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Russian Revolution and communist russia - 1905-1953. Dr. Sujata Menon. RUSSIA EMPIRE. Russia in the 19 th c. Russian Empire in the 19 th c. Was the largest empire in the central Asia.
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Russian Revolution and communist russia- 1905-1953 Dr. Sujata Menon
Russia in the 19th c. • Russian Empire in the 19th c. Was the largest empire in the central Asia. • Russia was under the rule of Romanov family Tsars since 1613. Tsars followed the doctrine of Orthodoxy, Autocracy, and Nationality. • Russian empire was weak internationally and industrially backward. • In 1894, Nicholas II, became the Tsar who followed his predecessor's policy. Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Russian Industrialization • Industrial progress occurred during Nicholas II reign. • Russia created a substantial railroad network by 1870s. • Results of Industrialization • Modern factories begun to develop in major Russian cities • Govt. enacted high tariffs to protect new industries, encouraged Western investment in Russia. • one half of Russia's industrial businesses were foreign-owned. Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Results of Industrialization • Agriculture lagged behind due to focus on industrialization. • The masses of Russian citizens were only slightly affected by industrialization. • Economy remained primarily agrarian . • Russia fell behind the West in terms of production and trade . • To maintain the profitability of grain exports • Tighter labor obligations were imposed on the peasantry • Tendency to export grain to raise money left many hungry Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Discontnet Russian Peasants • Poor peasants or Serfs who lived on land owned by wealthy landowners formed the 90% of Russian population. • Serfdom was abolished in 1861 in Russia during the reign of Alexander II of Russia. • Free peasants were given small amounts of land for which they had to pay back the government. As a result most farmers were in absolute poverty. • Emancipation of serf brought a supply of free labour to the cities, industry was stimulated, and the middle class grew in number and influence. Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Industrial workers or Proletariats • Due to Industrialisation new class of urban workers or Proletariats grew in cities. • Proletariats faced Low wages, unhealthy working places, unsafe work conditions. • Strikes and Demonstrations- Bad working conditions , low Wages led workers to take up strikes and demonstrations • Unity among workers increased in large scale strikes. • Proletariats formed the largest discontent group Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Political groups • Constitutional Democratic party - included Industrial capitalists and Bourgeois .They demanded individual freedom, individual right, Rule of law through constitutional practices. • The Socialists or populists: they wanted to end exploitation of peasants and workers , giving “means of production” to workers , Dismantle capitalism , and create a classless society. • Two socialists groups : • Social Revolutionaries (SR) • Social Democratic Party – Bolsheviks (Radical)and Mensheviks(graduals) Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Mensheviks and Bolsheviks • In 1903, the Social Democrat party' split into two wings: the Mensheviks and the Bolsheviks. • The Mensheviks believed that the Russian working class was not developed and that socialism could be achieved only after a period of bourgeois democratic rule. They thus tended to ally themselves with the forces of bourgeois liberalism. • The Bolsheviks, under Vladimir Lenin, supported the idea of forming a small elite of professional revolutionaries', subject to strong party discipline, to act as the vanguard of the proletariat in order to seize power by force. Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Marxism • Karl Marx - German philosopher • Works- Communist Manifesto , 1848; Das Capital , 1867 • Marx’s Ideas: • History is struggle between class struggle • Fundamental crisis between property owners and those who labour on that property • Stages of economic development • industrial capitalism is last stage • In each stage, oppressed class rises up against owners • Eventually, private property abolished and collectively owned Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
The Capitalist System In Russia According To The Marxists • The Tsar, Nobles • The Church • The Military and Police • The Rich Bourgeoisie • The Peasants, Workers
First Revolution- The Revolution of 1905- Events • TheRusso-Japanese War (8 February 1904 – 5 September 1905) was fought between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan to control Manchuria and Korea. • Russia suffered numerous defeats to Japan • The complete victory of the Japanese military surprised world observers. • Tsar’s position weakened. Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Bloody Sunday and violent Reaction, 1905 • Bloody Sunday- Jan. 9, 1905 ,150,000 workers, women and children carried Peaceful march on Tsar’s Winter Palace, St. Petersburg .Soldiers fired on them, Forty killed, hundreds wounded • Violent Reaction • Soldiers mutinied , Urban workers produced widespread strikes , Peasants revoled. • Widespread General Strike in Sept/Oct, 1905 • Tsar -No longer protective “Little Father” . • Exiled radicals and political dissidents returned • Revolutionaries organized Soviets - City councils of workers Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Proletariat's Union- The Soviets Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Events leading to 1905 Revolution Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
The October Manifesto-1905 Tsar's government offered following reforms in the form of October Manifesto, 1905: • Limited Monarchy • Duma (national parliament) created; multi-party system legalized • Constitution rewritten • Concessions to Peasants and workers • Failure of the October Manifesto – By May 1906, Nicholas took over all autocratic powers. • This resulted in : • Tsar Nicholas II withdrew concessions to workers • New rounds of strikes followed • Duma became a redundant. Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Russia in WWI • Russia Joined the war in 1914 • In 1915, inexperienced Nicholas, took direct control of the army, leaving the administration in the hand of his inexperienced wife Alexandria who was under the influence of holy priest Gregori Rasputin. • By the end of October 1916, Russia had lost nearly 5,000,000 men. • Civil war – workers Strikes , famine , food shortage in the cities and army mutiny. • Nicholas was blamed for all of these crises. He lost the the support of the military, the nobility and Duma . • This resulted in February revolution Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Rasputin and Scandal Alexandra came increasingly under the influence of Gregory Rasputin, a ‘holy man’ who appeared to be able to heal the haemophilia of Prince Alexis, the heir to the throne. Rasputin used his power to win effective control of the Russian government. But this aroused envy and he was murdered in 1916. Rasputin’s influence undermined the prestige of the royal family, but his murder came too late to save them.
