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The Russian Revolution

The Russian Revolution. . Characteristics of Revolutions (American & French). Inequality- Vast majority of citizens were poor Individual Rights - Common citizens wanted a voice in government.

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The Russian Revolution

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  1. The Russian Revolution

  2. Characteristics of Revolutions (American & French) Inequality- Vast majority of citizens were poor Individual Rights- Common citizens wanted a voice in government. Taxation- Majority of the population shoulders the tax burden; most often the poorest citizens. “Taxation without representation.”

  3. Characteristics of Revolutions (American & French) Financial Problems- Louis XVI bankrupted gov.; King George III burdened with debt from protecting the colonies.

  4. Stage One---Conditions for a Revolution

  5. Czar Nicholas II and Family

  6. Alexander III Nicholas II Alexandra, wife of Nicholas Olga Marie Tatiana Anastasia Alexie

  7. How the East fell behind the West • Western Europe begins modernization (16th –17th centuries) • Eastern Europe as the West’s defence barrier • Eastern Europe as the West’s agricultural base • The West: • Industrializing • Global trade • Capitalism • Nation-state • The East: • Farming (with pockets of industry) • Regional trade • Feudalism • Empire

  8. THE RUSSIAN SYSTEM • The state is huge, costly, militarized • Society (especially the peasantry) is exploited heavily by the state • The state is a highly centralized autocratic hierarchy, with bureaucracy controlling the economy • Society has very little autonomy from the state • Individual rights and liberties are circumscribed • Market economy has very limited potential for development • When reforms become necessary, the state acts as the main agent of reforms • Society influences the state mostly by resistance to it (passive or active)

  9. Clergy – Russian Orthodox Church • Nobility – owned most of the land, and held most gov’t and military positions.

  10. 4/5 of Population = Peasants • City workers (factories)-Soviets • Low wages • Poor working conditions • Middle Class • Very few • Resented the nobility

  11. What is a Czar Czar A male monarch or emperor (similar to a King or Queen); Ruled Russia prior to the revolution of 1917. The last Czars Alexander III. Rule 1881 – 1894 Nicholas II Rule 1894 – 1917

  12. Tsar or Czar Nicholas II • In 1894, the last Russian Czar, Nicholas II came to power. • He was committed to keeping total control over Russia.

  13. Romanov Dynasty: Rise & Fall • Czar Nicholas II came to power in 1894 • Ruled like his ancestors • autocratic • Did not see changes around him • Modernization • Industrialization

  14. Russian Government Before Revolution • Monarchy: The Czar (Tsar) • Until 1905 the Tsar's powers were unlimited. • Russia had no constitution, • No political party system to check the Tsar's power • A strong secret police which terrorized the people.

  15. Tsar Nicholas II • Only true autocracy left in Europe • No type of representative political institutions • Nicholas II became tsar in 1884 • Believed he was the absolute ruler anointed by God • Russo-Japanese War (1904) – defeat led to pol. instability

  16. Czarist Rule under Nicholas II Policies Hard-line (Autocratic) Censorship Anti-government activities were not allowed; no right to protest the Czar. Pogroms Mob attacks on Jewish citizens; less rights and freedoms for Jews.

  17. Czarist Rule under Nicholas II Russification : Non-Russians forced to use the Russian language, and learn Russian history. Over ½ population was not Russian. (Finns, Germans, Mongols, Ukrainians etc.)

  18. Czarist Rule under Nicholas II Gov. Corruption Bribery; dissidents sent to Siberia. Peasant Life Poverty, heavily taxed, limited access to education.

  19. Weak character of Nicholas II: • Autocracy • the divine right of kings, • the continued support of the Russian Orthodox Church • the hatred of Jews into Nicholas.

  20. To understand this cartoon you must know that Nicholas made a speech just after he became Tsar in which he pledged to defend autocracy. This is part of the speech. "I intend to protect the principle of autocracy as firmly and unswervingly as did my late and never to be forgotten father

  21. Alexandra: The Power Behind the Throne • Even more blindly committed to autocracy than her husband • She was under the influence of Rasputin • Origins of Rasputin’s power - ? • Scandals surrounding Rasputin served to discredit the monarchy

  22. Influence of Rasputin on Royal Family • Rasputin entered the Verkhoture Monastery but decided against becoming a monk. • He returned to Pokrovskoye and at the age of 19 married ProskoviaFyodorovna. Over the next few years the couple had four children. • Rasputin eventually left home and traveled to Greece and the Middle East. • He claimed he had special powers that enabled him to heal the sick and lived off the donations of people he helped. • Rasputin also made money as a fortune teller. • Soon after arriving in St. Petersburg in 1903, Rasputin met Hermogen, the Bishop of Saratov. • He was impressed by Rasputin's healing powers and introduced him to Nicholas II and his wife, Alexandra Fedorovna. • The Tsar's only son, Alexis, suffered from hemophilia (a disease whereby the blood does not clot if a wound occurs). • When Alexis was taken seriously ill in 1908, Rasputin was called to the royal palace. • He managed to stop the bleeding and from then on he became a member of the royal entourage.

