CAPE®

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
(1917-1924)
LESSON 7

Directed by
REMONE L. FOSTER, LL.B
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 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to understand:

• The rulership of Russia up to 1905

• The problems faced by Russia up to 1917
• The changes in Russia after the Russo-Japanese War of 1905
• The impact of World War I on Russia and its people
• The fall of the Tsars and the rise of the Provisional Government and Bolsheviks
• The failure of the Provisional Government
• The causes of the Russian Revolutions: February (1917) and the
October/November (1917)
• The success of the Bolsheviks and Vladimir Lenin
• The Russian Civil War (1917-1924).
 ESSAY QUESTION
Assess the factors that led to the success of the Bolsheviks in
November 1917. [30 marks]

Critically examine the role played by Vladimir Lenin in the

outbreak and eventual success of the Russian Revolution of
1917. [30 marks]

To what extent was the Provisional Government “weak and

ineffective”? [30 marks]
THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
The Tsarist Autocracy

• Up to 1917, Russia was ruled

by the Tsarist autocracy –
led by Czar Nicholas II who
ascended to the throne in
1894 after the death of his
father Alexander III.

• Nicholas II was overthrown in

February, 1917.
Problems faced by Russians
under the Tsarist autocracy

Nicholas II inherited a doomed

empire due to several social, economic
and political problems

▪ 80% of the population engaged in

peasantry
▪ Little industrialization
▪ High levels of unemployment within
urban areas
▪ Peasants and urban workers were
heavily taxed
▪ Russian army lacked supplies,
training
▪ Lack of a railroad system
▪ High levels of political
corruption (upper class
bribe judges and
government officials)
▪ High level of censorship
▪ A policy of russification –
the belief that non-Russian
communities (whether
involuntarily or voluntarily)
give up their culture and
language in favour of
Russian culture.
▪ Religious persecution for
non-Christians (Russian
Orthodox Church), e.g.,
Jews etc
Opposition to the Tsarist Autocracy
• Opposition started from as early as the 1890s when the
Social Democratic Party which was formed in 1898.

• This party was divided into two groups at opposing ends –

The Bolsheviks (Majority) and the Mensheviks (Minority).

• The Bolsheviks (who were led by Vladimir Lenin) believed

in communism and desired a radical revolution. The
Mensheviks, on the other hand, believed in capitalism and
supported progressive changes working alongside the
middle class and the bourgeoisie.
THE 1905 REVOLUTION
• Russians became skeptical of the Tsars after the Russo-
Japanese War of 1905.

• In this war, Japan was pitted against Russia (which was deemed
as one of the most powerful European countries due to its
landmass and army). The nature of the conflict was the ambitious
rivalry for dominance between Russia and Japan in Korea and
Manchuria. Japan crushed Russia which was insulting to Russian
pride and highlighted the lack of strong leadership in Russia.

• In face of this defeat, the Russians took to the streets demanding

the end of the tsar’s regime.
• The Revolution included peasants,
liberals and urban workers.
• On the 9th January 1905, in response
to peaceful demonstration, the tsar
soldiers opened fire upon the masses
causing several deaths, in what
became known as “Bloody Sunday”.
• The revolution failed because it was
spontaneous, the rebels were
disunited (the Bolsheviks and
Mensheviks wanted different things),
it had no leader and Czar Nicholas II
made several promises that appealed
to the people.
Reforms promised in 1905
• Many historians argued that had Nicholas II
not made several promises to the Russians in
1905, then the Russian Revolution which
eventually occurred in 1917, might have
happened in 1905.

• However, the promises/reforms made by

Nicholas appeased the Russian people.
Nicholas II made the following changes in response to the
1905 Revolution:

(a) Passed an October Manifesto

(b) Creation of a Russian Parliament – called the Duma
(that had no real power to make policies)
(c) Creating a worker’s council called the Soviets
(d) Appointing a new finance minister (Peter Stolypin)
who gave peasants land and loans and created some
industries. Stolypin was assassinated in 1911, but his
economic plans improved the Russian economy up to
1917 which appeased Russians
(e) Ended russification (though it remained in several
aspects)
(f) Adoption of a Constitution
• After the 1905 Revolution, things were relatively calm.
Russians were not out of their problems, but they were
pacified due to the changes made by Nicholas II.

• Lenin fled Russia in December 1907 and went into

exile. Lenin was blamed by the Tsars for the revolution
of 1905 and his writings (which was calling for a path to
socialism) did not help to dispel these accusation.

