The

1. The Russian Revolution

2. Revolution What is a revolution? Advanced Learners Dictionary Complete change in conditions and the way things are done. Different Kinds of Revolution Industrial Technological Educational Fashion Music Politics All Involve Change Relatively sudden or abrupt. Accelerates the existing speed of change. Usually has significant far-reaching effects.

3. Political Revolution Every revolution is unique and is dependent upon…? context circumstances people involved outcome . Features of Revolution There is no lawful provision for change by revolution. They are unauthorized and illegal. Involves the use of threat of violence. Aimed at the ruling or governing class. Involves the transfer of power to the new revolutionary government. Mass movement which affects all of society. Creates long term social, economic, cultural and psychological change.

4. Characteristics of Revolution Prior to the French Revolution in the 18th century people saw revolution coming from the gods or nature. Since that time human factors explain the cause of revolution. Leadership Violence & terror Characteristics Of a Revolution Ideology Organisation International influence Violence and Terror Che Guevara (Latin American revolutionary) The revolution must be a deed beyond all measure, burning all things before it….. If mankind is ever to escape from its misery, there is only one method; the destruction of everything in fire and blood. There is no other way, no other hope.

5. Leadership Some historians believe that the majority of revolutions are spontaneous, popular outbreaks that occur with very little predetermined planning and leadership. William Doyle “It would be truer to say that the revolutionaries had been created by the revolution…” Josef Lenin “We, the old, may not live to see the decisive battles of the coming revolution.” (Said just weeks before the Feb rev of 1917.) Conclusion Communist Revolutionary in Russia While leadership may have been unprepared at the beginning of the revolution, they were instrumental in shaping the direction of the revolution and its outcomes.

6. Ideology Ideology is the set of ideals, values and belief that underpin a revolution. Revolutionaries use their ideology to cast a vision to the masses of their hopes and dreams for the new social changes they are advocating. Ideologies contain solutions to societies problems and can be modified, changed or even abandoned to benefit the revolutions development and progress.

7. Organization Is the essential link between ideology, leadership and action. Key To becoming effective ‘change agents’. To gaining the support of the masses. Organisational Forms Military Popular Political Elite Professional Small Tactical Well structured Mass Spontaneous

8. International Influence Revolutions don’t occur in isolation. They are influenced by, and in turn, have an influence on, the international context in which they occur. Reasons for International Involvement The fate of a revolution can rest on international climate of opinion for its success or failure. Both the revolutionaries and the existing government may need the military or diplomatic support of other nations in or to succeed or survive.

9. The Causes of Revolution = Economic Slump in economic activity. Discontent at being alienated from the socio-political system. = Psychological Corruption & inefficiency. Divisions in the ruling class. Political = = Social Poverty and class struggles. Preconditions Percipients Revolution = Historical Accidents Death by natural events. Terrorist activity and guerilla warfare. Special Operations = = Specific Events War, invasion, mutiny, a general strike. Often there is a combination of these factors Present during a revolution.

10. We rule you We pray for you We fight for you We pay you We work for You

11. Tsarism The Tsar of Russia ruled by ‘divine right.’ What’s divine right? Being chosen by God to rule. God’s representative on earth. The Implications To question his decisions is to question God. Ensures the maintenance of the status quo. Diminishes the rights of others. Result People become disillusioned, disenchanted and disloyal.

13. The Nobility At this time approx 1.8 million were nobles. 2/3 possessed hereditary titles. Not all were wealthy or land-owners. Some nobles indistinguishable from peasants. Lavish living was more a reflection of great DEBT rather than great WEALTH. Lesser gentry worked in the city as well as kept their estate. Enjoyed certain privileges: Appointed as a Land Captain supervising peasant communes. Appointed to a local government position. Receiving an army commission to be an officer. Reserved schooling for their children.

14. Priests Priests were important and influential figures in Russian society. Had considerable influence over the masses. Was supported by a State salary. Therefore was expected to support the Tsar. Politically Their primary responsibility was for the spiritual well-being of those under his care. The fact that they were reliant on State salaries often led to a conflict of interest between things spiritual and things secular (the State). Sometimes their preaching was nothing less than a ‘propaganda tool of the State.’ They preached that …. The most famous priest was …. God ‘Big Father’ Tsar ‘Little Father’ Rasputin

15. Bourgeoisie (The Middle Classes) Were divided into THREE distinct groups. State before the individual. Military values before civil values. Bureaucrats (Civil Servants) Opinion of their superior more important than public opinion. Originally from peasantry. Businessmen Accepted autocracy. (Merchants) Indifferent to political rights and liberties. The Middle Class Profit driven. Exploited the working class. Doctors, lawyers, writers. Intelligentsia Rejected autocracy and existing order. Emerged as the political leaders of 20 century. Key to the growth of the Zemstva.

16. Soldiers Nicholas used his army to control the people. . Were devoted to the Tsar and loyal to him. . Officers came from the Nobility whereas the lower ranks came from the peasantry. . Each soldier had to pledge an oath of allegiance which included a commitment to sacrifice their own lives for the Tsars. . Cossack soldiers were the most feared. . They often used violent methods to break up strikes or riots.

17. Peasantry(People of the Land) Until 1861 Russian peasants had been serfs The Collins dictionary defines a serf as a ‘Labourer who could not leave the land on which He worked.’ Serfs Worked three days a week for a Landowner. Owned by a Landowner In return he gave them a plot of land. They paid rent and provided other services. That was until Alexander II freed them in 1861 with the Emancipation Act. Emancipation Act (1861) While this Act granted serfs FREEDOM the reality was that nothing much improved for them and they were still unable to support themselves.

