Revolutions in Russia | History for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

 Page 1


 
 
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Revolutions in Russia 
In 1881, Alexander III succeeded his father, Alexander II, and halted all reforms in Russia. Alexander 
III clung to the principles of autocracy. Anyone who questioned the absolute authority of the czar, 
worshiped outside the Russian Orthodox Church, or spoke a language other than Russian was 
labelled dangerous. 
To wipe out revolutionaries, Alexander III used harsh measures. He imposed strict censorship codes 
on published materials and written documents, including private letters. His secret police carefully 
watched both secondary schools and universities. Teachers had to send detailed reports on every 
student. Political prisoners were sent to Siberia 
To establish a uniform Russian culture, Alexander III oppressed other national groups within Russia. 
He made Russian the official language of the empire and forbade the use of minority languages, such 
as Polish, in schools. 
When Nicholas II became czar in 1894, he continued the tradition of Russian autocracy. 
Unfortunately, it blinded him to the changing conditions of his times.  
Russia Industrializes  
Rapid industrialization changed the face of the Russian economy. The number of factories more than 
doubled between 1863 and 1900. Still, Russia lagged behind the industrial nations of western 
Europe. In the 1890s, Nicholas’s most capable minister launched a program to move the country 
forward. 
To finance the build-up of Russian industries, the government sought foreign investors and raised 
taxes. These steps boosted the growth of heavy industry, particularly steel. By around 1900, Russia 
had become the world’s fourth-ranking producer of steel. Only the United States, Germany, and 
Great Britain produced more steel. With the help of British and French investors, work began on the 
world’s longest continuous rail line—the Trans-Siberian Railway. 
The Revolutionary Movement Grows  
Rapid industrialization stirred discontent among the people of Russia. The growth of factories 
brought new problems, such as gruelling working conditions, miserably low wages, and child labour. 
The government outlawed trade unions. To try to improve their lives, workers, unhappy with their 
low standard of living and lack of political power, organized strikes. 
As a result of all of these factors, several revolutionary movements began to grow and compete for 
power. A group that followed the views of Karl Marx successfully established a following in Russia. 
The Marxist revolutionaries believed that the industrial class of workers would overthrow the czar. 
These workers would then form “a dictatorship of the proletariat”. 
In 1903, Russian Marxists split into two groups over revolutionary tactics. The more moderate 
Mensheviks wanted a broad base of popular support for the revolution. The more radical Bolsheviks 
supported a small number of committed revolutionaries willing to sacrifice everything for change. 
The major leader of the Bolsheviks was Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov. He adopted the name of Lenin. In 
the early 1900s, Lenin fled to western Europe to avoid arrest by the czarist regime. From there he 
maintained contact with other Bolsheviks. Lenin then waited until he could safely return to Russia. 
Page 2


 
 
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Sleepy Classes 
 
Revolutions in Russia 
In 1881, Alexander III succeeded his father, Alexander II, and halted all reforms in Russia. Alexander 
III clung to the principles of autocracy. Anyone who questioned the absolute authority of the czar, 
worshiped outside the Russian Orthodox Church, or spoke a language other than Russian was 
labelled dangerous. 
To wipe out revolutionaries, Alexander III used harsh measures. He imposed strict censorship codes 
on published materials and written documents, including private letters. His secret police carefully 
watched both secondary schools and universities. Teachers had to send detailed reports on every 
student. Political prisoners were sent to Siberia 
To establish a uniform Russian culture, Alexander III oppressed other national groups within Russia. 
He made Russian the official language of the empire and forbade the use of minority languages, such 
as Polish, in schools. 
When Nicholas II became czar in 1894, he continued the tradition of Russian autocracy. 
Unfortunately, it blinded him to the changing conditions of his times.  
Russia Industrializes  
Rapid industrialization changed the face of the Russian economy. The number of factories more than 
doubled between 1863 and 1900. Still, Russia lagged behind the industrial nations of western 
Europe. In the 1890s, Nicholas’s most capable minister launched a program to move the country 
forward. 
To finance the build-up of Russian industries, the government sought foreign investors and raised 
taxes. These steps boosted the growth of heavy industry, particularly steel. By around 1900, Russia 
had become the world’s fourth-ranking producer of steel. Only the United States, Germany, and 
Great Britain produced more steel. With the help of British and French investors, work began on the 
world’s longest continuous rail line—the Trans-Siberian Railway. 
The Revolutionary Movement Grows  
Rapid industrialization stirred discontent among the people of Russia. The growth of factories 
brought new problems, such as gruelling working conditions, miserably low wages, and child labour. 
The government outlawed trade unions. To try to improve their lives, workers, unhappy with their 
low standard of living and lack of political power, organized strikes. 
As a result of all of these factors, several revolutionary movements began to grow and compete for 
power. A group that followed the views of Karl Marx successfully established a following in Russia. 
The Marxist revolutionaries believed that the industrial class of workers would overthrow the czar. 
These workers would then form “a dictatorship of the proletariat”. 
In 1903, Russian Marxists split into two groups over revolutionary tactics. The more moderate 
Mensheviks wanted a broad base of popular support for the revolution. The more radical Bolsheviks 
supported a small number of committed revolutionaries willing to sacrifice everything for change. 
The major leader of the Bolsheviks was Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov. He adopted the name of Lenin. In 
the early 1900s, Lenin fled to western Europe to avoid arrest by the czarist regime. From there he 
maintained contact with other Bolsheviks. Lenin then waited until he could safely return to Russia. 
 
