1905 Revolution
Bloody Sunday
Modernisation and Industrialisation
October Manifesto
This was created on the 17th of October 1905
Tar promised to elect assembly which was based off a British model
Representative Parliament also known as the Duma
The Prime Minister was Witte
Civil rights and Freedom was expanded on with this.
Types of Groups
•Bolsheviks
•Mensheviks
-These two were once just the Social Democratic Workers Party then split due to divided opinion
•Social Revolutionaries
•Kadets
•Octobrists
Sovietsz
9th January 1905
Father Gapon and a group of striking workers wanted to present Tsar Nicholas II with a petition to demand social and political reform. This was a peaceful protest. And the security reacted to this and were ordered to control the protest forcefully. Depend on the source it is estimate that 100-1500 were killed and a modern estimate would suggest up to 200 killed and 800 were injured.
Public's image of the Tsar was changed from Little Father to Bloody Nicholas and this led to 400000 workers on strike. Soldiers and Sailor mutinies were formed in protest to the Tsar
World War One
Russian Defeats of Tannenburg and Massurian Lakes
Repercussions of World War One
Hyper Inflation
Due to 1.5 Billion Roubles being spent on war
Printing money and borrowing from surrounding countries
Food Shortages
Due to -35 degrees the transportation stop working
In the war there were 6.5 million soldiers but only having 4.8 million rifles
These were crushing defeats, especially after the loss in the Russo Japanese War
Witte's Industrial Reform
Real wages decreased by 1/4
Average of 16 people per apartment and 6 per room
There was poor industrial working conditions such as:
Long hours
Lack of sick pay
poor hygiene and safety
February Revolution 9th January 1917
Rise in Oppression
Demonstrations in commemoration of Bloody Sunday
Cold Winter
Transport Crisis and food/fuel shortages from WW1
21st Feb- Putilov Steel Factory closed due to fuel shortages
23rd Feb- International Women's Day- 1000s marched for equality and bread
Joined by 100,000 workers protesting for bread
24th- Numbers doubled
25th- 300,000 workers on streets- led to Tsar ordering strikes
27th- Petrograd Garrison Mutinies
The Tsar lost support from military..
Duma's Reaction
They demanded for political reform or the abdication of the Tsar, which led to the Tsar dismissing the Duma and then they formed the Provisional Committee
Formation of Petrograd Soviet
Consisted of Soldiers, Sailors and Workers deputies.
'They called for temporary support for provisional committee
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Abdication of the Tsar
Blocked by troops when the Tsar planned to go to Petrograd to quell disturbances
He Abdicated the 2nd of March-planned to give power to his son but gave it to Mikhad
Celebrations arose
Surge of Nationalism
Peasants accept the revolution
Some confronted by news
Dual Authority
Provisional Government
Prince Lvov was PM
Members of old Duma formed the Prov Govt
Liberals and Moderates
Wealthy, noble or landowning families
Most opposed Tsar
Some were Soviet Members
Due to not being elected by the people, they lacked legit authority and failed to win loyalty
Came to share Dual Authority with Petrograd Soviet.
Their Poilices
Immediate amnesty for all political prisoners
Freedom of Speech
Abolition of class, groups and religious restrictions
Retention of the military units that had taken place in the revolution that had overthrown the Tsar
Petrograd Soviet
Formed on the 28th Consisting of 600 workers and soldiers
"watchdog" for workers
Enjoyed more credibility, popularity and power than Prov Govt
Able to Restrain Prov Gov with their 'Soviet Order Number 1'
Placed soviets in control of armed forces
Soviet Order No. 1
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Success of Dual Authority
Popular Reforms:
8 Hour Days
Recogition of Trade Unions
Okhrana abolished
Freedom of Speech
Universal Suffrage
Political Amnesty
Commitment ot a constituent assembly
Failures of Dual Authority
Unable to meet demands of Citizens of:
Land
War
Food
Disagreements arose- opposing political bodies
Prov Govt moved right, where the Soviets moved more left.
