Chapter: Socialism in Europe and The Russian Revolution

Key Notes

Social, economic and political conditions in Russia before 1905

• In 1914, Nicholas II ruled over a vast Russian empire.
• The empire included present-day Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, parts of Poland,
Ukraine, Belarus, Central Asian states, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.
• The majority of the population practiced Russian Orthodox Christianity, with some
Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, and Buddhists.
• About 85% of the population worked in agriculture, making Russia a major grain
exporter.
• Industrial growth was uneven, with increased production in coal, iron, and steel.
• Factories were mostly privately owned, with workers frequently striking due to poor
conditions.
• Land was mainly owned by the nobility, the crown, and the Orthodox Church; peasants
worked the land and often resisted paying rent or attacked landlords.
• Russia was an autocracy, with the Tsar not accountable to parliament.
• Liberals were advocating for political reform.
• In 1904, rising prices and falling wages led to increased worker unrest and union
membership.
1905 Revolution
• Over 110,000 workers in St. Petersburg went on strike in 1905,
• They demanded a reduction in the working hours, an increase in wages and
improvement in working conditions.
• When this procession reached the Winter Palace it was attacked by the police and the
Cossacks.
• Over 100 workers were killed and about 300 wounded.
• This incident, known as Bloody Sunday, started a series of events that became known
as the 1905 Revolution.
Impact of World War 1 on Russians:
• Although other nations eventually joined the war, the major Allied Powers consisted of
France, Great Britain, and Russia. The Allies fought the major Central Powers, which
were Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey.
• Initially the war was popular among the Russians and supported Tsar Nicolas II
• Tsar refused to consult the Duma and support wore thin.
• Anti-German Sentiments ran high –
• St Petersburg renamed as Petrograd
• Tsarina Alexandra’s German advisor – Rasputin became unpopular.
• Eastern Front different from Western Front – Eastern Armies fought more battles and
left large casualties.
 • Russia’s armies lost badly in Germany and Austria between 1914 and 1916
• Over 7 million casualties – by 1917
• Russian army destroyed crops and buildings – to prevent the enemies from living off
the land.
• Destruction of crops and buildings led to 3 million refugees.
• The Government – discredited
• Soldiers didn’t wish to fight such a war.

Impact of World War 1 on industries:

• Industries impacted badly –
• Russia’s industries cut off from suppliers by German control of Baltic Sea.
• Industrial equipment disintegrated
• By 1916- Railway lines broke down
• Labour shortages – able bodied men sent to war
• Food scarcity – grains sent to feed the army
• Riots at bread shops common by the winter of 1916

Important events of the February Revolution- 1917

• Tsar wanted to dissolve the Duma
• 22nd Feb – lockout at factory bank
• Next day - Women demonstrations
• Demonstrators started protesting.
• Government imposed curfew
• Demonstrations again on 24th and 25th Feb
• 25th Feb – Duma suspended
• 26th Feb – Demonstrations continue
• 27th Feb – Police headquarters attacked. More protests
• 2nd March – Tsar leaves his position

Outcome of February Revolution

• Tsar abdicates
• Provisional Government was formed
• Restrictions imposed on public meetings and associations removed
• Soviets set up everywhere but no common system of election adopted
Rise of the Bolsheviks:
• April 1917 – Lenin Returned to Russia
• His goals– Lenin’s April Theses
• Soviets should take power
• War be brought to a close
• Land transferred to peasants
• Banks be nationalized

Towards the October Revolution

• Summer – Worker’s movements spread
• Trade unions and soldiers’ unions grew
• June – 500 soviets sent representatives – All Russian Congress of Soviets
 • Provisional Government’s power reduced, Bolshevik influence grew.
• The government took strict measures to stop the Bolsheviks.
• July – popular demonstrations repressed
• Bolshevik leaders had to hide/ flee.
• In the Country Side-Socialist revolutionaries and peasants press for Land Redistribution
• Committees formed
• July- Sept – peasants seized lands.
October Revolution 1917
• Conflict between Provisional Government and Bolsheviks grew.
• Lenin feared the Government would set up a dictatorship.
• 16th October – Lenin persuaded the Petrograd Soviet and the Bolsheviks to seize
power.
• 24th Oct – Uprising begin.
• Loyal Military men seize the Bolshevik newspaper buildings
• Late in the day, the ship Aurora shelled the Winter Palace.
• Other vessels sailed down the Neva and took over various military points.
• By nightfall, the city was under the committee’s control and the ministers had
surrendered.

Outcome of the Russian Revolution in Russia

• Bolsheviks came into power - The Bolshevik Party was renamed the Russian
Communist Party
• Industries and banks were nationalized
• Land was declared social property
• Large houses were partitioned according to need of the family
• Elections to the Constituent Assembly were held. Later, Lenin dismissed the
Constituent Assembly.
• All Russian Congress of Soviets – Parliament of the Country
• Bolsheviks signed Peace treaty with Germany at Brest Litovsk.
• One party system in Russia.
• Bolsheviks opposed Private Property.
• They banned the use of old titles of aristocracy.
• They created new uniforms and designed the Soviet Hat(budeonovka)
• Trade Unions – kept under control.
• The Secret police – Checka, OGPU and NKVD – punished those who criticized the
Bolsheviks.
• Imposed censorships.