Conclusions, The Russian Revolution Flashcards
What was the Russian Revolution of 1917 a series of?
It was a series of concurrent and overlapping revolutions, including popular, workers’, soldiers’, peasants’, middle-class, and nationalities’ revolts, each with its own goals and grievances.
What were the main goals of the peasants’ revolution during the Russian Revolution of 1917?
The peasants sought land ownership and control of their own lives.
What were some of the cultural and social struggles within the Russian Revolution of 1917?
People struggled over women’s rights, nationalities, ethnic and religious group dominance, and within political parties, as well as for a multitude of personal and collective aspirations.
What was the broader context in which the Russian Revolution of 1917 occurred?
The revolution occurred amidst political realignments, growing social anarchy, economic collapse, and the ongoing slaughter of World War I.
How did the Russian Revolution progress politically in 1917?
The revolution rapidly moved through liberal, moderate socialist, and radical socialist phases, eventually bringing the extreme left wing of Russian and European politics to power.
What was the significance of the February Revolution in 1917?
The February Revolution released the frustrations and aspirations of the population, leading to demands and expectations that shaped the course of the revolution.
What types of organizations did the people of the Russian Empire create in response to the revolution?
They quickly formed thousands of organizations, including factory committees, army committees, village assemblies, Red Guards, unions, nationality and religious organizations, cultural and educational clubs, and women’s and youth organizations.
What kinds of organizations were formed during the Russian Revolution to represent popular movements?
Organizations included industrialists’ associations, householders’ associations, economic cooperatives, factory committees, army committees, unions, and more, representing the hopes and aspirations of the people.
What did the Russian Revolution represent for all inhabitants of the Russian state?
It stood for the opening of a new era and a better future, though there was a struggle over how to satisfy competing visions and conflicting aspirations.
How did revolutionary language, symbols, and rituals function during the revolution?
They served as a code of communication, legitimizing actions, defining common enemies, upholding principles, and generating authority for certain leaders.
What role did revolutionary language and symbols play in the success of the Bolsheviks?
Mastering the revolutionary vocabulary and symbols helped the Bolsheviks succeed while the liberals and moderate socialists failed to connect their programs with these potent symbols.
Which word became a powerful positive term during the Russian Revolution, representing broad aspirations?
“Democracy” was the most potent positive word, with “freedom,” “liberty,” and “republic” close behind.
What were some of the negative terms used to mobilize the lower classes during the Russian Revolution?
Negative terms included “bourgeois,” “bourgeoisie,” “counter-revolutionaries,” “Kornilovite,” and vague terms like “dark forces” and “German agents.”
Why was the vocabulary of class conflict particularly powerful during the revolution?
It expressed important identities, united large groups of people, and framed the political struggle in terms of those excluded from wealth and privilege.
How did the terms “citizen” and “comrade” differ in their connotations during the revolution?
“Citizen” initially symbolized revolutionary unity and liberation, while “comrade” became more exclusive, unifying the political left as democrats, revolutionaries, and socialists.
How was the term “comrade” used during the Russian Revolution of 1917?
“Comrade” was used as a unifying term for the lower classes and socialists, while marking off the middle and upper classes, educated society, and non-socialists.
What role did other vocabularies of identity, such as nationality, gender, and youth, play in the revolution?
These vocabularies were important for mobilization, helping to forge unity and express programs of action within the revolution.
What was the significance of renaming places, objects, and people during the revolution?
Renaming was part of the revolutionary symbolism, with streets, towns, ships, and even individuals adopting new names that reflected revolutionary ideals like “Freedom,” “Citizen,” and “Democracy.”
How did revolutionary songs and music contribute to the revolutionary atmosphere in 1917?
Songs like the “Marseillaise” and “Internationale” were played at public meetings, demonstrations, and “concert meetings,” becoming central to the expression of revolutionary unity and protest.
What was the role of sound in daily life during the Russian Revolution?
Speeches, debates, slogans, and revolutionary songs were a constant part of public life, with demonstrators and mutinous troops often singing protest songs or being led by regimental bands.
What visual symbols dominated the Russian Revolution of 1917?
Red became the universal symbol of the revolution, seen in red banners, cockades, armbands, ribbons, and decorations. Tsarist symbols, like the two-headed eagle, were destroyed in public rituals.
How was the color red significant during the Russian Revolution?
Red, the traditional color of revolution since the 19th century, became the universal symbol of the Russian Revolution, representing revolutionary ideals and solidarity.
How did public demonstrations incorporate revolutionary themes?
Demonstrators marched while singing revolutionary songs, public meetings combined speeches and music, and orchestras often prefaced performances with revolutionary anthems like the “Marseillaise.”
How did soldiers’ uniforms and behavior symbolize the upheaval of the Russian Revolution?
Soldiers wearing their uniforms askew and cutting off officers’ shoulder boards symbolized a world turned upside down, reflecting the broader revolutionary changes.
