Russia to 1917

The Revolution of 1905

The effects:

• the October Manifesto which granted Freedom of Speech
• a Duma (parliament) - the Duma has limited power, couldn't initiate constitution al change, could be suspended by the Czar
• people were frustrated
• Rasputin damage the reputation of the rotal family
• food shortages

WWI

• cost and inefficeincy of the Russian war effort
• by 1917 over 1, 300, 000 men had been killed in battle
• 1,200,000 wounded
• the getaest domesitc problembetween 1905 and 1917 (continued on after the revolution)
• land reform
• peasant thrist for land
• reality - mobility 130, 000 landowner held 95% of all land, peasentry 80% of the population
• what to do with the land becomes the big question - a question important to pre-industrial nation

The New Governemnt

• the Provisional Government lasted only ten months and fell in November
• fell because of existing parallel government and through a combination of its own weaknesses
• the strength of left-wing opponents, the Bolsheviks
• period between March and November referred to as "dual power", why did they allow their opposition to exist
• Soviets had power without authority, Provisional government has auhtority without power"- PM Love -
• power of Soviets steadily grew, policies such as shutting down the press
• system of elected Soviets base was set throught the factories, the armed forces, the villages, Soviets pressured by electorates
• Lenin disagreed with Soviets: we are not just going to change it a little, we are going to control it

Lenin's April Thesis

• collection of his ideas which were sent out upon his return to Petrograd; he wanted to put an end to the war )that was his message, he thought he had their support) so the message resonated to the people in the cities because they saw the wounded return; no support for the government; Soviet to be the only possible form of government is what Lenin said
• recognition that March revolutiomn was just a means to an end
• transformation to a Soviet Government
• May - setting up the Red Guard (the military army of the Soviet-Bolshevik Party

The New Government (2)

The Bolsheviks / Soviets

Transformation to a Soviet Government (how did they do it?) (1917 May)

• May - Setting up of "red Guard" (the military arm pof the Soviet -- Bolshevik Party)
• June - the Russian congress of Soviets met in Petrograd; most delegates there were Menskeciks - they believed chaneg would come through gradual baby steps; only 105 of 822 were Bolsheviks; vote of confidence passed, basically stating the current government was not legitimate, showing Soviets supported new government
• 1 July Kerensky ordered new Military offensive; people in Petrograd did not like military offensives so there were unpopular demonstrations
• July - Bolsheviks put themselves at the head of the demonstrations; the governent ordered the arrest if Bolsheviks leaders; Trotsky arrested; lenin escaped in a disguise
• Kornilov revolt; Kornilov ordered by Kerensky to Petrograd, he thought this was his man (if you are unstable government you need to watch the military); transfer to the capital to help in the suppression of the Bolsheviks; kerensky suspected that the man he broguht to the caita to suppress the Bolsheviks was actually planning to seize power; branded kornilov a traitor because he was able to put down the coup to easily . . . perhaps a set up; korniloc continued to move troops towards the capitol, resistance came from the red Guard
• September elections for the Soviets in Moscow and Petroguard (dual government); Bolsheviks gain 50 percent of the seats; Trotsky released from prison, elected Trotsky as chairman of the Petrograd Soviet (very popular among the Soviets, could go between the Mensheviks and Bolsheviks)
• Kerensky losing support this whole time and he had no army, the army was not going into Petrograd; he tried to appease liberals and socialists; decided to announce that the elections for the Duma woud take place at the end of November; on the 6 Novemeber groups of the Bolshevik red Guard, aided by Baltic fleet; moved through the city taking over key buildings such as the telephone exchange and police stations; March 7 Kerensky searched for loyal troops but found few; by mid-afternoon the Bolsheviks controlled all of the city except the winter palace; little bloodshed in takeover

Strengths of Bolsheviks

• determination and zeal; effective organization; has a tight structure and discipline of the Vanguard Party; the Red Guards of the Bolshevik Party resisted counter-revolutionaries; party became more popular
• Ruthless Idealogy: the belief in the necessity of violent revolution; dictatorship of the proletariat; dsire for an immediate proletarian revolution