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    Russain Revolution Notes

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    mskviji

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    Russain Revolution Notes

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    Russain Revolution Notes

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    History Ch 2 - Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution

    I A The Age of Social Change

     The French Revolution opened up the possibility of creating a dramatic change in the way
    in which society was structured.
     Not everyone in Europe, however, wanted a complete transformation. Some were
    ‘conservatives’, while others were ‘liberals’ or ‘radicals’.
    I B Liberals, Radicals and Conservatives:

    I C: Industries and Social Change:


     This was a time of economic and social change. Men, women, and children were pushed
    into factories for low wages.
     Liberals and Radicals who were factory owners felt that workers’ efforts must be
    encouraged.
    I D: Socialism in Europe:

     Socialists were against private property. They had different visions of the future.
    Some believed in cooperatives, some demanded that governments must encourage
    cooperatives.

     Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels added that industrial society meant capitalist society
    which was not profitable for everyone.

     Marx believed that a socialist society would free workers from capitalism. This would
    be a communist society in which collective ownership of land and factories would be
    promoted.
    I E: Socialism Given Support:

     Workers in Germany and England began forming associations to fight for better
    living conditions.

     They set up funds for distressed members, reduce working hours, and the right to
    vote.

    II The Russian Revolution


    In 1914, Tsar Nicholas II ruled the Russian Empire.

    II A Economy and Society:

     Most of the Russian population were agriculturalists. Industries were being set
    up which were mostly private property of the industrialists.

     Workers were divided into groups but did unite to strike work when
    dissatisfied. Peasants had no respect for nobility, unlike the French peasant.

     Russian peasants were the only peasant community that pooled their land and
    their commune divided the land according to the needs of individual families.

    II B Socialism in Russia:

     All the political parties were illegal in Russia before 1914.


    The Russian Socialist Democratic Labour Party was formed in 1900. It
    struggled to give peasants their rights over land that belonged to nobles.

     As land was divided among peasants periodically, it was felt that peasants
    and not workers would be the main source of the revolution.

     But Lenin did not agree with this as he felt that peasants were not one social
    group. The party was divided into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.

    The 1905 Revolution or Bloody Sunday:

     Russia was an autocracy. The Tsar was not subject to the Parliament.
    Liberals wanted to end this state of affairs. They worked towards demanding a
    constitution during the Revolution of 1905.

     Prices of essential goods rose so quickly by 1904 that the real wages declined by
    20%.
     During this time, four members of the Putilov Iron Works were dismissed. Over
    110,000 workers in St. Petersburg went on strike demanding a reduction in working hours
    and an increase in wages.

     The procession led by Father Gapon reached the Winter Palace only to be attacked by the
    police and Cossacks.

     Over 100 workers were killed leading to strikes all over St.Petersburg.

     People demanded a Constituent Assembly. The Tsar allowed the creation of an elected
    Consultative Parliament or Duma. The Tsar dismissed the first Duma within 75 days and
    announced the election of a second Duma. Later, he changed the voting rights and packed
    the third Duma with conservative politicians.

    IV The First World War and the Russian Empire:

    In 1914, the Russian Army was the largest in the world. The war was initially very popular but later
    the support grew thin.

    Anti-German sentiments ran high. Russian armies lost badly in Germany and Austria. There were
    7 million casualties and 3 million refugees in Russia.

    The war also affected the industry. There was a shortage of labour, railway lines were shut down
    and small workshops closed down.

    There was a shortage of grain, agricultural production slumped and thus, there was a crisis in the
    food supply.

    V. The February Revolution in Petrograd

    Events

     In the winter of 1917, Petrograd was grim. There was a food shortage in the workers’
    quarters.
     22 February: a lockout took place at a factory. Workers of 50 other factories joined in
    sympathy. Women also led and participated in the strikes. This came to be called the
    International Women’s Day.
     The government imposed a curfew as the quarters of the fashionable area and official
    buildings were surrounded by workers.
     On the 24th and 25th, the government called out the cavalry and police to keep an
    eye on them.
     On 25th February, the government suspended the Duma and politicians spoke
    against this measure. The people were out with force once again.
     On the 27th, the Police Headquarters were ransacked. People raised slogans and
    were out in the streets.
     Cavalry was called out again but they refused to fire on the demonstrators.
     An officer was shot at the barracks of a regiment and other regiments mutinied, voting
    to join the striking workers. They gathered in the evening to form a Soviet council.
    This was the Petrograd Soviet.
     On the 28th, a delegation went to meet the Tsar. The Military commanders advised him to
    abdicate.
     The Tsar abdicated on 2nd March. A Provincial Government was formed by the Soviet and
    Duma leaders to run the country.
     The people involved were the parliamentarians, workers, women workers, soldiers, and
    military commanders.

    Effects

     Restrictions on public meetings and associations were removed.


     Soviets like the Petrograd Soviet were set up everywhere.
     In individual areas, factory committees were formed which began questioning the way
    industrialists ran their factories. Soldiers’ committees were formed in the army.
     The Provisional Government saw its power decline and Bolshevik influence grow. It decided
    to take stern measures against the spreading discontent.
     It resisted attempts by workers to run factories and arrested leaders.
     Peasants and the Socialist Revolutionary leaders pressed for a redistribution of land. Land
    committees were formed and the peasants seized land between July and September 1917.

    VI October Revolution

     16th October 1917 – Lenin persuaded the Petrograd Soviet and the Bolshevik Party to agree
    to a socialist seizure of power. A Military Revolutionary Committee was appointed by the
    Soviets to organize the seizure.
     The uprising began on 24th October. Prime Minister Kerensky left the city to summon troops.
     Early morning military men loyal to the government seized the buildings of two Bolshevik
    newspapers. Pro-government troops were sent to take over telephone and telegraph offices
    and protect the Winter Palace.
     In response, the Military Revolutionary Committee ordered the seizure of government offices
    and the arrest of the ministers.
     The Aurora ship shelled the Winter Palace. Other ships took over strategic points.
     By night, the city had been taken over and the ministers had surrendered.
     All Russian Congress of Soviets in Petrograd approved the Bolshevik action.
     Heavy fighting took place in Moscow and by December, the Bolsheviks controlled the
    Moscow – Petrograd area.
     The people involved were Lenin, the Bolsheviks, and troops (pro-government).

    Effects

     The Bolsheviks were opposed to private property.


     Most industries and banks were nationalized in November 1917.
     The land was declared social property and peasants were allowed to seize the land of the
    nobility.
     Use of old titles of the aristocracy was banned.
     New uniforms were designed for the army and officials.
     In November 1917, the Bolsheviks conducted the election but failed to gain the majority’s
    support.
     Russia became a one-party state.
     Trade unions were kept under party control.
     A process of centralized planning was introduced. This led to economic growth.
     Industrial production increased.
     An extended schooling system developed.
     The collectivization of farms started.

    VII Stalin and Collective Farming – Stalin believed that rich peasants and traders stocked
    supplies to create a shortage of grains. Hence, collectivization was the need of the hour. This
    system would also help to modernize farms. Those farmers who resisted collectivization were
    punished, deported, or exiled.

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