  23. Rasputin

  24. Alexis: Alexandra’s Son with Hemophilia

  25. Rasputin’s Influence on the Government • In September, 1915, Nicholas II assumed supreme command of the Russian Army fighting on the Eastern Front. • As he spent most of his time at GHQ, Alexandra Fedorovna now took responsibility for domestic policy. • Rasputin served as her adviser and over the next few months she dismissed ministers and their deputies in rapid succession. • Rumours began to circulate that Rasputin and Alexandra Fedorovna were leaders of a pro-German court group and were seeking a separate peace with the Central Powers in order to help the survival of the autocracy in Russia

  26. Rasputin with Admirers

  27. Russian cartoon showing how Rasputin dominated the Royal Court (1916)

  28. Czar Nicholas II Dancing To Rasputin’s Tune

  29. Rasputin

  30. The Evil Monk “Tsar of the land of Russia, if you hear the sound of the bell which will tell you that Rasputin has been killed, you must know this ……. if it was your relations who have wrought my death then no one of your family, that is to say, none of your children or relations will remain alive for more than two years. They will be killed by the Russian people... I shall be killed. I am no longer among the living.” The Tsarevitch, Alexie, fell ill, the attack was severe and both the Tsar and the empress were frantic.Alexie’s illness became Rasputin’s way to get privileges. "I believe in Rasputin!!"

  31. "It is necessary to have Faith. God alone is thy help……a man can do much." (The Real Tzaristar, LiliDehn) The “man” was referred to Rasputin by Alexandra "Tell me, Rasputin, are you really powerful enough to dissolve the Duma? How would you go about it?" Said by Prince Felix Yussupov. "Why, my dear fellow, it's perfectly easy; when you become my friend and ally, you'll be told everything. For the time being, I'll tell you this much: the Tsarina has a wise, strong mind and I can get anything and everything from her. As for him (Nicholas II), he's a simple soul. He was not cut out to be a sovereign; he is made for family life, to admire nature and flowers, but not to reign. That's beyond his strength. So, with God's blessing, we come to his rescue."

  32. Problems for Nicholas II • Russia was far behind in industrialization. • Most people wanted reforms to limit the Czar’s power. • Massacre at Bloody Sunday looked very bad. • Russo-Japanese defeat looked very bad. • World War I defeats looked very bad.

  33. Russo-Japanese War • Russia and Japan were rivals for Korea and parts of Manchuria. • Russia broke treaties and tried to take the land • Japan attacked and easily won • This was a big embarassment for the Czar.

  34. Russo-Japanese War Expansion Into Eastern Europe and Asia – Costly Russo-Japanese Battle for the Korean Peninsula War (1904) Consequence Russia unprepared, embarrassed by peace treaty.

  35. Russo Japanese War

  36. Preparations for War On the Battlefield • Outbreak of fighting caused patriotism, rush to join military • Otherwise Russia ill-prepared for war • Factories unable to produce supplies quickly • Transportation system weak • Equipment outdated • Many Russian officers advanced on connections, not ability • Some initial successes on battlefield • Losses soon outnumbered victories • Millions of Russian soldiers wounded, killed during early battles Russia in World War I At the start of the war, Russia had an enormous army of some 6 million soldiers.

  37. Events 1914 – March 1917 August 1914 World War I started. Russia declared war on Germany and troops were mobilised. The Tsar was very popular. September 1914 The two main Russian armies were defeated in the battles of Masurian Lakes and Tannenberg.

  38. End of 1914 Over 1 million Russian soldiers were now dead. Russia’s industry could not produce enough weapons to supply all the soldiers. The army lacked supplies, and the officers were sometimes incompetent. 1914 – 1915 There were shortages of food, coal and industrial materials in the cities. Prices rose and factories closed. The government was blamed.

  39. September 1915 The Tsar decided to leave Petrograd and go to the Western Front to run the Russian Army. The Tsarina and Rasputin were left in charge, and were very unpopular, even among the aristocracy. Rasputin persuaded the Tsarina to replace ministers that he did not like with his friends. The organisation of the supply of food to the cities broke down. Winter 1916 The winter was a bad one. Hardly any food or fuel got into Petrograd. Huge bread queues formed and prices rocketed.

  40. World War I: “The Last Straw” • War revealed the ineptitude and arrogance of the country’s aristocratic elite • Corrupt military leadership had contempt for ordinary Russian people • Average peasants had very little invested in the War

  41. World War I (cont) • Ill-trained, ineffective officers, poorly equipped (Russ. was not ready for ind. war) – the result was mass desertions and 2 million casualties by 1915 • Result: Chaos and Disintegration of the Russian Army • Battle of Tannenberg (August, 1914) – massive defeat at hands of Hindenburg and Ger.

  42. World War I • The Russians had to fight because of commitments to France, England and Serbia. • The limited industry and rail lines made victory impossible. • Soldiers became unhappy and refused to fight. Felt the fight was hopeless and the Czar was responsible.

  43. World War One Conditions Grow Worse • Czar Nicholas II took personal command of forces, 1915 • Move made little sense since he knew little of military matters • Czar’s fate became linked with fate of Russian armed forces • Bad situation grew worse under Czar’s command • Russian army seemed doomed • Central Powers were able to stop Russian offensive • Destroyed Russian soldiers’ faith in leadership • Army had little strength, even less confidence • Conditions in Russia worse than on battlefield • Food, goods scarce; peasants grew desperate • Unpopular Czarina relied on Grigory Rasputin, viewed as corrupt, immoral • Shaky support for Russian monarchy dipped even lower

  44. Criticism of the Tsar • Poor military commander • Poor political leader • Left the Tsarina in charge of the government • Refused to accept advice from the Duma • Criticism if the Tsarina • Inexperienced and incompetent ruler • Under the influence of Rasputin • Unpopular because she was German Impact of WWI • Role of Rasputin • Claimed to be a healer. • Disliked by many yet held influence over both the Tsar and Tsarina

  45. Economy • Russia’s huge population still left many people poor.

  46. Industry Causes Problems • Poor working conditions • Low wages • Child labor To improve conditions workers formed strikes and reform movements. These reform movements grew and competed for power

  47. Impact WWI Impact WWI Economic problems • Over 15 million men joined the army • not enough workers in factories and farms • caused shortages of food and materials • Railway system very poor • could not supply the troops • could not supply the towns • food prices rose

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