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Information of the Russian Revolution in 1918.
It is detailed information so there is not much needed to read more from this document over here.
It also holds information on certain factors in Europe
Information of the Russian Revolution in 1918.
It is detailed information so there is not much needed to read more from this document over here.
It also holds information on certain factors in Europe
Information of the Russian Revolution in 1918.
It is detailed information so there is not much needed to read more from this document over here.
It also holds information on certain factors in Europe
Need to understood Russia and the conditions created by 1 st
World War to understand it. The Nature and Development of Russia Shaping forces:
Peasant population
Large Borders
Autocratic government
Economic and Political Developments to 1914 Late 19 th C. industrial growth increased Russias political problems.
City populations increased and extremist political groups developed:
- Populists
- Social Revolutionaries
- Social Democratic Labour Party
- Liberals
Problems increased by lack of powerful middle class and a reactionary state system The 1905 Revolution Its failings help us to understand 1917 better.
Major unrest across Russia started in Jan 1905.
Govt faced combination of industrial workers, peasants and middle class reformers.
Led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. Barricade in St Petersburg 1905 Constitutional Monarchy Significance of the 1905 Revolution:
Tsar retained support of military.
Peasants and middles class prepared to accept limited concessions.
Radical revolutionaries not able to bring about real revolutionary change.
Liberals failed to increase there influence especially in the countryside.
Failure through the Dumas to establish an effective modernising regime .
Duma continued after 1914 War and Revolution 1914-17 At first the war enhanced the position of the Tsar but Russian economy not bear 3 years of total war:
Inflation 1914-16 average earnings doubled but prices went up fourfold. It also made trading unprofitable and peasants stopped marketing stock.
Mobilisation took 15m men from the countryside from 1916 food production began to decline.
War put pressure on the transport system and it began to collapse.
The Tsar assumed person command of the army in 1915 and this made him personally responsible for failures.
The February Government and the Provincial Government February 1917 October 1917. Course of events: 18 th Feb - strikes in the steel works in Petrograd, city is paralysed by 25 th Feb.
Gen. Khabalov tells the Tsar that he cannot control the situation.
The President of the Duma, Rodzyanko cables Tsar to say political concession needed but the Tsar dissolves the Duma. Unofficial Duma Provisional Committee of 12 members stays in session.
27 th Feb Kerensky (leading member of Social Revolutionary Party) calls for the Tsar to abdicate. On the same day the first meeting occurs of the Petrograd Soviet of Soldiers, Sailors and Workers Deputies meets.
The Duma committee and the Soviet now becomes the de facto govt of Russia.
Tsar abdicates - Decree of abdication, 2 March). Brother Grand Duke Michael named as successor but he refuses.
Conclusions:
Lack of direction/leadership at the top.
But in the end it was the refusal of the Tsars officials and generals to fight for the system which caused the regime to collapse from within.
The character of Nicholas important here he unwilling to resist and was out of touch with his people.
The revolution took Lenin by surprise and owed nothing to the Bolsheviks.
The revolution was largely the affair of one city and the rest of Russia was prepared to accept it.
The Provincial Government Duel Authority: Duel authority derives from its unofficial partnership with the Petrograd Soviet.
Feb-April the duel control worked well and a number of reforms were introduced (8 hour day, recognition of trade unions, full civil and religious freedom).
These changes did not touch on the key ones war and land ownership (these destroyed the partnership).
Failed offensive in June led to mutinies and desertion Russia was not in a position to continue fighting the war.
Govt seemed to be breaking down in July number of soviets and trade unions increased, workers took control of factories and there was widespread seizure of land by peasants.
July rising failed - govt still sufficient authority (disunity of the opposition)
Kerensky takes action against the Bolsheviks Trotsky was arrested and Lenin fled to Finland.
Lenin and the Bolsheviks Cooperated with the February Revolution but they did not make it happen.
Lenin April speech: Revolution not given political freedom but had created parliamentary bourgeois republic. Called for Overthrow.
No respect for the soviets - they could be used by the Bolsheviks to seize power.
issued April Theses spelt out future of Bolshevik policy:
- Feb a palace coup and the soviet was the sole body with the right to govern.
- Role of Bolsheviks not to extend freedoms to all classes, but to transfer power to the workers (this reaffirmed the view that only the Bolshevik party represented the forces of the proletarian revolution).
The October Revolution Bolsheviks majority in the Petrograd/Moscow Soviets (largely due to reduced interest in attending).
Lenin wanted to seize power before the meeting of the All-Russian Congress of Soviets (Oct) and the elections for the Constitutional Assembly (Nov): (to undermine the results if they went against the Bolsheviks)
Events: 7 Oct Lenin returned to Petrograd.
On the 10 th the Central Committee of the Bolsheviks pledged itself to an armed rising.
23 rd Kerensky closed down Bolshevik newspapers and troops attempted to round up Bolsheviks this forced action and the Red Guards seized key installations in Petrograd.
The city came under Bolshevik control with little fighting 25-27 Oct the Provisional Govt had few military resources to resist.
27 Oct Lenin tells the delegates to the Congress of Soviets Petrograd Soviet had seized power in their name and that he was the chairman of the new revolutionary govt.
The Menshiviks and SRs walked out saying it was a coup not a soviet assumption of power.
Reasons for Success:
Provisional Govts inability to arouse support it had failed in the previous months to address Russias problems. These had a lot to do with the war so committing to stay made it difficult to address economic issues.
Lenin took a clear line on the war and the land issue (other parties supported the war and the idea of consolidating the bourgeois revolution). Workers not necessarily pro-Bolshevik but not prepared to support the govt.
There was no tradition of compromise party politics in Russia power would go to the most ruthless.