 
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Sleepy Classes 
 
 
Crises at Home and Abroad  
Between 1904 and 1917, Russia faced a series of crises. These events showed the czar’s weakness 
and paved the way for revolution. 
The Russo-Japanese War In the late 1800s, Russia and Japan competed for control of Korea and 
Manchuria. The two nations signed a series of agreements over the territories but Russia broke 
them. Japan retaliated by attacking the Russians at Port Arthur, Manchuria, in February 1904. News 
of repeated Russian losses sparked unrest at home and led to a revolt in the midst of the war. 
Bloody Sunday The Revolution of 1905: On January 22, 1905, about 200,000 workers and their 
families approached the czar’s Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. They carried a petition asking for 
better working conditions, more personal freedom, and an elected national legislature. Nicholas II’s 
generals ordered soldiers to fire on the crowd. More than 1,000 were wounded and several hundred 
were killed. Russians quickly named the event “Bloody Sunday”. 
Bloody Sunday provoked a wave of strikes and violence that spread across the country. In October 
1905, Nicholas reluctantly promised more freedom. He approved the creation of the Duma —
Russia’s first parliament. The first Duma met in May 1906. Its leaders were moderates who wanted 
Russia to become a constitutional monarchy similar to Britain. But because he was hesitant to share 
his power, the czar dissolved the Duma after ten weeks. 
World War I: The Final Blow In 1914, Nicholas II made the fateful decision to drag Russia into World 
War I. Russia was unprepared to handle the military and economic costs. Its weak generals and 
poorly equipped troops were no match for the German army. German machine guns mowed down 
advancing Russians by the thousands. Defeat followed defeat. Before a year had passed, more than 
4 million Russian soldiers had been killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. As in the Russo-Japanese 
War, Russia’s involvement in World War I revealed the weaknesses of czarist rule and military 
leadership. 
On the war front Russian soldiers mutinied, deserted, or ignored orders. On the home front, food 
and fuel supplies were dwindling. Prices were wildly inflated. People from all classes were 
clamouring for change and an end to the war. Neither Nicholas nor Alexandra, his wife, proved 
capable of tackling these enormous problems. 
The March Revolution In March 1917, women textile workers in Petrograd led a citywide strike. In 
the next five days, riots flared up over shortages of bread and fuel. Nearly 200,000 workers swarmed 
the streets. At first the soldiers obeyed orders to shoot the rioters but later sided with them. 
The Czar Steps Down The local protest exploded into a general uprising—the March Revolution. It 
forced Czar Nicholas II to abdicate his throne. A year later revolutionaries executed Nicholas and his 
family. The three-century czarist rule of the Romanovs finally collapsed.  
The March Revolution succeeded in bringing down the czar. Yet it failed to set up a strong 
government to replace his regime 
Leaders of the Duma established a provisional government, or temporary government. Alexander 
Kerensky headed it. His decision to continue fighting in World War I cost him the support of both 
soldiers and civilians. As the war dragged on, conditions inside Russia worsened. Angry peasants 
Page 3