• Despite the many reforms/proposals made by Nicholas

II after the revolution, as soon as things became calm,
he nullified several of the reforms.
RUSSIA AND WORLD WAR I
Entrance in War

• In July 1914, World War I broke out in Europe.

• Russia gave its support to Serbia and had no choice

but to enter the war against Germany.

• Russia sided with Britain and France in what became

known as the “Triple Entente or the Allies”.
Nicholas II poor decisions

• Nicholas II who had no military experience

decided to lead the Russian army and left his
wife, Alexandra Fyodorovna, to rule the
country.
• This was upsetting to Russians because
Alexandra Fyodorovna was heavily influenced
by a mink by the name of Grigory Rasputin.
• Rasputin was a religious fanatic and accused
his enemies of religious heresy and rape. He
had so much influence over Alexandra, that in
the absence of Nicholas II, Rasputin was
basically ruling Russia.
• Rasputin was executed in 1916.
• Rasputin’s involvement in the government
hastened the desire to get rid of the Tsars.
Russia’s dismal performance

• Russia suffered great losses in World War I: soldiers had no training;

Nicholas II was a poor and ineffective military leader; soldiers lacked
food and supplies on the frontline; little medical care for the injured;
soldiers abandoned their post in protest. Russia was drowning in its
own blood.

• Russia’s decision to join the war also brought the Russian economy to
a standstill which increased hardships – unemployment, poverty,
hunger

• These paved the way for the Russian Revolution of 1917 which
occurred in two instances – The February Revolution and the
October/November Revolution
FEBRUARY REVOLUTION (1917)
 NOTE

• Although the events of the February Revolution occurred in

March 1917, and the events of the October Revolution
occurred in November 1917, it was called the February and
October Revolutions respectively, because at the time the
Russians were using the Julian Calendar (so it was
February/October in Russia). On the Georgian calendar,
which was adopted from the 1500s in other European
countries, it was March/November.

• The Julian calendar was abolished in Russia in February

1918 by Vladimir Lenin.
• In March 1917, Russians took to the street to protest and
demand that Russia pull from World War I and the end of the
Tsarist regime

• This was spontaneous but it led to the end of the tsarist

autocracy and the transformation of the Russian government
into a Republic

• On February 27, 1917, the Duma (Russian Parliament) formed

the Provisional Government

• By March 1917, Russia was being led by Prince George Lvov

under the Provisional Government
Reasons for the February Revolution

(a) Russia’s failure in World War I

(b) Effect of the war on Russians
(c) The Socio-economic problems affecting Russian
peasants and urban workers
(d) Poor decisions by the Tsars – Nicholas II leading the
army
(e) Food shortage and inflation – caused by the War
(f) Lost of support of the Russian people – Negative
impact of Rasputin
(g) Widespread discontent among all social classes
(h) People lacked representation in the government
(Duma)
Problems with the Provisional Government

When the Provisional Government took power in 1917, there were several
problems:

(a) It did not have the support of the Russian soldiers who comprised of the
Soviets of Worker’s and Soldiers (Soviets). The Soviets believed that
they were better equipped to lead Russia. The Soviets
(b) It did not pull Russia from the World War
(c) They could not effectively rule Russia
(d) Did not have the support of the majority of Russians – peasants and
urban workers
(e) The Soviets grew in influence and started to challenge the Provisional
Government to the extent that a dual power existed – in which the
country was seemingly being led by both
(f) The Soviets were being led by Leon Trotsky (who had similar beliefs as
Vladimir Lenin) and were eventually taken over by the Bolsheviks after
Lenin returned.
Lenin Return to Russia – April 1917

• Lenin returned to Russia in April 1917 with the help of

Germany and started to exert significant influenced on
the Soviets (Bolsheviks). He passed the April theses in
which he asserts that all Russians had three essential
rights: land, peace and bread.

• This was appealing because Russian peasants wanted

land, Russians wanted peace and wanted to be pulled
from World War I and they wanted bread (food).
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER REVOLUTION 1917
• In July 1917, the Bolsheviks led a failed riot against the Provisional
Government led by Alexander Kerensky (who replaced George
Lvov).

• In September 2017, a military coup was organized by the

Commander-in-chief of the Russian Army, General Lavr Kornilov.
The Provisional Government asked the Bolsheviks for help in
stopping the coup. The coup failed, but it exposed the weakness of
the Provisional Government which lost credibility and the support of
the military.

