Russian Revolution Stages

Front 1

Stage I: Early

Back 1

- Early 1917 to Mar. 16, 1917
- Causes: Incompetence of the govt. particularly exacerbated by Rusputin. Huge casualties from the war. Downward plunge of a Tsarist Russia. Growing inflation, low wages, strikes, break down of transp. and commun., lack of food. Govt. unable to deal with problems of citizenry, weak ruler, low munitions
Transition: Tsar abdicates

Front 2

Stage II: Moderate

Back 2

- Mar. 16, 1917 - Nov. 7, 1917
- Moderates are ruling: Duma, Kerensky head of govt., Weak, provisional Govt.
- March Revolution: Started by the Women's March for Bread. Spontaneous, Mass Revol., Unled, few casualties - Nov. Revolution: Planned, NOT a mass Revol. (unlike March's), strongly led, not spontaneous, organized, few casualties (like the March Revol.)
Lenin and Trotsky: March to get rid of Kerensky, and take over Winter palace in Nov.
- Also, the extremist (Right), get rid of Rusputin, Bolsheviks now run the govt. and take over all land, assets, etc.

Front 3

Stage III: Extremist

Back 3

- Nov. 7, 1917-March 1918
- Bolsheviks rule, Lenin and Trotsky, Communism govt. and New Soviet Union
- Lenin promises "Peace, Land and Bread"
- Negotiated Treaty w/ Germany: Brest-Litovsk in March 1918
- Lenin didn't get the breathing space he wanted

Front 4

Stage IV: Reign of Terror a/k/a Red Terror

Back 4

- March 1918 - March 1921
- Civil War breaks out: Reds (Bolsheviks) vs. Whites/ everyone else
- Vicious civil war, disastrous, Russians v. Russians
Reds win b/c: 1) War communism; 2) Red Army; 3) Red Terror
- Poland attacks Russia
- Russia is worn out!

Front 5

Stage V: Thermidorean Reaction

Back 5

March 1921 - 1924
- Treaty of Riga ends war w/ Poland
- NEP: introduced capitalism through tax in kind rather than taking crops
- Foreign Policy: Truce between two worlds: Capitalism v. Communism; need foreign policies and trade agreements
- Moderation stage of govt.