Overview
This lecture covers the decline of Tsarist rule in Russia, the rise of revolutionary movements, and the political and social factors that set the stage for the Russian Revolution.
Russia in the 19th Century
- Russia remained a feudal, underdeveloped nation while Western Europe modernized.
- Tsars held autocratic power, suppressing reform and maintaining serfdom.
- Serfdom was abolished by Tsar Alexander II in 1861, but peasants were forced to pay large sums to landowners, and little changed for most.
Tsarist Rule and Repression
- Alexander II's limited reforms led to his assassination; his son Alexander III intensified repression.
- Alexander III promoted Russification and used the Okhrana (secret police) to quash dissent.
- Nicholas II, unprepared and indecisive, inherited the throne; his early reign included disasters like the deadly stampede during his coronation.
Emergence of Revolutionary Ideas
- Russia lagged behind Europe in political rights and industrialization, fueling demand for change.
- Vladimir Lenin, influenced by Karl Marx, advocated for communism and split the Russian socialists into Bolsheviks (radicals) and Mensheviks (moderates).
- Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, sought an uncompromising armed revolution.
Industrialization and Social Unrest
- Sergei Witte pushed for industrialization, creating a poor, overworked urban working class.
- Poor conditions led to strikes and unrest; all social classes were dissatisfied with the Tsar's rule.
War with Japan and Bloody Sunday
- Russia lost the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05), humiliating the nation and increasing instability.
- Bloody Sunday (1905): Troops fired on peaceful protesters, killing hundreds and sparking the 1905 Revolution.
The 1905 Revolution and Aftermath
- Strikes, peasant uprisings, and the creation of Soviets (worker councils) rocked Russia.
- The October Manifesto promised a parliament (Duma), but Tsar Nicholas II undermined it and kept autocratic control.
Stolypin, Stalin, and Rasputin
- Stolypin reformed agriculture and suppressed dissent, leading to some recovery.
- Lenin allied with Stalin, who helped Bolsheviks with criminal "fundraising."
- Rasputin, a mystic, became influential with the royal family, causing scandal and damaging the Tsar’s reputation.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Serf — a peasant bound to land and subject to a landlord’s control.
- Russification — policy of promoting Russian culture and language over minorities.
- Okhrana — Tsarist secret police.
- Bolsheviks — radical Marxist faction led by Lenin, advocating armed revolution.
- Mensheviks — moderate socialist faction favoring gradual reform.
- Soviet — local workers' council formed to coordinate strikes and demands.
- Duma — Russian parliament created after the 1905 Revolution.
- October Manifesto — document granting civil liberties and the Duma, later undermined by the Tsar.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the causes and outcomes of the 1905 Revolution.
- Read about Lenin’s role in revolutionary Russia and the split between Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.
- Prepare for discussion on how World War I further weakened Tsarist Russia.