Download 3. The Russian Revolution

HISTORY 4º ESO THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
By Profahistoria.
1. Introduction:
At the beginning of the 20th century, economic, colonial and national rivalry led to increased
tension between European states. An arms race began that eventually led to the outbreak of the
First World War (1914-1918). This was a new type of conflict that involved many different
countries. It mobilised not only armies but also civilians, and brought widespread death and
destruction.
The Russian Empire's participation in the war led to a two-phase revolution in 1917 that brought
tsarist autocracy to an end and established the world's first socialist state. The First World War
affected all the countries involved, but had profound consequences for the Russian
Empire. It led to an unprecedented revolution in 1917 which completely transformed the
economic, political and social system in Russia.
2. Why was there a revolution in Russia?
The war affected all the countries involved, but had profound consequences for the Russian
Empire. It led to an unprecedented revolution in 1917, which completely transformed its
economic, political and social system. Why did the first socialist revolution take place in the
land of the tsars?
What were the terrible living conditions that drove the population to revolt? Why was the
political system unable to respond to demands for moderate reforms? What ideas, parties and
leaders were able to bring an end to tsarism?
A. An autocratic empire
In the early 20th century, the tsars ruled a vast empire where the system of absolute monarchy
continued. Politically, tsarsim was an autocracy. The tsar had absolute power: he ruled by
decree, was not subject to any constitution and did not have to answer to a parliament.
A loyal bureaucracy and a powerful army controlled the empire, while the Orthodox Church
was one of the great ideological pillars of the regime.
The tsar was the highest authority of the Church and this had a great influence on a
population with an illiteracy rate of 80%.
B. Feudal agriculture and dependent industry
The economy and social structures of the Russian Empire were the most backward in Europe.
Agriculture was the main economic activity, and land was controlled by an immensely
powerful and wealthy aristocracy.
Feudalism, which had disappeared from most of Europe, continued in the Russian Empire. The
majority of the population were peasants and lived in miserable conditions. Personal
servitude lasted until 1865 and, although the power of the landed nobility was abolished, it
remained intact.
In some areas (Moscow, St. Petersburg, the Urals, etc.), industrialisation had begun, driven
largely by foreign capital. A large industrial proletariat had emerged who worked in large
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factories. Almost half of all workers worked in companies with more than 500 workers, for very
low wages.
C. Opposition to tsarism
Opposition to the regime first developed among the peasants (populists, known as Narodniks,
and anarchists) but they did not set any clear alternatives. Marxist ideas spread among industrial
workers. In 1898, the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party was founded, led by Vladimir
Ilyich Ulyanov (Lenin). The party soon split into two wings, the Mensheviks (or minority) and
the Bolsheviks (or majority) who were unconvinced by the tsar's reforms and favoured a
revolutionary path.
In the early 20th century, bourgeois liberal parties like the Constitutional Democratic Party
(Kadet) began to appear in Russia. Further to the left, the Socialist Revolutionary Party (the
SRs or Esers) was influential among the peasants.
The 1905 revolution
In 1905, a revolution broke out demanding the end of autocracy. A peaceful demonstration
was held, but the tsar responded with brutal repression (Bloody Sunday). The demonstrations
and strikes continued, and workers, peasants and soldiers organised themselves into Soviets
(councils).
The tsar finally agreed to hold elections to the parliament (Duma) by universal suffrage and to
promote agrarian reform. However, he did not keep his promises and a few years later, he
dissolved the Duma and returned to autocratic rule.
D. The crisis of the First World War
Russia entered the First World War in 1914, but it was not prepared for such a long, hard and
expensive war. Its army was not ready, its transport system was inefficient and its arms industry
could not cope with demand.
As economic resources were devoted to war, famine appeared in cities, spreading unrest among
workers, peasants and soldiers. All of this made Tsar Nicholas II very unpopular.
In late 1916, at the height of the war, those who opposed tsarism saw the chance to end the
regime and take power.
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3. The Russian Revolution
a) The February Revolution of 1917. The fall of tsarism
Demonstration by women demanding peace and bread, February 1917.
On 23 February 1917, there was a large demonstration in Petrograd (present-day St.
Petersburg), followed by a general strike and riots in the barracks. The tsar abdicated
and a republic was proclaimed. It was headed by a provisional government, which
promised to call constituent elections to make Russia a parliamentary democracy.
The new government, dominated by the bourgeois parties (Kadets and Esers) initiated a
series of political and social reforms. However, they also decided to remain committed
to their allies in the war. This made it difficult to improve the living conditions of the
population and implement the anticipated land reform.
Popular discontent grew, and the Soviets, who wanted to withdraw from the war,
began to demand the dismissal of the government. The forces that had united to end the
tsar's rule began to break up, and a duality of power emerged that challenged the
provisional government and the Soviets.
b) The October Revolution brings the Bolsheviks to power
By then, most of the Soviets supported the Bolsheviks. Their leader, Lenin, returned to Russia
from exile, and published his new ideas in the April Theses. He wanted to establish a
government of worker and peasant Soviets and to sign a peace treaty with Germany. He
advocated distributing the land among the peasants, giving workers control of the factories,
nationalising the banks and recognising the nationalities of the Russian Empire.
The Bolsheviks, with the support of the Soviets, had created their own armed militia, the Red
Guards, and prepared for an insurrection on 25 October 1917. The rebels occupied Petrograd,
took the Winter Palace and overthrew the provisional government. The revolution quickly
spread to Moscow and industrial regions.
The Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets, which met in Petrograd, proclaimed a workers'
government led by Lenin, which included Trotsky and Stalin.
In November 1917, elections were held
Lenin
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Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, known as Lenin, was the main Bolshevik leader and inspiration
behind the October Revolution of 1917. He was imprisoned and deported to Siberia and then
exiled to Switzerland. After the victory of the February Revolution, he returned to Russia to
lead the Bolshevik's seizure of power.
c) The first steps of the revolution
 Expropriation of capital from the state