 
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
https://testseries.sleepyclasses.com/ 
Sleepy Classes 
 
Revolutions in Russia 
In 1881, Alexander III succeeded his father, Alexander II, and halted all reforms in Russia. Alexander 
III clung to the principles of autocracy. Anyone who questioned the absolute authority of the czar, 
worshiped outside the Russian Orthodox Church, or spoke a language other than Russian was 
labelled dangerous. 
To wipe out revolutionaries, Alexander III used harsh measures. He imposed strict censorship codes 
on published materials and written documents, including private letters. His secret police carefully 
watched both secondary schools and universities. Teachers had to send detailed reports on every 
student. Political prisoners were sent to Siberia 
To establish a uniform Russian culture, Alexander III oppressed other national groups within Russia. 
He made Russian the official language of the empire and forbade the use of minority languages, such 
as Polish, in schools. 
When Nicholas II became czar in 1894, he continued the tradition of Russian autocracy. 
Unfortunately, it blinded him to the changing conditions of his times.  
Russia Industrializes  
Rapid industrialization changed the face of the Russian economy. The number of factories more than 
doubled between 1863 and 1900. Still, Russia lagged behind the industrial nations of western 
Europe. In the 1890s, Nicholas’s most capable minister launched a program to move the country 
forward. 
To finance the build-up of Russian industries, the government sought foreign investors and raised 
taxes. These steps boosted the growth of heavy industry, particularly steel. By around 1900, Russia 
had become the world’s fourth-ranking producer of steel. Only the United States, Germany, and 
Great Britain produced more steel. With the help of British and French investors, work began on the 
world’s longest continuous rail line—the Trans-Siberian Railway. 
The Revolutionary Movement Grows  
Rapid industrialization stirred discontent among the people of Russia. The growth of factories 
brought new problems, such as gruelling working conditions, miserably low wages, and child labour. 
The government outlawed trade unions. To try to improve their lives, workers, unhappy with their 
low standard of living and lack of political power, organized strikes. 
As a result of all of these factors, several revolutionary movements began to grow and compete for 
power. A group that followed the views of Karl Marx successfully established a following in Russia. 
The Marxist revolutionaries believed that the industrial class of workers would overthrow the czar. 
These workers would then form “a dictatorship of the proletariat”. 
In 1903, Russian Marxists split into two groups over revolutionary tactics. The more moderate 
Mensheviks wanted a broad base of popular support for the revolution. The more radical Bolsheviks 
supported a small number of committed revolutionaries willing to sacrifice everything for change. 
The major leader of the Bolsheviks was Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov. He adopted the name of Lenin. In 
the early 1900s, Lenin fled to western Europe to avoid arrest by the czarist regime. From there he 
maintained contact with other Bolsheviks. Lenin then waited until he could safely return to Russia. 
 
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
https://testseries.sleepyclasses.com/ 
Sleepy Classes 
 
