The Russian Revolution of 1917 Tea Boyarchuk History

The Russian Revolution of 1917 Tea Boyarchuk History 11, October 18 th 2012

Russia, Pre-Revolution I �Russia under absolute power of the Tsars for years �Tsar Nicholas/Nikolai II in power, disliked by many �Massive “disgrace” by losing Russo. Japanese War ◦ Considered a “disgrace” amongst Eastern Europeans to lose to an Asian power

Russia, Pre-Revolution II �Mid-1800 s, educated Russian middle class was exposed to new ideologies ◦ Mainly of German influence ◦ Socialism, Anarchism, Laissez-Faire Capitalism, Collectivism, Marxism ﺳﺎﺭﺓ

The People, Lenin �Vladimir Illyich Ulyanov, born in Simbirsk �Vladimir, involved in radical politics ◦ Influenced by older brother, Anarchist terrorist sect, “Peoples’ Will” �Executed by tsarists ◦ Took the pen name of “Lenin” after developing a strong Marxist back ground ◦ Joined growing numbers of Marxist intellectuals

The People, Stalin �Iosip Djushganvili, Georgia, terrorist, thief, radical, stole from banks, finance Marxist insurgence �Often imprisoned, often escaped with elaborate plans/disguises

The People, Trotsky �Lev David Broshtein, Russian-Jewish intellectual �Strongly opposed to all of Stalin’s action ◦ Still a devoted Marxist

The People, Tsar Nikolai II �Currently living a lavish lifestyle, unwilling to aid Russians �Main concern, Alexei’s diagnosis, hemophilia �Rasputin’s close relations troubles the Russian community �Fraternization with Rasputin, military loses, Rebellions of 1905, Russian involvement in WWI �Large sense of discontent

Petrograd (St. Petersburg) �February, female workers launched a strike �In one month, every industrial plant was shut down �Workers, students, teachers, flood streets �Strikes turn into riots

The Tsar & Politics �Chaos surrounded the Tsar �Unhappy troops turned on the Tsar �Throne, willingly abdicated, mid-March 1917 �Other politicians establish a Provisional Government ◦ Socialists and Marxists were not happy, not radical enough

The New Government �Leader = Alexander Kerensky, moderate socialist �Bolsheviks stage another revolution in October �Main socialist opposition, divided into two factions ◦ Mensheviks, less radical and less orthodox Marxist ◦ Bolsheviks, extremely radical, led by Lenin

The October Revolution �Did not start in October, did not end in October either �Essentially a Bolshevik take over of Russia, took many years �Ensuing years known as the Russian Civil War, slightly different from October Revolution �Bolsheviks (Reds) fight Monarchists/Moderates (Whites)

The Grand Finale �Dethroned royal family, family dog, and servants are murdered ◦ Princess Anastasia? �Establishment of the USSR is a done deal �Lasts just over 70 years

The USSR