18. The Impactof theEmancipation Act(Overview) Peasant Allotments Redemption Payments Problems Taxation Overpopulation Mir (The Village Commune) Resentment Struggle to survive Consequences Aggrieved Change The seeds of revolution have been sown!

19. Workers The low standard of living hindered Russia’s industrial development. Sergei Witte As Minister of Finance and Transport he is credited with the rapid increase in Russia’s industrial productivity from 1890 onwards. The key features of this industrial growth were…. An emphasis on heavy industry. Construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway. The development of large factories. By 1902 almost 50% of the workforce was employed in factories with over 1000 employees. Development of State Owned Enterprises like the railways, factories and mines. Government financing of private businesses. Government dependence on foreign investment and loans.

20. Industrial Workers 2.25 million industrial By 1900 there were workers. The number of industrial workers increased as peasants came to the cities in search of employment. 25% of the workforce were Approximately part time. They supplemented their income by working in the factories during the winter. The rest of the year was spent on the land. Supplementing their income Working the land primary income Part time winter work This dynamic slowed down the process of industrialization and the formation of a permanent working class.

21. Problems Work Conditions Unhealthy Harsh discipline Unsanitary Corporal punishment Imposition of fines Long hours Solutions 111/2 of hours was Maximum working day established in 1897 Factory Inspectorate established to enforce laws relating to child labour and employment of women. State Intervention 1901 Introduced State Unionsin to deal with workers grievances. When the head of the Moscow Security police’s attempt at educating workers on the dangers of revolutionary activity failed to stop further strikes, the unions were disbanded in 1903

22. Oppositionto theTsar(Overview) Liberals Popularists Socialist Revolutionaries S.R.s Terrorists Opposition Groups Social Democrats Bolsheviks Mensheviks Nationalists Revolutionary continuum Moderates Extremists Use legal Means to achieve reform. Use illegal means to achieve revolution.

23. Oppositionto theTsar Liberals Disliked autocracy but could not support the solutions or methods of revolutionary extremists.. Members came from the Zemstva 1905 Zemstvo Constitutionalists Union of Liberation Constitutional Democrats (Kadets) They called for …. Abolition of autocracy. Establishment of a constitutional government. Secret elections. Self-determination for ethnic minorities, Poles etc.

24. Popularists Felt the only way to create a better Russia was to overthrow the Monarchy (Tsar) and all its agencies of repression. They were upset that the people were being…. Denied their political and civil liberties Denied the right to dissent. Revolutionary Ideas Key to revolution was for the illiterate masses to be educated in the political ideas of democracy and socialism. Many made it their mission to work amongst the poor but for their efforts were arrested and spent years in prison awaiting trial. The Narodniks (Popularists) failure led other revolutionaries to adopting more extreme measures

25. Terrorists Believed in the overthrow of the state by force. That terror tactics could be used to seize power and gain support among the masses. All land to be returned to the peasants. The destruction of the State. In 1881 they assassinated Tsar Alexander II but the expected popular uprising did not occur. Their leaders were executed while others were either imprisoned or exiled.

26. Socialist Revolutionaries S.R.s Founded and Lead by Victor Chernov. By 1917 they were the biggest opposition group. It was a combination of the…. Popularists Terrorists Not well organised and split into factions. They called for …. Basic political liberties. An 8 hour working day. A constituent assembly. Their main activity was to …. Agitate amongst the peasants. But they also had a …. Terrorist wing that conducted assassinations. They wanted to disorganise the Tsarist State The future lay not with the SRs but with revolutionary groups who followed the socialist teachings of Karl Marx.

27. Mensheviks and Bolsheviks Both groups followed the ideas of the German socialist, Karl Marx. Marx’s Ideas History Series of Struggles He believed that the industrial revolution had brought about a struggle between two great and hostile classes within society. Karl Marx 1818-1883 Struggle Middle Classes (Capitalists) Working Class Bourgeoisie Proletariat Marx wanted a society where wealth and power were shared equally among all people ….where industry would be controlled by the people and the profits would benefit the people, instead of making a select few capitalists rich.

28. Russian Marxism Revolutionary groups within Russia began to develop their own form of Marxism. Russian Marxists believed that…. Was necessary to overthrow autocracy. This would lead to the creation of an… Capitalism Industrial proletariat Who would bring about a…. Russian Marxists believed…. Socialist Revolution Industrial workers, not peasants, would be the main revolutionary force. Social Democrats Formed in 1898 from a number of Marxist groups. Their main goals were… Distribution of ‘Iskra’ among industrial workers. Agitation. It’s from this group that Joseph Lenin emerged.

29. Leninism In 1902 Lenin published a political pamphlet entitled ‘What is to be done.’ In it Lenin set forth The principles of what would later become known as ‘Leninism.’ Lenin believed that… The industrial workers should be led by a small group of elite revolutionaries. Strict discipline. Centralised control via a process known as ‘democratic centralism.’ Lenin’s views caused a split at the second conference of the Party in 1903…. Social Democratic Party Mensheviks (Minority) Bolsheviks (Majority) Wanted a big party of part-time sympathizers. Wanted a small group of elite revolutionaries. On this point Lenin was defeated! Wanted to control Iska. Wanted to control Iska. On this point Lenin won and his followers were called Bolsheviks while Matov’s followers were called Mensheviks.