcefully confiscated food from the peasants to feed his Red Army. Now the Soviet-Union was an even more backwards country then it was in 1914.

To make things better, Lenin brought in the New Economic Policy. With this, he took a step backwards from communism and towards capitalism. Peasants were allowed to produce for themselves and sell their food surplus on markets. Businessmen could own small industries, but no factories. Factories and large industry became public property to be owned by the workers.

Lenin believed that with this economic policy the worst damage of the civil war could be restored. However, fanatical communists did not agree with him: some said that the revolution should be pushed further until they had formed a strong communist society, in which everyone was equal and in which there was no private property at all.

The Julian Calendar

Before the Russian Revolution was complete, in Russia they used the Julian Calendar. With this calendar the months in Russia were basicaly 1 month behind. For example, when it was November here, it was October in Russia.

February Revolution

The first Revolution in Russia in 1917

In February 1917, an uprising broke out in Saint Petersburg/Petrograd. Women led a demonstration demanding bread and an end to the war and tsarist’s rule. Poor workers joined them. When the tsar heard about the uprisings he ordered the soldiers who were still in the capital, to shoot on the demonstrators. But at a critical moment, the soldiers resisted. Some even joined the demonstration, which turned into a revolution. Within days the imperial system collapsed. The capital was taken over by revolutionaries. Labourers and soldiers united to govern themselves in committees called soviets. The tsar abdicated and control over Russia was given to a temporary government.

Russian soldiers that were sent to crush the demonstrations, joined the demonstrators

October Revolution

The second Revolution in Russia in 1917

The October Revolution (actually took place in November, but due to the use of the Julian calendar in Russia it was Ocober in Russia at the time):

After the February Revolution and after Tsar Nicholas II, Russia was ruled by the Provisional Government.

The Provisional Government made the decision to continue with the war, which meant the problems in Russia caused by the war, didn't end. Furhtermore, a Russian attack in 1917 failed and the people blamed the provisional Government. In most Soviets (councils represented by workers, peasants and soldiers and were in most areas) there was opposition to the provisional government. 

Many opponents of the Provisional Government were followers of Marx and the biggest group was the group led by Lenin: the Bolsheviks. The introduction of the reforms made by the Provisional Government were slow. The Bolsheviks wanted the reforms to happen quicker. 

When the Bolsheviks had a majority in the Petrograd Soviet (the most powerful Soviet) by the middle of Septemer 1917, Lenin thought it was time to move against the Provisional Government and arrested it's leaders and captured key buildings in Petrograd in the night of October 6th. Now the Bolsheviks had succeded in taking power, with Lenin as it's Leader.