Political+Parties+in+1905

A quick study-guide, summary from Lynch book on Russia 1894-1924 Valeria Vergani
 * POLITICAL PARTIES DURING NICHOLAS II’S REIGN **

** LIBERALS/REFORMERS ** 1. **Octobrists:** The Octobrists were moderate, loyal to the tsar and the government. They were mainly drawn from larger commercial, industrial and landowning interests. In the dumas, the Octobrists frequently voiced serious criticisms of the short-sightedness or incompetence of the tsarist government. 2. **Kadets:** The Kadets wanted Russia to develop a constitutional monarchy in which the powers of the tsar would be restricted by a democratically elected constituent assembly. The Kadets were the party of the liberal intelligentsia, containing progressive landlords, the smaller industrial entrepreneurs and upper-middle class workers. **The Union of the Russian People** > == ==
 * ==It was a Black-Hundredist counter-revolutionary, nationalist, monarchist and antisemitic political organization in the Russian Empire  . It was formed in October 1905 in St. Petersburg  . ==
 * ==It was a reactionary political movement to defend the Russian monarchy, the Orthodox Church and the Russian people, while promoting an aggressive form of nationalism. ==
 * == It was founded by Alexander Dubrovin (right). ==
 * ==The members were from the middle class, members of the clergy or minor state officials. ==
 * == The aim of the Union was //"The Union of the Russian People sets as its undeviating goal the lasting unity of the Russian people of all classes and professions in working for the general good of our fatherland- a Russia united and indivisible." (from the Manifesto) // ==
 * == Allows the election of Jews for the State Duma however not more than 3 people. ==
 * == The State Duma should not restrict the supreme authority of the Tsar and only inform him of the 'real needs of the people and the state and help the Legislator to realize the necessary reforms'. ==
 * == Freedom of speech, press, assembly and unions and individuals should be immediately introduced. ==
 * == //" the basis of our Union is brotherly love towards our neighbors. We therefore do not allow any of the arbitrariness, force, falsehoods, rumors, distortions and secret or similar means of struggle used by our enemies, by the Tsar's enemies or by enemies of the country" (from the Manifesto) // ==

**Power Point (The Union of the Russian People)**


** REVOLUTIONARIES ** 1. **Populists:** The movement existed from the 1870s. They believed that revolution should be concerned in a large part with the peasantry, which constituted the vast majority of Russian population. Because of that, their revolutionary role often involved “going to the people” and raise awareness in the countryside. “The People’s Will” and “Land and Liberty” both belonged to the populist movement. The movement failed because the peasantry was not interested in political revolution.Nonetheless, all revolutionary movements born after 1870s found inspiration in the populists’ work.

2. **Social Revolutionaries (SRs):** This party grew directly out of the Populist movement, but its intent was to include industrial workers, along with the peasantry, in their ranks. However, as with all the revolutionary groups in tsarist Russia, the SRs were weakened by disagreements among themselves. The two groups in which the party was divided are (according to Leon Trotsky), the “Left Social Revolutionaries” and “Right Social Revolutionaries”. Anyway, the SR Party, with its “revolutionary socialism” (change could be achieved only through the violent overthrow of the tsarist system) and in spite of its internal divisions, remained the most popular party with the peasants, at least until 1917 revolution.

Projects by Valeria, Jina, Lydia and Maria (in charge of the SR group)

3. **Social Democrats (SDs):** The Social Democrats were Marxists. Indeed, the party was formed under the guide of George Plekhanov, sometimes referred to as “the father of Russian Marxism”.Lenin, having returned from exile in Siberia, joined the SD Party but his viewpoint was different from Plekhanov’s, whom he considered too theoretical and just a reformer rather than a revolutionary. With the colleague Julius Martov, Lenin founded the newspaper Iskra (the Spark). A deep divide developed between Martov and Lenin, who shared some of Plekhanov’s viewpoints. In a series of votes, Lenin claimed that he and his supporters were the majority. This led to their being called Bolsheviks (the majority), while Martov’s group became known as Mensheviks (the minority). The Mensheviks believed that Russia was yet not ready for proletarian revolution, that the party should be an open democratic organization and that alliance with other revolutionaries and liberal parties, along with the support of trade unions in pursuing better work conditions, were necessary. On the other hand, Bolsheviks believed that the time for proletarian revolution had arrived, that the party should be exclusive, that authority within it was to exercised by a Central Committee, and that no co-operation with other parties was necessary. Finally, they wanted work conditions to get worse, in order to turn workers into revolutionaries.

