The Russian Revolution 1917 1921 Fall of the

The Russian Revolution 1917 - 1921

Fall of the Tsar (Czar? ) • The Duma – Russia’s Congress • Criticizes the war effort in 1916 • Tsar Nicholas II closes it down

Rasputin – Grigori Rasputin • Mystic monk • Claimed to be able to heal Alexi’s hemophilia • Influenced royal couple –Nicholas goes to the front, leaving wife and Rasputin in charge • December 29, 1916 –Relatives invite Rasputin to dinner

Creepy?

While at Dinner • Relatives poison and shoot Rasputin – HE DOESN’T DIE – Throw his body in the Neva River

Problems Continue • Food Shortages – Where’s my Beef Stroganoff? • Fuel Shortages • Military told to fire at protestors – won’t fire and join protestors

Tsar Steps Aside • March 15, 1917 – Tsar Nicholas II ends the Romanov dynasty and steps down • Romanovs had been in power for 300 years

Provisional Government • Liberals call for elections – Mostly members of the Duma – Saw the need for support from the Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies • Socialistic groups – Mensheviks – moderates – Bolsheviks – radicals • Run by Alexander Kerensky – Member of the Petrograd Soviet

Kerensky

Provisional Government (con’t) • Does not pull out of WWI – Desertion grows, economy drops – Could not make changes that the Soviets wanted – BIG PROBLEM

Lenin to the rescue

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin • Big Brother, Alexander tries to kill Nicholas’ father Tsar Alexander III – Fails and is hanged • Vlady vows to lead revolution • Exiled to Siberia in 1895 – Leaves Russia after his release • Germany sends him back after Nicholas abdicates the throne (Why? )

Lenin’s Work • Promised “Peace, Land, Bread” – Get out of WWI – Peasants would get land – Everyone gets enough to eat • “ALL POWER TO THE SOVIETS” – Soviets (committees) should be the nation’s only government

The Revolution • Summer 1917 – Gov’t issues warrants for Bolshevik leaders • Fall 1917 – Bolsheviks control Petrograd Soviet through elections • November 1917 – Storm communication, train, and electric hubs – Turn the guns of the Aurora on the Tsarist palace – Provisional Government surrnders

What Happened Next • Elections held – Social Democrats – Bolsheviks - 420 seats 225 seats • Bolsheviks dissolve gov’t the next day – Seize power under Lenin • Signs Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany – Russia gives Baltic provinces, Ukraine, and Poland to Germany

Civil War • White – Opposed Bolsheviks – Could be • Tsarists – want to restore the Romanovs • Liberals – want a capitalistic democracy • Moderate Socialists – want democracy and state run economy • Red – Bolsheviks • Begin to call themselves communist • Choose red as color of revolution

Whites get help • Allies want to get rid of Bolsheviks – Bring Russia back into the war with Germany – Give soldiers and money to Whites

Why the Reds Win • Leon Trotsky – Reorganized the army • Restored discipline • Fostered loyalty – Taught soldiers how to read an write • Lack of unity on White side – Different groups didn’t trust one another • Lenin used terror – Cheka – secret police arrests anyone who is “enemy of the revolution”

What Happens to the Romanovs • July 1918 – Lenin orders Tsar and his family killed • Were in Siberia – Taken to basement of their home and shot

The Royal Family

Lenin and Religion • Lenin sees religion as against the revolution – Places severe restrictions on the Russian Orthodox Church

Ending the Civil War • Many socialist that support Lenin flee Russia • Communists control entire country by 1921 • White armies surrender in 1921 due to disorganization, lack of equipment, etc. • LENIN WINS

Problems for Lenin • Rebellion at Krondstadt Naval Base (1921) • Saw Lenin as a dictator – not true to promises • Quickly crushed by Red Army –Survivors are publically hanged

Lenin’s Plans • New Economy Plan – Slows down Revolution – Allows agriculture and retail to remain private – Brings heavy industry (coal, oil, steel, etc. ) under government control

Lenin’s Plans • Changes country’s name to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics – Attempt to incorporate non-Russian people • Forms All-Union Communist Party – Only party allowed – Allows Lenin to control everything

Lenin’s Downfall • Starting in 1921, Lenin suffers a series of strokes – Gradually removed from having power by colleagues • “keeping him from stressing” • Dies on January 21, 1924

Lenin’s Tomb

Next Up • STALIN!!