Expropriation of land from private owners and the nationalisation of land

Expropriation of finance capital and the nationalisation of banks

Expropriation of transport

Expropriation of credit, mainly from foreigners

Expropriation of capital from the rich peasants (kulaks) and the creation of the
Committees for Poor Peasants

Expropriation of large industrial capital
d) The Civil War and the formation of the USSR
In the summer of 1918, the tsar and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks.
In early 1918, those who supported the return of tsarism (landowners, army officers and
privileged groups) or the maintenance of a liberal political system (the bourgeoisie) took up
arms against the Soviet government. With the help of French, British, Japanese and American
troops, the White Army confronted the Red Army, which was led by Trotsky and the
Bolsheviks.
The Civil War lasted three years and brought great misery to the people, who suffered food
shortages and a high number of casualties. In 1921, the Red Army won the war. The conflict
had contributed significantly to the hardening of the Soviet regime.
Bolshevik power
The Bolshevik party (renamed the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) in 1918)
now had a monopoly on power and suppressed all who opposed them (tsarists, liberals,
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Mensheviks, anarchists, etc.) and organised a political police force (Cheka) to crack down on
counter-revolutionary activities.
War communism was introduced. All industry was nationalised, land was collectivised and
peasants were forced to give their entire harvest to the state.
Each republic retained its language and had authority over justice and education, but not over
the Communist Party, the army, the economy and foreign policy.
The USSR was a federal state with a parliament (Supreme Soviet) and a single party, the CPSU
(Communist Party of the Soviet Union). It was a totalitarian system that was justified by the
theory of the dictatorship of the proletariat.
Conclusion
The Russian Revolution was a pair of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which dismantled the
Tsarist autocracy and led to the eventual rise of the Soviet Union. The Russian Empire
collapsed with the abdication of Emperor Nicholas II, and the old regime was replaced by a
provisional government during the first revolution of February 1917.
SOME KEY QUESTIONS…
1. The February Revolution of 1917. The fall of tsarism.
What happened in February 1917?.....................................................................................
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2. The October Revolution brings the Bolsheviks to power
What happened in October 1917? Who took power?..........................................................
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
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3. The Civil War and the formation of the USSR
What were the consequences of the Civil War?..................................................................
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
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