What rituals were commonly performed during the revolutionary festivals in 1917?
Festivals often included parades, revolutionary songs, speeches about freedom and democracy, the destruction of tsarist emblems, and swearing allegiance to the Provisional Government.
What were some of the most famous revolutionary festivals during the early months of the revolution?
The burial of the revolution’s victims in Petrograd on March 23 and the May Day celebrations on April 18 were among the largest and most famous revolutionary festivals.
How did the new revolutionary atmosphere influence early films and documentaries?
Filmmakers produced numerous films about the revolution, portraying revolutionary themes and negative depictions of figures like Nicholas II and Rasputin, though these themes faded as the year progressed.
What shift occurred in film themes as the optimism of early 1917 faded?
Films moved away from revolutionary themes to darker subjects like suicide, violence, and pornography, reflecting growing pessimism about Russia’s future.
How did mass politics change after the February Revolution?
The revolution ushered in an era of mass politics, with mass activism playing a central role in the political crises of 1917, pushing for greater change and influencing the formation of a coalition government.
What role did mass activism play in the political evolution of the Russian Revolution in 1917?
Mass activism forced the Duma to take more radical action during the February Revolution, triggered the April Crisis, and led to demands for a Soviet government during the July Days.
What kind of slogans and banners were carried during revolutionary festivals and parades?
Marchers carried red banners with slogans like “Land and Liberty” and “Long Live a Democratic Republic” during parades and festivals.
How did popular activism influence the political landscape leading to the October Revolution?
Popular activism helped radicalize the political composition of city councils, soviets, and other organizations, setting the stage for the October Revolution.
What dilemma did educated society face during the Russian Revolution?
Educated society believed in democracy and the role of “the people,” but also saw the revolution as an opportunity to implement their ideas about restructuring society, leading to a tension between guiding the masses and respecting their self-assertion.
How did the leaders of the Provisional Government and the soviets view their role in the revolution?
They saw themselves as “tutors” of the people, believing that the politically educated minority should guide the masses, who might otherwise be led astray by anarchism or the influence of the Bolsheviks.
What concerns did liberal and moderate socialist intelligentsia have about the revolution in 1917?
They were concerned about anarchy among the masses and feared that the Bolsheviks were promoting it. They believed in the “interests of state” and saw the state as the means to implement their policies and bring “enlightenment” to the people
How did workers, soldiers, and peasants view their relationship with the educated classes during the revolution?
They had an uneasy relationship with the educated classes, recognizing their knowledge and skills but also feeling distrustful and resentful of their attempts to act as “tutors” and maintain dominance.
What was the central problem facing political elites in 1917?
The central problem was establishing a viable government and political system that could work with new organizations, control popular self-assertiveness, and fulfill the aspirations of the masses.
What were the Duma Committee, Petrograd Soviet, and Provisional Government’s initial objectives in March 1917?
Their objective was to consolidate the popular revolution of February, channel popular self-assertion, and direct the revolution’s future course.
What was the impact of the February Revolution on the political spectrum in Russia?
The February Revolution swept away the old right wing, transformed liberals into conservatives of the new era, and left socialist parties alone on the left wing, with both sides splitting into centrist and more extreme factions.
What were the initial goals of the Provisional Government following the February Revolution?
The initial goals were to consolidate political gains, establish a constitutional parliamentary government, and guarantee civil rights, while postponing fundamental social and economic reforms until after the war.
How did the political realignment on the left among socialist parties unfold?
The realignment continued earlier debates on cooperation with liberals and responses to the war, intensified by the revolution, and was driven by differing approaches from leaders like Irakli Tsereteli and Vladimir Lenin.
What significant divisions existed among the liberals in the Provisional Government?
Liberals were deeply divided over issues such as the continuation of the war and relations with the Soviet, with some, like P. N. Miliukov, staunchly committed to continuing the war, forming the effective right wing of new politics.
What characterized the centrist viewpoint that emerged among the liberals?
The centrist viewpoint stressed cooperation with moderate socialists in the Soviet and considered alternatives to total victory in the war. Key members included Prince G. E. Lvov, N. V. Nekrasov, and A. I. Konovalov.
Who was Irakli Tsereteli, and what was his role in the political realignment?
Tsereteli returned from exile and led a group that forged the Menshevik–SR bloc of “moderate socialists” under “Revolutionary Defensism,” which included the majority of the SR and Menshevik parties.
What was the significance of the “Revolutionary Defensism” stance taken by Tsereteli and his faction?
“Revolutionary Defensism” represented a moderate approach among socialists, advocating for defense of the revolution while navigating the complexities of cooperation with the liberals and addressing the ongoing war.
Which political bloc dominated the Petrograd Soviet until September and the Moscow Soviet and most provincial city soviets until around the same time?
The Revolutionary Defensist bloc, which included Mensheviks and Popular Socialists.
