THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
Communication: A key to understanding
On the right is a picture taken during the February Revolution led by women during 1917.
THESIS
The Russian Revolution played a vital part of communicating through the worker’s protests.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
Russia was ruled by a powerful monarch called the Tsar. Many workers and peasants had no power and they were treated poorly. They couldn't make any commands unlike Tsar so they protested which was their own way of communicating. These protests took place in Russia during 1917. These protests helped them obtain a pleasant result towards them. It improved their lives and they became a powerful society.
The picture on the right shows armed soldiers carrying a banner reading ‘Communism’ in Nikolskaya street, Moscow, October 1917.
THE INFLUENCE TOWARDS HISTORY
The Russian Revolution influenced history because it had a huge impact on many things such as communication, communism, socialism, democracy, the economy, imperialism, etc. After the Russian Revolution ended, Russia was the first country to have a communist government and they spread communism to the rest of the world using communication through protests. The Soviet Union was created. The revolution’s impact on the economy industrialized it to create five-year plans. It improved the lives and conditions of workers. This revolution united the lives of capitalists and socialists which made the world capitalists and socialists. Lastly, the Russian Revolution stopped imperialism and was the first country to bring up the idea of being independent.
To the right is a propaganda poster of Joseph Stalin's five-year plans which was implemented in 1928.
COMMUNICATION DURING THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
The workers had terrible lives. They had barely anything to eat and worked in dangerous conditions. They needed to get out a message, however they didn't have any power in Russia so it was difficult. The workers protested for better lives and the actions from the workers were their way of communicating. Even though they didn't have a powerful voice, they had powerful actions which resulted positively.
On the left is a photo of the worker's democracy. They are leading the revolution by taking power directly into their own hands and proceeding to transform society.
The Development of the Russian Revolution
RELATION TO THE NHD
The Russian Revolution is significant in history in relation to the NHD theme because in the Russian Revolution there was leadership and communication shown throughout the residents of Petrograd. They lived by what they believed in and made changes by their actions. This relates with the NHD theme of 2020 since it shows us how they worked together and had leadership.
These entries in the tsar’s diary describe the days leading up to his abdication from March 12th to March 16th:
Monday March 12th
“Disorders started several days ago in Petrograd; unfortunately, even the troops have begun to take part in them. It is sickening to be so far away and to receive fragmentary bad news. I did not spend much time listening to reports. During the day I took a walk… the weather was sunny.”
Tuesday March 13th
“I went to bed at 3.15am as I had a long talk with [General] N.I. Ivanov, whom I am despatching to Petrograd with troops to restore order… I slept to 10 o’clock. The weather was cold and sunny.”
Wednesday March 14th
“During the night we turned back… as Gatchina and Luga, [were] reported to be in the possession [of the rebels]. Shame and disgrace… Failed to reach Tsarskoe, but my thoughts and feelings are always there. How hard it must be for poor Alix to go through all these events alone. Lord help us.”
Thursday March 15th
“In the morning Ruzski came and read his very long direct-wire talk with Rodzianko. According to this, the situation in Petrograd is such that a Ministry of the Duma would now be powerless to do anything, for it has to contend with the Social-Democratic Party, represented by the workers’ committee [Soviet]. My abdication is required. Ruzski transmitted this talk to Headquarters and Alekseev sent it on to all the commanders-in-chief. By two o’clock replies were received from them [as to what I should do]. The gist of them is that in order to save Russia and keep the army at the front quiet, such a step must be taken. I have agreed.
From Headquarters has been sent a draft of a manifesto. In the evening Guchkov and Shulgin arrived from Petrograd, with whom I discussed the matter, and I handed them the signed and altered manifesto. At one o’clock in the morning [March 16th] I left Pskov with a heavy heart because of the things gone through. All around me there is treachery, cowardice and deceit.”
Friday March 16th
“I slept long and well. Awoke far beyond Dvinsk. The day was sunny and cold. Talked with those near me about yesterday. Read a great deal about Julius Caesar. Arrived at 8.20am at Mogilev. All ranks of the Staff were on the platform. Received Alekseev in the car. At 9.30 I went over to the house. Alekseev came with the latest news from Rodzianko. It transpires that Misha [Grand Duke Michael] has [also] abdicated. His manifesto ends with a four-tail formula [universal, direct, equal, and secret suffrage] for the election of a constituent assembly within six months. God knows who put it into his head to sign such stuff. In Petrograd, the disturbances have ceased — if it would only remain that way.”
This is a newspaper article made during November 9, 1917 describing the Russian Northern armies joining the Maximalists.
TIMELINE OF 1917
January 9th: More than 140,000 Russian workers strike in commemoration of the 12th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
February 19th: The February Revolution begins. The tsarist government announces food rationing, leading to panic buying in cities, where food availability is already critically low.
February 25th: Strikes continue to expand, with more than 200,000 workers now involved. This leads to occasional violent clashes between protesters and police.
March 9th: Nicholas II and his family are detained under house arrest.