Increase tension
Issue of Contention- War/Land
Prov Govt failed to win Support by
Lack of legitimacy
Continuation of WW1
Continued economic problems
Alienated upper and working class.
Lenin's Return
3rd April
Immediately condemned the Feb Rev
Unexpected by most Bolsheviks
Spoke his desire to overthrow Prov Govt
"Parliamentary- bougeois republic"
Reject cooperation with Prov Govt
End to "imperialist war"
His Key Slogans
"Peace, Bread and Land"
"All Power to the Soviets
April Thesis
4th April 1917
Blueprints for revolution
Expressed support for Soviets
Stated that Feb Rev was 1st stage of revolution
Feb Rev was not a proper class revolution calling it a "coup that transferred authority to bourgeoise, which basically the old, class based duma.
The outcomes:
Criticism from other socialists/ Bolsheviks- Calling him a madman
United Bolshevik Party
Ended period of genuine cooperation under Dual Authority
Failure of the Provisional Government
Issues that confronted the Provisional Government- War
The Continuation of the War
Bankrupt and only way of surviving was with loans and war credit from Allies and that support would end if they left the war.
With the continuation of war, it led to a gain of popularity and support for the Bolshevik and they influenced Strikes on the War.
This led to a forced cabinet reshuffle and with that the SR's and Mensheviks joined the Government.
Kerensky new minister of war and participating in the war would help save the Revolution.
Issues Confront the Provisional Government- Land
Far too difficult to coordinate
Land commissions to redistribute Tsar's land, not the private land.
Not enough money to compensate landowners.
This led to the Land being Lenin's new focus.
As this was a political advantage
Declared Land seizures "Legal"
Adopted a land policy which promised 'Land to the Peasants'
This eventually split the SR's as the Left SR's begun to side with the Bolsheviks.
June Offensive
Aimed to Drive Germans and Austrians out of Russia and to Raise Patriotism
Due to a lack of weapons and poor Training, it led to Germans advancing and killing/capturing Russians
Kerensky attempts to Raise Troop Morale.
Consequences
Formed Mutinies
Situation in June
Coalition between Kadets and Socialists collapsed leading to Prince Lvov resigning and Kerensky becoming the Prime Minister.
Widespread demonstrations following Petrograd Garrison, the 1st Machine Gun Regiment mobilised at the front.
The All-Russian Congress of Soviets- Lenin declares they should take the power.
Kronstadt mutiny
July Days
Trotsky Demands power to be handed to the Soviet on the 2nd of July
3rd-6th- had uprisings
Demonstrations demanding to hand over power.
Support from:
Some soldiers from 1st Machine Gun Regiment
20,000 Kronstadt Sailors
20,000 Putilov Workers
There were confused and disorderly demonstrations and were easily crushed.
Consequences
Prov Govt saw it as Bolsheviks Challenge to it's Authority
11 Key Bolsheviks were then arrested on the 6th
Lenin fled to Finland
Pravela Banned
Bolshevik Party HQ raided and items were confiscated.
The reputation of the Bolsheviks was hurt and labelled as traitors
The Kornilov Affair
Demanded right wing policies to restore order.
Appointed Supreme Commander of Russian Army
Kerensky+Kornilov differ greatly in strats
-Korn wanted all socialist removed from Govt
26th Aug- Korn request meeting with Kerensky, cabinet meeting resigns, Kerensky given temp dictatorial powers
27th- Kerensky dismissed Korn
Korn suspect Bolshevik Coup and moved troops to Petrograd to protect it.
Kerensky publicly condemns Korn actions-saying he was bring the troops to overthrow the govt
Kerensky asked Soviets to help and gave weapons to loyal people and released Bolsheviks from prison to fight
Fighting did not occur due to Korn's train on the way to Petrograd and was arrested
Consequences of the Kornilov Affair
Kerensky was viewed as incapable and ineffective as a leader.
Bolsheviks were viewed as the defenders of the Revolution
Bolsheviks were now armed and popularity rose.
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