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The October Manifesto
The Tsar responded by promising a Duma
(parliament) with representation by the people.
Freedom of the press, speech and conscience.
The right to form political parties.
In 1906, with the military returning from Japan (and
with improved working conditions) any groups still
protesting were violently suppressed.
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How the Tsars Failure to Meet the Demands of
the Manifesto Led to His Downfall
In the Duma representatives were mainly the wealthy whocouldnt pass laws, control finance and ministers were
responsible to the Tsar not the Duma.
The Tsar censored negative stories regarding Rasputininfringing upon freedom of the press Russians had been
promised.
He encouraged Kulaks (rich peasants who owned animals andhired labour) to buy up land from poor peasants and massproduce for the market. Peasants then felt further alienated
and moved to the city where they inevitably became involvedin revolutionary movements.
Though business prospered workers wages mostly remained
low and working and living conditions remained deplorable.
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Two Historiographical Approaches to the Causes
of the 1917 Revolution
First Interpretation: Agriculture, industry and evenpolitics (to a limited degree) were progressing nicely.Therefore, this historical interpretation leans on WWIas being the major cause of the revolution (this is themost popular argument).
Second Interpretation: Falls in-line with our noteswhich highlight the plight of the peasants andworkers in post-1905 revolutionary Russia andsuggest that the alienation of the peasantry was themajor cause.
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How WWI Contributed to the Tsars Downfall
The blame for heavy losses was placed squarely on the
shoulders of the Tsar. He went to the front where he
could now legitimately be held responsible.
The Tsarina and Rasputin fired able ministers with poorreplacements which further perpetuated the poor
transport and distribution of food and fuel.
Unemployment resulting in hunger and death by
starvation. Inflation: (cost of living had gone up 300% by 1916).
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How WWI Contributed to the Tsars Downfall Cont.
People were dying of cold and lack of sanitation.
Lack of supplies (especially fuel and horses) that were
being used in the war.
Little support for conscription because of the manydeaths. The high number of deaths also affected crop
production.
When the Tsar had the chance to concede to a
constitutional monarchy and have the Duma deal withthe war and repercussions - he chose not to.
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The February Revolution
Considering all of the struggles the Russians livedthrough in 1916, when bread rations wereintroduced the people of Petrograd (the capital)were incensed.
On February 23, 1917 (note the calendar issues onpage 24) during an International Womens Daymarch, women that were on strike began rioting andencouraging men to do the same.
Reaction by the Bolsheviks was to ask them to gohome as they were planning a march on May Day.
According to Figes, what differentiated this revoltfrom Bloody Sunday in 1905 (page 26)?
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Credit for the Start of the Revolution
The NCOs refused to shoot on unarmed citizens (seeFiges on page 27), many being peasants themselves,could relate to the general strikers and they alsodidnt want to be commissioned to fight in a losingwar. Figes, sees the mutiny of the soldiers as thebeginning of the revolution.
Soldiers began to actively fight the police on behalfof the demonstrators.
Williams credits both the soldiers and the workers asthe initiators of the revolution and notes that mostof the leaders of the parties were abroad or in exile.Trotsky and Chamberlain both re-enforce this at thetop of page 28.
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The Tsar Abdicates
Both the Duma and the Russian Army HighCommand concluded that the revolution could notbe prevented by the Tsar and halted the troopsmarching on Petrograd.
On March 2, 1917 the Tsar abdicated to his brotherMichael who refused to accept.
A new government needed to be formed.
Groups chose to cooperate and create a provisional
government and establish some stability since,according to Gorky, the revolution was turning intochaos.
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The Arrival of Lenin
With Lenins arrival he provided an alternative to theprovisional government.
We see the beginning of Lenins charisma that assists
in making the originally mocked April ThesesBolshevik party policy.
Do an OPVL of Sukhanovs work.
The argument for Marxist-Leninism in Russia is
outlined nicely on page 37: How Did Lenin Justify theApril Thesis?This is the argument he would havemade to bring detractors on side.
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Lenin Distinguishes Himself
Lenin distinguished himself by advocating
The removal of the Provisional government
Workers to take power through the Soviet
Opposition to the war Land to handed over to the peasants immediately
The unsuccessful post-Tsar military offensives would
have encouraged people to adopt Lenins opposition
to the war. Note: Figes very humourous account of
the last offensive on page 40.
