L5: Democracy Gives Way to Communism: The Russian Revolution (February 1917 &

October 1917)Agenda

Objective:

1. Describe and Discuss the Events of the February and October Revolutions of 1917.

2. Based on our understanding, probe three questions:– Do the events of 1917

demonstrate the application/realization of Lenin’s theory of revolution?

– Assess whether the Russian Revolution was a people’s revolution or a coup d’etat?

Schedule: 1. Describing the Revolutions2. Discussion

Homework

1.Work on writing portfolio and first prewriting check in.

Two Models of Revolution• Take a look at two clips of revolution.

– Egypt 2011– Thailand 2006

• For each how would you describe the type of revolution portrayed?– Egypt:

– Thailand:

Essential Tasks for Today• In 1917, Russia was involved in two revolutions that

ended with the coming to power of Lenin and the Bolsheviks: The February Revolution of 1917 and the October Revolution of 1917.

• Our task for today will be to…– Describe and discuss the events of the Russian Revolution. – Assess whether the Russian Revolution was a people’s revolution or a coup d’etat (Did Communism come to Russia from the people or from a small insurgent group?)

February Revolution 1917• What do we remember?• What happened?

• Causes?

• Effects?

Structure of the Government• Like most of the liberal revolutions we looked at, the February Revolution had

two main revolutionary groups:– The Middle Class– The Working Class

• To appeal to both of these groups, the outcome of the February Revolution was to create a dual system of government.

• Dual Power– Liberal Provisional Government – Petrograd Soviet

• Huge, fluctuating mass meeting of 2,000 to 3,000 workers, soldiers, Mensheviks, and some Bolsheviks (though most were in exile).

– Relationship would be complimentary rather than competitive

• Liberals believed that that socialists social reforms were compatible with their political reform.

• Why do you think the Mensheviks would go along with this alliance?

Lenin Returns• Within a few months however, the Dual Power

agreement began to break apart.• It is into this context that the Germans drop Lenin (and

20 other Bolsheviks) back into Russia in April of 1917.• Given what you know about Leninism…

– What would Lenin’s assessment of events be thus far?– What do you think Lenin will advocate as the next course of action for the Bolsheviks?

The Bolsheviks Gain Popular Support• Throughout the spring and summer, the Bolsheviks

gradually increased their popular support.• The Bolshevik Platform:

– Immediate peace with Germany– Redistribution of land to the peasants– Transfer of factories and mines from capitalists to committees of workers in each plant.– Recognition of the soviets as the supreme power--not the provisional government.

– Peace, Land and Bread! • Why do you think the Russian people would find these ideas

appealing?• The Bolshevik Popularity Surges:

– Feb 1917: 24,000 members– April 1917: 100,000 members– October 1917: 350,000 members

The October Revolution 1917

• In October, Lenin saw his opportunity to begin the second stage of revolution: communist take over.

• On October 25 1917, the Bolsheviks took control of Petrograd’s electricity, railroad stations, telephones, and roadways. They then stormed the Winter Palace where the Provisional Government was stationed.

• Fighting took place at night, there were no cameras.

• But an American did witness the events and wrote up his account…

The October Revolution 1917

Towards 4 in the morning I met Zorin in the outer hall, a rifle slung from his shoulder. ‘We’re moving!’ said he, calmly, but with satisfaction. ‘We pinched the Assistant Minister of Justice and the Minister of Religions. They’re down the cellar now. One regiment is on the march to capture the Telephone Exchange, another the Telegraph Agency, another the State Bank. The Red Guard [armed members of the Bolsheviks] is out…We set off in the direction of the Winter Palace. Here it was absolutely dark, and nothing moved but…the Red Guards…Like a blackriver, filling all the street, without song or cheer we poured through the Red Arch…Aftera few minutes huddling there, some hundreds of men, the Army seemed reassured andwithout any orders suddenly began again to flow forward..in the light that streamed outof all the Winter Palace windows, I could see the first two or three hundred men wereRed Guards. Over the barricade of fire-wood we clambered, and leaping down insidegave triumphant shout as we stumbled on a heap of rifles.”

– John Reed, Ten Days that Shook the World, 1926, Penguin ed., 1966.

In your own words, how would you describe

the events at the Winter Palace…

Assessing our Essential Question

• Our task now is to evaluate our essential question: – Assess whether the Russian Revolution was a people’s revolution or a

coup d’etat (Did Communism come to Russia from the people or from a small insurgent group?)

• Apply the “definitions” you set up at the beginning of class.• Use what we learned today as well as what you know from past classes as evidence.

• Extension: – Why does this questions matter? – Why does it matter, in particular, for the Bolsheviks?