April 3rd: Lenin returns to Russia with the assistance of the German government. On arrival, he delivers a speech at Finland Station, which forms the basis of the April Theses.
July 4th: The ‘July Days’ uprising in
Petrograd. Workers and soldiers
spontaneously revolt, demanding the Soviets or the Bolsheviks take power.
Both refuse and the rebellion is crushed
by government troops.
July 8th: The Petrograd uprising causes the liberal coalition in the Provisional Government to collapse. Kerensky becomes prime minister, leading a cabinet filled with socialists.
October 10th: October Revolution begins. The Bolshevik Central Committee
declares that “an armed uprising is
inevitable”. The Petrograd Soviet creates a Military Revolutionary Committee
(MRC).
October 26th: Eighteen hours after seizing power, Lenin issues the Decree on Land, calling for the abolition of private ownership, and the Decree on Peace,
urging an immediate ceasefire and treaty.
December 1st: The Bolsheviks introduce reforms to private property ownership, marriage and divorce laws, and the legal status of women.
“The significance of the Russian Revolution in the 21st century will not lie in the socialist society it produced in Russia for most of the 20th century. Instead, it will lie in the fact that until now, and for the foreseeable future, it prevented a Western democratic society from developing there, at great cost not only to Russia but to Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world."
A quote by Michael Kort, historian, 2017, explaining his perspective on the Russian Revolution.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Primary Source
1. Citation: Memories of the Russian Revolution, Yiddish Book Center, September 25, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yDbyjbq9Pk
Annotation: Using 2 to 3 sentences, state how this source was useful to your research.
This source was useful to my research because it helps me picture an understanding of how the russian revolution was like. For example, the interview talks about the shooting and the neighborhood.
2. Citation: Hughes, Timothy, Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers, 2020,
https://www.rarenewspapers.com/view/589847
Annotation: Using 2 to 3 sentences, state how this source was useful to your research.
This source was useful for my research because it gives information on the different events that occurred and it gives pictures of newspapers from that time period. These newspapers were from people during the russian revolution so it explains how they felt and their perspective of the revolution.
Secondary Source
1. Citation: Ducksters, World War 1 Russian Revolution, Technological Solutions, Inc. (TSI), 8 November 2020, https://www.ducksters.com/history/world_war_i/russian_revolution.php
Annotation: Using 2 to 3 sentences, state how this source was useful to your research.
This source was useful to my research because it helped me know how the different events occurred and the results. This source is very specific; it tells the reader the names, places, and dates of events.
2. Citation: Argiropoulos, George, Coppola, Daniel, The Russia Revolution, Google Sites,
https://sites.google.com/site/therussiarevolution/home/secondary-sources
Annotation: Using 2 to 3 sentences, state how this source was useful to your research.
This source was useful to my research because it tells stories and explains them about the russian revolution. To add on, it talks about the workers during the revolution which helps me know how they felt.
3. Citation: History.com editors, Russian Revolution, A&E Television Networks, November 9, 2009 - February 28, 2020, https://www.history.com/topics/russia/russian-revolution
Annotation: Using 2 to 3 sentences, state how this source was useful to your research.
This source was useful towards my research because it gave me the different events, the main idea, important dates and people involved, and the impact. The information given helped me learn and process how the russian revolution played an important role in history.
PROCESS PAPER
I chose the Russian Revolution as my topic because I found the worker’s lives very difficult for them and I learned about their protests and thought it was brave of them to do this. They made a valiant effort to seek for a better life. Barely earning any money and working in dangerous conditions, they knew their lives were miserable and when I read about them standing up, I found this very intriguing to learn. This is why I chose the Russian Revolution as my topic.
I conducted my research by searching up anything relating to the Russian Revolution. For example, how it was developed, how it was influential, or even pictures. I looked through videos, many websites, documents, etc. Any information that I found relevant towards the Russian Revolution, I used. I had to get primary and secondary sources about the Russian Revolution. Getting primary sources was much harder than getting secondary sources. I also asked other people about the Russian Revolution. This is how I conducted my research.
I selected to do a website as my presentation category. Creating a website has many pros and cons to it. The positive things about making a website are all the cool designs, themes, colors, etc. Plus, who wouldn’t want to search up something online that they created. This is why I selected to do a website for my presentation. However, making a website is a huge process. For example, the hardest part about this project could be getting the information. That’s a little hard but also actually making a website is much harder than I thought. I constantly change my mind about a picture, or a design, and you just have to like shift everything around to make it look like a perfect and the best website out there. I feel like I’m putting more effort into the designs and making the website look good rather than focusing on my information. I made a section for each title and put the information I received with a picture I chose. I also chose each section’s design and this is how I created my website.
My project relates to the NHD theme because the worker’s protests were a way of their communication. To many people, communication involves someone talking in a conversation. However, in this scenario, the workers rebelled against Tsar Nicholas II. When people are protesting, they are determined and also brave. You don’t need to understand what someone is saying through them talking, you can do it through their feelings or their actions. The worker’s actions played a significant role in communicating through their protests. This shows how my project relates to the NHD theme.