On 23 of 1917 or 8th March thousands of workers flooded the streets of Petrograd ( St. Petersburg) to show their dissatisfaction towards Tzar’s govt. • Nicholas II sought to put down the workers by force and also dissolved the Duma. • The Duma on Mar. 11 or Feb. 26 refused to obey, and the Petrograd insurgents took over the capital. • Nicholas was forced to abdicate on Mar. 15. • Provincial government- the Duma appointed a provisional government composed mainly of moderates; it was headed by Kerensky. 2nd Revolution- The FebruaryRevolution of 1917 and removal of Tsar Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Russia under Provincial Government-March- October1917 • The provisional government headed by Kerensky was formed by the socialists and the Petrograd Soviet or workers' council . This sharing was called Duel Power. • The Petrograd Soviet was powerful as it controlled the workers and the soldiers. • Failure of Revolution: Kerensky continued Russia into war and failed to deliver on the promises of jobs, land, and food instantaneously. • Failure of provincial government led Lenin to instigate another revolution – the October Revolution or Bolshevik Revolution. Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Return of Lenin • Lenin was exiled in Europe to avoid the Tsar’s persecution. • Germany took advantage of Russia’s unrest. • Germany wanted to get rid of Russia in the eastern front. • They helped exiled Lenin to return. • Lenin after returned propagated his thesis: • All power to the Soviets • Peace, Land and Bread Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Lenin’s Returns Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Bolsheviks gained majority Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Every scoundrel who incites anyone to retreat or to desert will be shot! Every soldier who throws away his rifle will be shot! Leon Trotsky – founder and commander of the Red Army Every scoundrel who incites anyone to retreat or to desert will be shot! Every soldier who throws away his rifle will be shot! Long live the Red Army
3rd Revolution- The October Revolution, 1917 • The October Revolution or Socialist Revolution ,Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution took place on 7th November or 25 October,1917 according to Russian calendar . • The revolution was spearheaded by Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky. • The October Revolution in Petrograd overthrew the provisional government and gave the power to the local soviets. • Under Leon Trotsky Bolsheviks army systematically captures key government areas and finally captured the Winter Palace at 2:10 a.m. on the night of 7–8 November or 25–26 October 1917. Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Russia under Bolshevik withdrew from War Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Civil War- 1918-1921 Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Red Army Vs. White Army Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Period of War Communism War communism or military communism was the economic and political system that existed during the Russian Civil War - 1918 to 1921. • War communism was largely successful at its primary purpose of aiding the Red Army. • Peasants, workers suffered, strikes began and economy suffered badly. Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Bolsheviks State Secret Police Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
‘’One Step backwards to take two steps forward’’ Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Communist Soviet 1922 Constitution – Both democratic and Socialist • Granted Elected Legislature • Granted Universal Suffrage and fundamental rights In reality – CPSU or Communist Party of Soviet Union ruled and not people. • Army and secret police maintained order • Russia - emerged as the largest Republic of the Union - ruled the others Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Communist Society under Lenin • With improved economy, Lenin started to construct the society he envisioned: • Gender Equality • Universal Suffrage • Church stripped of land, money and influence in education and government • Literacy campaign among peasants and workers • Self Sufficiency in every field Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Lenin’s Death • Died in Jan, 1924. • Believed Leon Trotsky should replace him as leader. • Trotsky had successfully lead the Red Army against the White Army in the civil war. • Lenin did not like Stalin who differed with him in terms of progress of Russia- Lenin wanted to focus on Agriculture whereas Stalin believed in the Industrialization of the nation. Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Stalin Takes Power • Stalin considered as Man of Steel. • Politically outmanoeuvres Trotsky as Lenin’s successors • Trotsky goes into exile • Stalin becomes the leader of Communist party and killed Trotsky in 1940. Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Stalin’s Five year plans • The Five Year Plans - Command Economy targeted to achieve- Industrialization, Transportation and Agricultural output in a target span of time • From NEP to five year plan • Stalin believed that industry could only develop through state control. Five Year Plans set targets between 1928-1941 to increase production. • The USSR became a major industrial country at the cost of human labour • Forced labour killed millions, working conditions were poor and hours of work were long. Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
How far the Five year plan successful? • Focused on heavy industries like Hydroelectricity power plants, large factories. • Oil, coal, steel production increased • Network of Railroads developed. • Peasants and workers lives improved in a limited way • Wages were low • Shortage of consumer goods due to focus on heavy industries Dr. Sujata Menon- Russian Revolution
Collectivisation In the late 1920s, Russia suffered a food crisis. In 1929 Stalin announced the collectivisation of farms. In this land was joined together and owners worked together and shared everything. Stalin persuaded peasants to join by attacking the Kulaks, peasants that had grown as a result of the NEP. Collectivisation had limited success and a terrible human cost, between 10 to 15 million people died as a result. Between 1931 and 1932, there was a famine in Russia as not enough food was being produced. Collectivisation was a disaster and the problem was even worse as its population had increased by 20 million - all of whom needed feeding. "