By Kasia B., Nathalie St., and Teresa B.

The All-Russian Social Democratic Workers Party

(Social Democrat)

(Bolsheviks and Mensheviks)

“Land and Liberty!”

** Photostory Link: ** []

** Basic Facts: **

// Proletariat // - working class (the ones who would be the “winners” of the last class struggle) // Bourgeoisie // - owns the means of producing wealth and exploits the proletariat (the ones who would be overthrown by the proletariat in the revolution) // Menshevik // - “a term used to describe the people who belonged to that branch of the Russian // (“minority”) // communist movement which favored a more popular, loose-knit form of party organisation and discipline, with more democratic leadership.” (Morris, 2004) // Bolshevik // - “a term used to describe the supporters of the ideas and the political system that // (“majority”) // Lenin argued for and introduced in Russia after the Russian Revolution in 1917.” (Morris, 2004)

** Differences between Bolsheviks and Mensheviks: **

● Favored alliance with the bourgeoisie, who would lead the first phase of the revolution. || ● Rejection of co-operation with all parties- dedication to revolution or nothing. ● Favored alliance with the peasantry (thereby ignoring Marx’s focus on the bourgeoisie) || (table copied from [|http://www.activehistory.co.uk/main_area/worksheets/as/mod/tsar_nicholas/5_Politics/2_Politics_FULL.pdf)]
 * ** Argued about: ** || ** Mensheviks (led by Martov) ** || ** Bolsheviks (led by Lenin) ** ||
 * ● Revolution || No rush. Russia hasn’t even had a bourgeois revolution yet! || Must hurry whilst society is unstable and before the tsar gets any stronger. ||
 * ● Party Membership || Should be as large as possible to get the widest base of support. || Should be restricted to a dedicated elite who can achieve objectives. ||
 * ● Discipline || Open, democratic discussion and decision making. || Strong leadership from the central committee. ||
 * ● Strategy || ● Alliances with other parties and with trade unions to agitate for better conditions

** Issue 1: Fundamental Principles of the party ** ● Replace private with public ownership ● Centrally planned economy (everything was controlled by the state/power) ● Classless society (people won’t exploit each other) ● Dictatorship of proletariat ● Proletariat forms own independent political party ● Aim to achieve (power through) revolution in Russia by following the ideas of Karl Marx ● Overthrow of tsarist autocracy and replace it with a democratic republic ● Tactics: study groups, propaganda, demonstrations and strikes. They even had their own newspaper which was called “Iskra” (“The Spark”). ● During the 1903 London Conference a split occurred in the party due to the contrasting ideas of Martov and Lenin, forming Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.

** Issue 2: Political Freedoms ** ● Sovereignty of the people (through a bicameral chamber) ○ Democratic, parliamentary, non-presidential republic with universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot. ○ Nicolas II’s Duma was not sufficient ● Universal and equal suffrage for those above the age of 20 ● Regional government ● Inviolability of person or dwelling (sovereignty of the individual) ● Unlimited freedom of speech, assembly, press, conscience and the formation of trade unions, movement and occupation ○ Trade unions were encouraged because they would mobilize the ‘middle Russia’ (apolitical), their independence and activity. This might convert them to be more constitutionally minded. ● Eliminations of privileges for one group at the expense of another (everyone is equal before the state) ● Mandatory division of the state and Church and of school and Church.

** Issue 3: Education ** ● Obtain education in native language which would be funded by the state or local municipality ● Free, compulsory education which shapes people for certain professions ● For all children of both sexes ● Until age 16 ● Supply of: food, clothes, school supplies

** Issue 4: The Rights of the Workers ** ● Socialists promised: ● 8 hour workday ● State funded medical help for disabilities ● Retirement insurance ● Blanket of prohibition on child labor ● 10 weeks of paid pregnancy and maternity leave (4 before, 6 after) ● Free medical care ● Party demanded several things in order to protect the proletariat from physical and moral degradation, for example: ● The ban of overtime work ● The ban of night work except the industries that really need it   ● The ban of employment of school children ● The ban of use of female labor in circumstances which are harmful to the health of the woman ● Supply of nurseries for babies in workplaces of women ● Insurance for workers against old age ● Appointment of factory inspectors ● Supervision of sanitary conditions in factory housing ● Properly organized health inspection ● Establishment of criminal responsibility of employers for violation of laws intended to protect workers ● Establishment in all branches of the economy of industrial tribunals made up equally of representatives of the workers and of management ● Local-self government must establish employment agencies (labor exchanges) to deal with the hiring of local and non-local labor in all branches of industry, and participation of workers’ and employers’ representatives in the administration

