Download Russian Society at the Time of the Revolution Bolsheviks Bolsheviks

Russian Society at the Time of the Revolution
Bolsheviks
Bolsheviks were communists. Communists generally followed the ideas of Karl Marx - they believed
that private ownership and capitalism led to inequalities in society, and communism (which would
redistribute property) could fix this. Marx thought that workers would rise up, overthrow the
government, and then the workers would establish a worker's paradise - with little need for a formal
government. Moderate communists who shared these ideas were called Mensheviks. Many
Mensheviks did not like one of the most famous Russian communists, Vladimir Lenin, because they
were afraid that he wanted too much power. Lenin, the leader of the Bolsheviks or radical communists,
did not trust workers or peasants to have the skills to start a revolution or keep it going. He believed
that a small group of committed revolutionaries (the Party) was needed to make a revolution
successful. Bolsheviks thought there was no need to be patient and wait for the revolution to happen.
The wanted to make it happen and carefully steer it to success - by any means necessary. Before the
fall of the Tsar's government in Russia, Bolsheviks were in the minority among communists. Once the
Tsar’s government failed in the February Revolution (1917), many Mensheviks joined the democratic
government that took over. The Bolsheviks did not because they believed that revolution not led by
communist ideals was incomplete. Once that new government also began to fail (because of hardships
and a failing economy during WWI), Bolsheviks took more control and their numbers began to grow.
Once they took charge of Russia in the October Revolution of 1917, they changed their name to the
Communist Party. At that point, some Mensheviks joined the Bolsheviks. Lenin had many other
Mensheviks imprisoned or killed as enemies of the state.
Clergy
You are part of the Russian Orthodox Church (which is similar to the Catholic Church – but certainly
not the same). Your faith has been a part of Russia for many centuries. Some of you are village priests.
You perform baptisms, weddings, funerals, and house blessings. You are married with families and you
often send your sons off to seminary (to become priests). Others of you are monks. You live in simple
religious communities (monasteries). You do not marry and don’t drink alcohol or eat meat. You are
respected by peasants as powerful healers and teachers
Many of you are very devoted to tradition and to the Tsar. Change is not a welcome idea to you.
Furthermore, some of the new ideas entering Russia, like communism, are not very friendly to the
Church. The Communists tend to be atheists.
Factory Owners/Business Owners
You are the closest thing that Russia has to a middle class. Some of you are former nobles who lost
your fortunes or lands (to war or to city development) and turned to business to maintain your family’s
position in society. Others of you started as small business owners and craftsmen but have seized the
opportunities available to you during the industrial revolution to grow your businesses. Your workers
often complain about the hours you work them, but they are free to leave if they don’t want to earn
wages from you. Your responsibility is to your family and your investors (who need to be paid interest
for their investments), not your workers. You like private ownership, and are not thrilled by government
decisions that hurt business.
Industrial Workers
You are not quite as numerous as the peasant farmers, but you have been told by your Tsar that the
future of Russia is in your hands. Russia must modernize and you have a key role in that plan.
Unfortunately, life is very hard for you. You are poorly educated, work very long hours for very low pay
and if you get hurt or sick, the factory owner just replaces you. So, you don’t feel like an essential part
of the future success of Russia. Many radical intellectuals talk to you about organizing unions, striking
for better pay, or violently turning on your employers. Communists especially believe that you will play
an important role in the future of Russia. After all, Karl Marx was writing about you (not the peasants)
when he described his communist revolution. For know you wait …and work.
Intellectuals
Many in your group are university students and writers. Others are revolutionaries and terrorists. Many
are drawn from other social classes. These tended to be the people pushing for change. They often
disagreed about how to improve Russia. Many of you believe peasants and workers will eventually
overthrow Tsar and the nobles. Sometimes intellectuals travel around Russia posing as workers or
peasants trying to the working class to push for change. They even wrote pamphlets (which the
peasants couldn't read). These tended to get spied on by the Tsar’s secret police and were sometimes
jailed or sent to Siberia for their revolutionary activities.
Kulak Farmers
You are the closest thing that Russia has to a middle class. Some of you are former nobles who lost
your fortunes or lands (to war or to city development) and have worked hard to regain that wealth.
Many of you are peasants who are very skilled at farming and have benefitted from some recent
government reforms. You have the money to modernize your farms, own a bit more land and more live
stock than the average peasant, and have made a decent living farming. Sometimes you lease lands to
poorer farmers. You are proud to be middle class farmers and support the Tsar as the legitimate
authority over Russia.
Mensheviks
Mensheviks were communists. Communists generally followed the ideas of Karl Marx - they believed
that private ownership and capitalism led to inequalities in society, and communism (which would
redistribute property) could fix this. Marx thought that workers would rise up, overthrow the
government, and then the workers would establish a worker's paradise - with little need for a formal
government. Moderate communists who shared these ideas were called Mensheviks. Many
Mensheviks did not like one of the most famous Russian communists, Vladimir Lenin, because they
were afraid that he wanted too much power. Lenin, the leader of the Bolsheviks or radical communists,
did not trust workers or peasants to have the skills to start a revolution or keep it going. He believed
that a small group of committed revolutionaries (the Party) was needed to make a revolution
successful. Bolsheviks thought there was no need to be patient and wait for the revolution to happen.
The wanted to make it happen and carefully steer it to success - by any means necessary. Before the
fall of the Tsar's government in Russia, Bolsheviks were in the minority among communists. Once the
Tsar’s government failed in the February Revolution (1917), many Mensheviks joined the democratic
government that took over. The Bolsheviks did not because they believed that revolution not led by
communist ideals was incomplete. Once that new government also began to fail (because of hardships
and a failing economy during WWI), Bolsheviks took more control and their numbers began to grow.
Once they took charge of Russia in the October Revolution of 1917, they changed their name to the
Communist Party. At that point, some Mensheviks joined the Bolsheviks. Lenin had many other
Mensheviks imprisoned or killed as enemies of the state.
Nobles
You make up the top 1% of the population. Your families have had their wealth for many generations.
Down through those years, the Tsars have given your families land, positions and titles (and serfs) as
gifts for your loyalty. They have also demanded your obedience. You give your children the best
education money can buy. They are taught the classics in French and German – not Russian. Your
sons become military officers and your daughters are married off to the various noble families in Russia
and throughout Europe. You are very wealthy, but your power is limited to small areas. You had to free
the serfs and give them land back in 1861, but many of these peasants have since fallen into debt to
you. And you still have your palaces, many of which have been designed by French, Italian, or English
architects. Only the best for you.
Peasants
You are peasants. You tend to love the Tsar, but life is very hard for you. Have a priest read your notes
to you if you want to know more. Stay warm.