The Russian Revolution of 1917
RR: The RR 1917 occurred during WWI, and was precipitated by the failure of Tzar Nich II to perform well in the conflict. There were 2 phases: the Feb. Rev., which began with the formation of the prov.
Govt
By the members of the Duma. Second: the Oct. Rev. Where Vlad.
Lenin
Bolchevicks seized control leading to a Civil War, and the establishment of the USSR: first communist state in 1922. The communist movements had been growing in Russia due to the decadence of the Tsars govt. As they failed to provide political and economic reforms which had already occurred in Europe.
Communism
Economic and social system envisioned by the 19th-century German scholar Karl Marx. In theory, under communism, all means of production are owned in common, rather than by individuals.
Dual Pwr: Term which refers to the 2 govts in Russia following the Feb. Rev. The Prov. Govt. And the Petrograd Soviet.
Petrograd Soviet: Body that existed prior to the Feb.Rev. As a sort of underground revolutionary labour union for workers and soldiers in the Petrograd area, and containing a number of members of different political parties. During the Feb.Rev. Some members saw the opportunity and decleared themselves to be the govt. Of Russia. However they quickly saw themselves competing against the prov. Govt.
April Theses: Doc. Published by Lenin shortly after his return to Russia from exile in 1917. It insisted that no support should be given to the prov. Govt., calling for an immediate end to Russias involvement in WWI and for a socialist rev.
As soon as possible.
Bolsheviks
(the majority of Russians) Radical Marxist Revolutionary Gropu formed in 1903, following a split in the Russian Social Democratic Party. The Bolcks., led by Lenin wanted a socialist rev, and the creation of a workers dictatorship as early as practicable.
Menshevicks: Political group (like the Bolsheviks split from the SD*). They were less radical than the Bolck., and supported the idea of a socialist party which was open to everyone to join, and that would be ruled and organized in a democratic manner.
Dictatorship of the Proletariat: Term describing the political system anticipated after a socialist revolution. The representatives of the proletariat would assume control of the government, eradicate democracy and make decisions which would benefit workers.
Duma: (In russian means `thinkers´) The National parliament of Russia between 1906 and 1917. The Duma was formed by Tsar NicII in the wake of the 1905 rev. , however, it exerted little political influence during its life.
Kadets: Abbreviated name for the Constitutional Democratic Party, a revolutionary party founded in 1905 and led by Pavel Milyukov. Membership of the Kadets was dominated by the middle-class professionals and some zemstvo delegates. Their aim was to replace tsarism with liberal-democratic republic or constitutional monarchy.
Alex. Kerensky: Member of the SRP, and an active participant in both the prov.Govt and the Petro.Sov. At first he acted as a liaison in between both acting govts. Inside the prov.Govt. He served as a minister of justice, minister of war, and later PM. After the Oct.Rev. He fled Russia and ended up in Usa. He then tought Russian history in Stanford.
Vladi.
Lenin
Founder of the Bolsh. Party, organizer of the oct.
Rev. And first leader of the Soviet Union. Lenin spent most of the early 20th cent. In exile in Europe (UK and SWTZ.) He was a devout follower of Marxism and believed that once a comm. Rev. Took place in Russia it would quickly spread across Europe. He was not involved in the FebRev. He returned to Russia in April 1917 and orchestrated the oct. Rev which turned russia into a communist state.
NICH II: Last Russian Tsar, who ruled from 1894 to 1917. He assumed the throne with trepidation after father´s death (Alexander III). He had been a clumsy and ineffective leader, whose avoidence of direct involvement in goverment caused discontent among the Russian people and ended in violence in 1905. Nich II abdicated on March 2 1917 as a result of the Feb.Rev. In July 1918 the Bolsh. Executed him, his wife Alexandra and their children.
oseph Stalin: Bolsh. Leader who became prominent only after Lenins return to the Petrograd in April 1918. Although he was a secondary character in th e Oct.Rev. He did gain Lenins attention as a useful ally, and following the oct.Rev. He gave him a position in the govt as commisar of nationalities. As Stalin was a member of an ethnic minority, Lenin felt he would be an effective ambassador for the many ethnic minorities in the former Russian Empire. After the Rev. Stalin became increasingly powerful and eventually succeeded Lenin as leader of the Sov.Uni. Upon Lenins death in 1924.
Leon Trotsky: Bolsh. Leader, and one of the most prominent figures of the Oct Rev. Trotsky who had been in exhile during the Feb.Rev returned to Russia in May 1917, he closley aligned himself with Lenin and joined the Bolsh. Party suring the summer. He headed the Revolutionary Military Comitee, which provided the military muscle for Oct.Rev. After the Rev. He was appointed commisionar of foreign affairs and lead Russians negotiations with Germany and Austria for the armistice and subsequent peace treaty that allowed Russia to exit WWI.