** Issue 5: Nationalities and Minorities ** ● Complete class equality, regardless of sex, religion, race, or nationality ● Obtain education in native language which would be funded by the state or local municipality ● Ability to use native language together as well as the state language in local, public and state institutions ● Against nationalism ● Recognized some degree of autonomy for the major national regions, such as to set up their own representative bodies, to preserve Russia’s multi-ethnicity ● Nations have to be willing to become part of the state (no force applied)

** Issue 6: Achievements ** ● “In 1917 the Mensheviks acknowledged the advisability of introducing cultural autonomy of all national minorities and of granting them the right to open their own school and cultural and educational institutions, to publish newspapers, magazines, and books in their native language, and so on. The Bolsheviks, conversely, were resolutely opposed to cultural autonomy, on the grounds that it would only promote nationalism. “ ● Bolsheviks organized unsuccessful 1905 Moscow Strike ● The party had 40,000 members by 1904 ● Bolsheviks gain a majority in Petrograd Soviet in the September of 1917 ● Bolshevik rising against the government began on 23 October 1917 ● The Bolsheviks seize the winter Palace 24-5 October 1917 ● Bolsheviks establish sovnarkom (Russian for government or cabinet), 26 October 1917

** Issue 7: Goals, Aims and Aspirations ** ● Abolish class divisions ● Road of peace --> against war (they were the only party who did not support the war effort in 1914) ● Sovereign + independent bicameral chamber

** Script ** (If you have problems understanding the Photostory this might help you...)

// October 27th, 1904 St. Petersburg // Nikita: I finally arrived in Russia today. I am interested to see how the social democrats are replacing private with public ownership coupled with a centrally planned economy. The dictatorship of the proletariat will be instilled into a classless society. The hand on experience with the local proletariats showed me that they should have their say in things. They believe in overthrowing the tsarist autocracy and replacing it with a democratic republic. I am interested in how they will do it. Will they strike or demonstrate, is my question? Or perhaps their breakthrough will be achieved through their newspaper called the Isakra. What I think could have strengthened the party was the split between the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks, erasing the party from unnecessary ideas and concepts.

// October 28th, 1904 St. Petersburg // Nikita: Today I met with my dearest friend Sergei, who discussed why he joined the social democratic party… S: Since I am a proud worker of a shoe factory, my own proletarian rights interest me a lot. The socialists promise me an 8 hour work day, free medical care, and retirement insurance to take care of me when I’m weak and old. They declare the need to ban overtime work and working during the night, which I hate doing because I cannot get a good night’s sleep. I have two little princesses, Natasha and Tamara, whom I love more than anything. This is also why I joined the party, because it provides free compulsory education until the age of 16 and later on they will be able to take care of me and their children in nurseries.

// October 29th, 1904 St. Petersburg // Nikita: After my talk with Sergei last night I was keen on talking to someone from a minority group. I therefore found Varvara the head of a minority group, who supported the social democratic movement. She explained why…. V: I feel proud of my Kazakhstani language and am grateful that the party lets me use it in everyday life. Additionally my children will be able to learn Kazakhstani in a state funded course. This is a blessing from a higher power and from the social democratic tolerance and their reluctance to apply russification. (Kazakhstani music plays) What is this? Kazahstani nationalistic music! Stop it, stop it! We are against nationalism!

// October 30th, 1904 St. Petersburg // Nikita: Today I’m leaving Russia prophesying a bright future ahead for the party, with a classless society on a road of peace. I think that their efforts for a sovereign and independent chamber will soon result in its formation. Despite the fact that they have not achieved a lot so far the revolutions will soon show their strength. As they say it: LAND AND LIBERTY!

References: Billington, James H. //Fire in the Minds of Men: Origins of the Revolutionary// // Faith //. 1980. New Brunswick : Transaction Publishers, 2009.