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Economic Issues
568 factories in Petrograd closed (100 000 jobs werelost) from Feb-July, 1917. Resulting in inflation in thecost of goods these factories produced (note thestats. on page 43)
The railway was close to breaking down. Poor 1917 harvest meant less food available and
what was harvested was either being sent to the warfront (remember Lenin is opposed to the war) or
wasnt being sold because farmers couldnt afford topurchase inflated goods. The provisionalgovernments response: punishment brigades torequisition the grain which further alienated the
peasants.
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Economic Issues Continued
Economic issues always hurt governments andLenins pro-peasant stance would have furtherassisted in his popularity.
Workers were not being pacified either. Increasedwages were worthless (again note stats. on page 43)and working conditions were not improving. Lock-outs were being used to force workers hands.
Lenins workers take power through the Sovietsstance would have been rather appealing at thisjuncture.
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The Rise of Kerensky
All of these issues resulted in tension between coalition(provisional) government parties (remember Lenin is
opposed to the provisional government).
In addition, different societal groups are becomingsuspicious that the different parties are assisting onlytheir supporters.
Kerensky became Prime Minister a man liked by workers,soldiers, military leaders, bourgeoisie and was seen as abridge between the Liberals and socialists in theprovisional government.
Expectations were high he acted like a king and wasworshipped like one. This is hugely problematicconsidering all the problems he faced as noted on page47.
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Further Problems for Kerensky
On top of all the problems noted on page 47 theprovisional government didnt have the authority toenforce any of its decisions.
As well, the Kadets (one of the parties in theprovisional government) had handcuffed theprovisional government when they had blocked aland reform deal, supported the war, supportedemployers over workers and refused to intervene inthe economy.
Notice that much of what the Kadets had done wasthe antithesis of Lenins April Theses.
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The Kornilov Affair
Kerenskys appointment of Kornilov damaged his
reputation permanently.
The Mensheviks and SRs had supported Kerenskyand were inevitably associated with his failure.
The Kadets and Liberals, who were typicallyassociated with the middle class, those Kornilovlooked to for support, were also condemned.
The soldiers, many of whom supported the
Bolsheviks, saw the Kornilov affair as a officersconspiracy. However, the officers felt Kerenskybetrayed Kornilov and therefore would not assist himagainst the Bolsheviks.
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The Kornilov Affair
The Bolsheviks were viewed as the saviours of thecities and defenders of the revolution and inSeptember gained control of the Petrograd, Moscowand several urban Soviets.
Historiographically, the Kornilov affair looks like aturning point in support for the Bolsheviks. However,Chris Read in From Tsar to Soviets, argues that theBolsheviks had already gained popular support inPetrograd in the previous city Duma elections andthe Mensheviks were also beginning to throw theirsupport behind them.
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Methods of Attaining Power Lenin believed there was a power vacuum that the Bolsheviks
should fill. Party members did not agree with him(Trotsky suggested
waiting until the All-Russian Soviet on 26 October 1917 so itlooked like the Soviet seizing power and not theBolsheviksTrotsky still attempted to do this, however with
most other parties walking out the Soviet, it was ratherineffective). However, with force of argument he was able toconvince them to do so.
Kerensky, tried to remove soldiers that supported theBolshevik troops from Petrograd, shut down two Bolshevik
newspapers and raise the bridge between the working classneighbourhoods and the centre of Petrograd.
This was a excellent excuse to claim Kerensky was attackingthe Soviet and the Revolution.
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Seizing Power
On the night of October 24-25 the Red Guard and other soldiers
under Bolshevik control seized the bridges, telephone exchange,main railway and power stations.
On the night of October 25-26 the Bolsheviks stormed the WinterPalace (note the two versions of this historical event on page 63)and arrested those remaining members of the government and
proceeded to move to end Russian involvement in WWI andtransfer land to the peasants.
Though Petrograd was rather bloodless there was ten days offighting in Moscow and other areas.
Historiographically, the revolution was not all the result of Lenin.
Trotsky, motivated many through his powerful speeches,encouraged Lenin to wait until October to revolt, set up the MilitaryRevolutionary Committee to prepare for revolution, reacteddecisively to Kerenskys mistakes, and planned the details of the
takeover.