 
Crises at Home and Abroad  
Between 1904 and 1917, Russia faced a series of crises. These events showed the czar’s weakness 
and paved the way for revolution. 
The Russo-Japanese War In the late 1800s, Russia and Japan competed for control of Korea and 
Manchuria. The two nations signed a series of agreements over the territories but Russia broke 
them. Japan retaliated by attacking the Russians at Port Arthur, Manchuria, in February 1904. News 
of repeated Russian losses sparked unrest at home and led to a revolt in the midst of the war. 
Bloody Sunday The Revolution of 1905: On January 22, 1905, about 200,000 workers and their 
families approached the czar’s Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. They carried a petition asking for 
better working conditions, more personal freedom, and an elected national legislature. Nicholas II’s 
generals ordered soldiers to fire on the crowd. More than 1,000 were wounded and several hundred 
were killed. Russians quickly named the event “Bloody Sunday”. 
Bloody Sunday provoked a wave of strikes and violence that spread across the country. In October 
1905, Nicholas reluctantly promised more freedom. He approved the creation of the Duma —
Russia’s first parliament. The first Duma met in May 1906. Its leaders were moderates who wanted 
Russia to become a constitutional monarchy similar to Britain. But because he was hesitant to share 
his power, the czar dissolved the Duma after ten weeks. 
World War I: The Final Blow In 1914, Nicholas II made the fateful decision to drag Russia into World 
War I. Russia was unprepared to handle the military and economic costs. Its weak generals and 
poorly equipped troops were no match for the German army. German machine guns mowed down 
advancing Russians by the thousands. Defeat followed defeat. Before a year had passed, more than 
4 million Russian soldiers had been killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. As in the Russo-Japanese 
War, Russia’s involvement in World War I revealed the weaknesses of czarist rule and military 
leadership. 
On the war front Russian soldiers mutinied, deserted, or ignored orders. On the home front, food 
and fuel supplies were dwindling. Prices were wildly inflated. People from all classes were 
clamouring for change and an end to the war. Neither Nicholas nor Alexandra, his wife, proved 
capable of tackling these enormous problems. 
The March Revolution In March 1917, women textile workers in Petrograd led a citywide strike. In 
the next five days, riots flared up over shortages of bread and fuel. Nearly 200,000 workers swarmed 
the streets. At first the soldiers obeyed orders to shoot the rioters but later sided with them. 
The Czar Steps Down The local protest exploded into a general uprising—the March Revolution. It 
forced Czar Nicholas II to abdicate his throne. A year later revolutionaries executed Nicholas and his 
family. The three-century czarist rule of the Romanovs finally collapsed.  
The March Revolution succeeded in bringing down the czar. Yet it failed to set up a strong 
government to replace his regime 
Leaders of the Duma established a provisional government, or temporary government. Alexander 
Kerensky headed it. His decision to continue fighting in World War I cost him the support of both 
soldiers and civilians. As the war dragged on, conditions inside Russia worsened. Angry peasants 
 
 
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Sleepy Classes 
 
demanded land. City workers grew more radical. Socialist revolutionaries, competing for power, 
formed soviets. Soviets were local councils consisting of workers, peasants, and soldiers. In many 
cities, the soviets had more influence than the provisional government. 
Lenin Returns to Russia The Germans believed that Lenin and his Bolshevik supporters would stir 
unrest in Russia and hurt the Russian war effort against Germany. They arranged Lenin’s return to 
Russia after many years of exile. Traveling in a sealed railway boxcar, Lenin reached Petrograd in 
April 1917. 
The Bolshevik Revolution  
Lenin and the Bolsheviks soon gained control of the Petrograd soviet, as well as the soviets in other 
major Russian cities. By the fall of 1917, people in the cities were rallying to the call, “All power to 
the soviets”. Lenin’s slogan — “Peace, Land, and Bread”—gained widespread appeal. Lenin decided 
to take action. 
The Provisional Government Topples: In November 1917, without warning, armed factory workers 
stormed the Winter Palace in Petrograd. Calling themselves the Bolshevik Red Guards, they took 
over government offices and arrested the leaders of the provisional government. Kerensky and his 
colleagues disappeared almost as quickly as the czarist regime they had replaced. 
Bolsheviks in Power Within days after the Bolshevik takeover, Lenin ordered that all farmland be 
distributed among the peasants. Lenin and the Bolsheviks gave control of factories to the workers. 
The Bolshevik government also signed a truce with Germany to stop all fighting and began peace 
talks. In March 1918, Russia and Germany signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Russia surrendered a 
large part of its territory to Germany and its allies. The humiliating terms of this treaty triggered 
widespread anger among many Russians. They objected to the Bolsheviks and their policies and to 
the murder of the royal family. 
Civil War Rages in Russia The Bolsheviks now faced a new challenge—stamping out their enemies at 
home. Their opponents formed the White Army. The White Army was made up of very different 
groups. Only the desire to defeat the Bolsheviks united the White Army. The groups barely 
cooperated with each other. 
From 1918 to 1920, civil war raged in Russia. Several Western nations, including the United States, 
sent military aid and forces to Russia to help the White Army. However, they were of little help 
Russia’s civil war proved far deadlier than the earlier revolutions. Around 14 million Russians died in 
the three-year struggle and in the famine that followed 
In the end, the Red Army crushed all opposition. The victory showed that the Bolsheviks were able 
both to seize power and to maintain it 
Lenin Restores Order  
War and revolution destroyed the Russian economy. Trade was at a standstill. Industrial production 
dropped, and many skilled workers fled to other countries. Lenin turned to reviving the economy 
and restructuring the government.