• Thus, in November 1917, the Bolsheviks with the support of the

Russian people were to mount a successful resistance led by
Vladimir Lenin and overthrew the provisional government by taking
control of the Winter Palace.

• The Bolsheviks’ slogan was “all power to the soviets”.

Reasons for the October Revolution

In many ways, the cause of the February Revolution spilled over

to the October Revolution because the concerns faced by the
Russians were not solved.

(a) The failure of the Provisional Government to represent the

people of Russia
(b) The return of Vladimir Lenin in April 1917 along with the
appeal of the April theses
(c) The rise in support for the Bolsheviks following the Kornilvov
Coup
(d) Russia’s continued participation in World War I – Russians
were tired of war and wanted peace, food and land
(e) Desire for political reforms by several groups – Marxists,
Liberals, Soviets
Reasons the Bolsheviks were successful October 1917
• Provisional Government was weakened after the Kornilov
coup
• The Bolsheviks (Soviets) had control over the Russian army
• Lenin’s April theses was appealing to Russian people
• Bolsheviks grew in popularity after Lenin returned from exile
in April 1917 and after the failed Kornilov coup
• Bolsheviks had external support from Germany – German
agents provided financial and logistic assistance to
overthrow the Provisional Government
• Bolsheviks had the support of urban workers and peasants
Reforms after Revolution 1917

After the Bolshevik victory in November 1917, they started to transform

Russia into a socialist state. Lenin made the following reforms:

▪ Redistribution of land to peasants with no remuneration to the

landowners.
▪ Planned Economy by Supreme Council of the National Economy.
▪ Nationalization of banks and foreign trade
▪ Repudiation of all foreign debts
▪ Comprehensive social insurance for all
▪ Banned religion from all sector of life
▪ Women were given equal right as men
▪ Execution of the royal family and their loyal servants
RUSSIAN CIVIL WAR (1918-1922)
•Russia was pulled from World War I and a
peace treaty was signed with Germany –
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (negotiated by Leon
Trotsky).

•This caused the Allies (Britain, France and

USA) to start watching Russia and
encouraging resistance against the Bolsheviks
because they feared that Russia would join
Germany in World War I.
• A civil war broke out between the Bolsheviks (Red Army) and the anti-
Bolsheviks (white Army). In many ways, the white army were supported and
encouraged by the capitalist countries (Britain, France, Belgium, USA) because
they were fearful of communism.

• Other causes of the civil war were:

(a) Disapproval of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk by many Russians. Army officials
were upset that Lenin made peace with Germany.
(b) The harsh reforms by Lenin after the October Revolution
(c) Opposition to the Bolsheviks
(d) Minorities in Russia wanted independence
(e) Many soldiers were still loyalists and supported the Tsars who were executed
by Lenin
(f) Lenin took away the lands of many capitalist and merchants to give to
peasants
(g) Lenin abolished religion – This upset the Church that had to give up its land
and control it enjoyed under the Tsar
Bolshevik’s Victory

The Bolsheviks won and called the country the USSR (United Soviet Socialist
Republic). The Bolsheviks won because:

(a) During the civil war, Lenin developed the policy of “war communism” in which
everything was focused on war efforts – all industries were nationalized,
peasants were forced to sell their grains to the Bolsheviks at a cheap and fixed
cost, and weapons were created to fight.
(b) When it became that Germany was defeated in World War I, the countries that
supported the ant-Bolsheviks lost interest in the civil war. It turns out they only
supported the conflict because they wanted to ensure that Russia did not form an
alliance with Germany.
(c) The Bolsheviks controlled the cities and had the support of the Russian people
(d) Lenin also called the Red Army the “defenders of Russian pride” which was
appealing because the white army was supported by foreign countries. It painted
a picture that the entire world was against Russia and Russians had to fight to
protect their pride
(e) The April theses was still appealing to Russians. The steps taken to pull Russia
from World War I and give peasants land without remuneration enhance the
Bolshevik’s support.
• Lenin died on the 21st January 1924 after falling
into a coma.

• Upon Lenin's death, Joseph Stalin was officially

hailed as his successor as the leader of the ruling
Communist Party and of the Soviet Union itself.

• Lenin gave Stalin his “unreserved support” in

October 1922. However, many disapproved of
him. Trotsky accused him of being the
“gravedigger of the revolution”.
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