Stalin’s Background • Joseph Dzhugashvili – Son of a shoemaker – Studies in seminary – Exiled for revolutionary activity • Robs banks, prison breaks, etc. –Becomes known to Lenin

Stalin’s Rise to Power • Positions – Politburo – policy committee – Orgburo – organization committee – General Secretary of the Secretariat • Seen as busy work by others • Control Party membership and positions

Stalin’s Rise to Power • Trotsky’s Decline – 1925 – gives up Commissar of War position • Thinks he will succeed Lenin – 1927 – forced from Politburo and the Party – 1928 – exiled abroad (Kazakhstan)

Stalin’s Rise to Power • Without Trotsky – Stalin becomes undisputed ruler

Stalin’s Economic Policies • Five Year Plan – Sets targets that have to met within 5 years for industry and agriculture • Hard to increase everything at once • Leads to famine

Stalin’s Economic Policies • Collectivization – Consolidates all farms into state-run collectives • Problems –Compensation –Animals –Gardens

Stalin’s Economic Policies • Collectivization (con’t) – Policy is discontinued during the ’ 29 -’ 30 winter. – Re-started at harvest 1930

Stalin’s Terror • Politburo – Of the six original members only one survives – Stalin • 4 ordered dead by Stalin – Packed with Stalin supporters

Stalin’s Terror • Army – 20% wiped out – 40, 000 officers killed • Seen as possible threat to Stalin

Stalin’s Terror • Peasants – If opposed to Stalin’s policies: • Deported to Siberia • Killed – 2, 000 killed a day in Moscow for one summer

Stalin’s Successors – At time of death • “conspiracy” of Jewish doctors trying to kill him – planning to execute all Soviet Jews • Beria controlling doctors – Dies of cerebral hemerage on March 6, 1953

Stalin’s Death

Stalin’s Successors • Georgi Malenkov and the Presidium (Politburo) – – Kill Beria, who had tried to take power Sees the USSR as weaker than thought • Wants to compete with USA without fighting them – Forced out in 1955

Malenkov

Stalin’s Successors • Nikita Khrushchev – Named Party Secretary in 1953 – Becomes Premier in 1956 – “Secret Speech” • given to Congress of Communist Party (1956) • denounces Stalin’s policies • leaves out anything he had a part in • CAUSES PROBLEMS

Secret Speech

Stalin’s Successors • Khrushchev’s Foreign Policy – Eastern Europe • signs Warsaw Pact – gave Eastern block countries some control • Patches relationship with Yugoslavia

Stalin’s Successors • Khrushchev’s Foreign Policy – Eastern Europe • Poland – riot demanding change » threatens military action, but backs down • Hungary – wants free elections – want to withdraw from Warsaw Pact » USSR tanks roll in to crush protests

Hungary Uprising

Stalin’s Successor • Khrushchev’s Foreign Policy – World • Looking for Allies • brokers deal between Czechoslovakia and Egypt • offers aid to Afghanistan, India, and Burma

Stalin’s Successors • Khrushchev’s Foreign Policy – USA • Berlin Wall • meets with Kennedy in Vienna (1961) • wants USA out of East Germany – Kennedy increases military presence in West Berlin » USSR builds Berlin Wall » cut of flow of people moving from East Berlin to West Berlin

Berlin Wall

Berlin Wall

Stalin’s Successors • Khrushchev’s Foreign Policy – USA • Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) – USA finds missile silos built in Cuba » blockades Cuba » USSR backs down

Cuban Missile Crisis

Stalin’s Successors • Khrushchev’s Domestic Policy – Lessens grip but keeps control • Allows more freedom of press – not complete – economic ideas • de-centralization – relaxed collectivization of farms • opened “virgin land” • initially work and then decline

Stalin’s Succesors • Khrushchev’s Downfall – 1964 • many think he does too much, too soon, and did it poorly – “resigned” • October 1964 – voted out of power • Told to resign

“Stalin” Characters What They Really Looked Like and What Happens

Kirov

Trotsky

Kamenev

Zinoviev

Bukharin

Sergo Ordzhonikidze

Voroshilov

Voroshilov • Not a professional soldier • Liked the spotlight – Often out with Medals on • Whipping boy for Stalin • Becomes President of USSR after Stalin’s death • Pardoned by Khrushchev • Dies in 1970 at the age of 89

Kaganovich

Kaganovich • Ruthless – Sent to bring Ukraine under control – Big during Purges • Expelled from Politburo in 1957 • Khrushchev accuses him of crimes – Even though he helped Khrushchev • Appointed manager of cement works • Dies in 1991 at 98 years old in Moscow

Molotov

Molotov • Molotov means “hammer” – Was used to smash opposition • • Signed “Non-Aggression” pact with Germany Opposes Khrushchev after Stalin’s death Ambassador to Ulan Bator Delegate to International Atomic Energy Agency in 1960 • Thrown out of the Party in 1961 – Re-instated in 1984 • Dies in 1986 at 96 years old

Yagoda

Yezhov

Beria

Beria • Slowed down Purges • Placed in charge of USSR nuclear program • Possible target of Stalin late in life • Tried to take power upon Stalin’s death – Others put aside differences and had him killed in 1953