Kirschke, Melissa. //Paul Miliukov and the Quest for a Liberal Russia, 1880-1918//. New York: Cornell University Press, n.d. //Questia Online Library//. Web. 11 Nov. 2010.

Lynch, M. (Ed.). (2005). //Reaaction and Revolution: Russia 1894-1924// (3rd ed.). London: Hodder Murray.

Morris, T., & Murphy, D. (Eds.). (2004). //Europe 1870-1991// (2nd ed.). London: Harper Collins. (Original work published 2000)

Thompson, John M. //Russia and the Soviet Union: An Historical Introduction from// // the Kievan State to the Present //. Boulder: Westview Press, 1998. //Questia// // Online Library //. Web. 12 Nov. 2010.

Tiutiukin, S. V. "Where Were the Socialists Leading Russia in the Early Twentieth Century?" //Russian Studies in History// 42 (Spring 2004): 38-45. //EBSCO host//. Web. 9 Nov. 2010

[|www.choices.edu] [|http://www.activehistory.co.uk/main_area/worksheets/as/mod/tsar_nicholas/5_Politics/2_Politics_FULL.pdf]

Picture References: [|http://www.isreview.org/issues/65/gasper-socialism.shtml] [|http://www.imow.org/wpp/stories/viewStory?storyId=927] [|http://voxweb.typepad.com/] [|https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/citd/RussianHeritage/12.NR/NR.2.html] [|http://crowds.stanford.edu/basement/basement.html] [|http://ronster.wordpress.com/] [|http://www.lust-for-life.org/Lust-For-Life/MasqueradeInMoscow/MasqueradeInMoscow.htm] l

__Manifesto__ We, the Social Democratic Labor Party believe in a __democratic republic__  that should __overthrow the autocratic tsarist regime__  and establish a __constitution__  that would guarantee <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__unrestricted freedom__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> of conscience, speech, press and assembly, sovereignty to all people regardless of race and gender. We propose instilling these values by <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__banishing all class privileges__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> (end of exploitation), voting by a <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__secret ballot__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> and establishing a <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__bicameral independent chamber.__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Everything should be <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__publically owned__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> for collective benefit and there should be no private enterprise. Children would be taught these benefits in <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__state-funded compulsory schools__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> that would guarantee them a better future. Youngsters of minority groups would have the opportunity to learn their native language in a state-funded course. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The workers are the backbone of the nation and thus their importance cannot be undervalued. To that end, we propose, amongst other things, an <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__8-hour work day, retirement benefits, state-funded medical health care__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> and additional <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__maternal benefits__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> (i.e. extended maternity leave.) However, we are strongly against the abuse of children for the sake of industrialization and forbid the employment of school children.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__Glossary__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Autocracy- ultimate executive power in one man not limited by a constitution or legislature (divine right). <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Democratic republic- ultimate power resides in the people limited by a constitution, who chose their representatives to solve issues on the behalf of their constituents. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Secret ballot- method of voting where the voter’s name is not given. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Bicameral chamber- two legislative chambers.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__Recommended Further Activities__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Overview of Russia in the early 1900s [video] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> http://www.choices.edu/resources/scholarsonline/herlihy/ph2.php

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Difference between the Mensheviks and Bolsheviks [video] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> http://www.choices.edu/resources/scholarsonline/herlihy/ph9.php

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Bolsheviks review + activity [interacting materials] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/russia/bolsheviksact.shtml

[I could not paste the picture that is described in the paragraph below. I will try to get this solved ASAP] - Kasia

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Socialism and women's emancipation go hand in hand, implies this propaganda poster. It reads: "Emancipated woman -- build up socialism." This means that women free and liberated from the boundaries of an authoritarian state will be more use in developing it. Equality is depicted here through the non-gendered appearance of the young protagonist, whose ordinary appearance allows for association with the audience. It is an example of the promotion of the socialist ideas for the women, which would have made an impact at the time as woman’s strength as workers was undervalued. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This stamp reads, “One call is for both Ukrainians and Russians: don’t let the Landowner be a master above the worker!” It clearly depicts the values of the Social Democratic Labor Party, which include a classless society without a well-dressed nobleman and two unacknowledged workers in the background. The fact that the two workers are carrying guns presents the readiness of the proletariat to take action and fight. For that reason, this poster is most likely that of the Mensheviks who believed in the inclusion of everyone as opposed to the Bolsheviks who believed the revolution should be undertaken only by the elite.