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Features of War Communism
In May 1918, established the Food Supplies Dictatorship to
forcibly requisition grain. Banned private trade resulting in a black market.
Nationalization of Industry - former bourgeois managers
ran the factories instead of the workers who paid
themselves too much and stole goods which lead toinefficient factories.
Labour Discipline - fines for lateness, and absenteeism,
passports to stop migration to the countryside, piece-work
rates, bonuses and a workbook that was needed to getrations.
Rationing with priority given to workers and the Red Army
with the middle class receiving the least.
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War Communism: Red Terror
Terror was used to back up new measures and deal with
opposition. Workers wanted more food, free press, a Constituent
Assembly.
Anarchists rejected authoritarian control.
SRs didnt like Brest-Litvosk and attempted to assassinateLenin.
This resulted in mass arrests the exclusion of SRs andMensheviks from the Soviets, executions*, prisoners wereshot arbitrarily resulting in the Cheka killing 13,000-
300,000 between 1918 and 1920 including victims of allstripes.
* This included the Tsar, though Lenin blamed it on the local Soviet, theevidence seems to point to the central party carrying out the act.
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Why were the Bolsheviks in Trouble? The Famine of 1921 resulting from grain requisitions and
farmers choosing not plant as much (Source 7.1, pg. 103).
Disease was rampant.
Industrial and agricultural production had collapsed with 80-
90% less production compared to pre-war levels.
They were rejected by the Kronstadt, one of their most
popular supporters during July and October of therevolution. Largely because those around for the 1917
revolution were on the front fighting for the Red Army, they
were fighting in solidarity with the urban workers and their
complaints and poor ship conditions.
According to Figes, there was no support from the peasants
with many revolts (note especially the Tambov region) and
workers were constantly striking because of lack of food,
militarized working conditions and state control of unions.
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The New Economic Policy With War Communism resulting in economic collapse and
widespread rebellion the Bolsheviks introduced the NewEconomic Policy (NEP), a regression towards capitalism that wasseen as a temporary measure to re-stabilize the economy.
Grain requisitioning was replaced by a tax where they wouldgive a portion of their crop as a tax. This was less burdensomethan the requisitions.
In order to get peasants to sell their goods they wanted thingsto buy, so Lenin allowed small businesses to open and makeprofit.
Private trade was allowed and goods had to be purchased withmoney.
Heavy industry was still controlled by the government butfunctioned very much like a crown corporation where theywere essentially a business.
An intense program of electrification to connect rural and urban
Russia.
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Results of the NEP
The NEP certainly assisted in economic recovery
(see Source 7.16 and 7.18).
So-called NEPMEN appeared helping facilitate
trade by bringing small goods to market to be
bought and sold. Over-production of grain did occur but the
government simply took their tax in cash instead,
resulting a lower supply of grain.
The revived (and somewhat capitalist) economy
resulted in trade agreements with Germany
(1922) and Great Britain (1924).
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Political Repression During The NEP
In the spring of 1922, dozens of outstanding Russian writers
and scholars were deported to convince the intelligentsia thatis it was not a good idea to criticize the government. As well,
pre-publication censorship began with the creation of the
Main Administration for Affairs of Literature and Publishing
Houses
Lenin attacked the Church who he saw as a rival to his power.
Leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church were given the death
penalty and thousands of priests imprisoned
Cheka renamed OGPU engaged in arbitrary imprisonment and
death of opposition. They occasionally imprisoned Nepmen to
assure the Communists and urban workers that capitalism
would not re-root.
Show trials of opposition and banning of opp. Parties.
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A Movement Toward Totalitarianism
By 1919 the Politburo was created which centralizedpower even more so than the Sovnakom essentiallymaking Russia a Totalitarian state.
The party took control of the Soviets (to preventuncooperative Soviets during the Civil War, theBolsheviks rigged elections and used the Cheka to
intimidate voters) and now became tools of the partyincluding leaders now being appointed as opposed toelected by the Soviets themselves. Later in the 1920sthey banned non-communists from the Soviets
One of the reasons for this was the chaos during theCivil War where the Bolsheviks needed to find a way
to gain control of areas.