The Russian Revolution: In 1917, the Russian people started a rebellion that would change their nation forever. (World History Play).Since 1613, members of the Romanov family had ruled Russia as an autocracy AUTOCRACY. The name of a government where the monarch is unlimited by law. Such is the power of the emperor of Russia, who, following the example of his predecessors, calls himself the autocrat of all the Russias. (absolute rule by one person). The Czar, or Emperor, made all decisions. But World War I, which began in 1914, demoralized de·mor·al·ize tr.v. de·mor·al·ized, de·mor·al·iz·ing, de·mor·al·iz·es 1. To undermine the confidence or morale of; dishearten: an inconsistent policy that demoralized the staff. (discouraged) the country. As Germany and its allies defeated Russian troops, Russians at home were starving and without heating fuel. Czar Nicholas Czar Nicholas may refer to:
adj. Being subjected to or characterized by repression. demonstrations, often firing into crowds of protesters. As 1917 approached, Russians were tired of a Czar who refused to listen to them. SCENE ONE PETROGRAD, DECEMBER 1916 Narrator NARRATOR. A pleader who draws narrs serviens narrator, a sergeant at law. Fleta, 1. 2, c. 37. Obsolete. A: Many Russians believe that Grigory Rasputin [rah-SPOOtin] has too much influence over Nicholas and Alexandra. The royal couple's son, Alexei, has an incurable illness called hemophilia, which prevents his blood from clotting correctly. Rasputin is a wandering holy man and faith healer faith healer n. One who treats disease with prayer. , and Alexandra believes that only he can save the prince. Alexei: Mama, it hurts so much! Alexandra: I know, my dear. But Rasputin has promised that you will be well again. Alexei: Why did Aunt Ella say that Rasputin is an evil man? Alexandra: Because she listens to rumors spread by our enemies. Alexei: But other people say terrible things about him, too. Alexandra: We are the Romanovs! It doesn't matter what anyone thinks--except Rasputin. He is our savior. Narrator A: Nicholas goes to the front lines to direct the war effort, leaving Alexandra to run the government in the Russian capital, Petrograd [now called St. Petersburg]. Rasputin urges her to give his cronies [pals] government jobs. Their incompetence and corruption [dishonesty] outrage the Czar's loyal supporters. Felix Yusupov: Alexandra's decisions are foolish. And because her family is German, people think she's spying for Germany. Dmitry Pavlovich: Rasputin has her under his thumb. We must get rid of him! Yusupov: I agree. If we don't, the people's hatred of Rasputin will lead them to turn against the Czar. Let's invite Rasputin to a party and spring our trap. Narrator A: On December 16, 1916, the men murder Rasputin. But the act does not save the Czar. SCENE TWO FEBRUARY 1917 Narrator B: February is one of the coldest months on record. Trains bringing food to Petrograd become stuck in ice and snow. Starving women and children nearly freeze to death as they wait in long bread lines. Baker: No more bread today. Woman 1: But we've been waiting in the cold for six hours! Woman 2: There has been no bread in days! Why do you starve us? Women in crowd: We want bread! We want bread! Narrator B: Hundreds of women break into bakeries across the city and steal bread. The government sends troops to put down the riots. But instead of firing. the troops join the demonstrations. Mutiny [rebellion] spreads throughout the army. Czar Nicholas rushes back from the front to stop the uprising, but soldiers capture his train. Nicholas: What is going on? Alexander Guchkov Alexander Ivanovich Guchkov (October 14 1862, Moscow – February 14 1936) was a Russian politician, Chairman of the Duma and Minister of War in the Russian Provisional Government. : It's over, your majesty. People have turned to the Duma duma (d  `mä), Russian name for a representative body, particularly applied to the Imperial Duma established as a result of the Russian Revolution of 1905. to run the country. You must abdicate ab·di·cate v. ab·di·cat·ed, ab·di·cat·ing, ab·di·cates v.tr. To relinquish (power or responsibility) formally. v.intr. To relinquish formally a high office or responsibility. [give up power]. Nicholas: Then I will turn over the throne to my son. Vasily Shulgin Vasily Vitalyevich Shulgin (January 13, 1878 - February 15, 1976) was Russian conservative politician and member of the White movement. Young years Shulgin was born in Kiev. His father was Professor of history, monarchist and editor of monarchist newspaper. : Your son is too sick. Besides, people in the streets are chanting "No more Romanovs!" Narrator B: The Czar orders the Duma to dissolve, but his order is ignored. Nicholas gives up the throne on March 15, ending the Romanov dynasty Romanov dynasty Rulers of Russia from 1613 to 1917. The name derived from Roman Yurev (d. 1543), whose daughter Anastasiya Romanovna was the first wife of Ivan IV the Terrible. . The royal family is sent to prison. SCENE THREE JULY 1917 Narrator C: Getting rid of the Czar does not solve Russia's problems. Several groups battle each other for power. The Provisional [temporary] Government struggles to contain these forces. Meanwhile, the war continues to go badly, and soldiers are deserting in large numbers. In July, Alexander Kerensky
Alexander Kerensky: I am in despair over this war. How can you help us? Maria Bochkareva: By organizing a corps of women volunteers. If the men refuse to fight, we will show them what women can do. Narrator C: Bochkareva forms the Women's Death Battalion. On the steps of St. Isaac's Cathedral in Petrograd, she makes an impassioned speech to her army. Bochkareva: Come with us in the name of your fallen heroes. Come with us to dry the tears and heal the wounds of Russia. Protect our homeland with your lives. We women, steadfast and strong, will guard the freedom of Mother Russia! Narrator C: Bochkareva's words stir the hearts of 2,000 women and girls, and the Women's Death Battalion is sent to the front lines in Austria. Many of them fight bravely. But the war is brutal, and mounting losses devastate dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. Russia. SCENE FOUR FALL 1917 Narrator D: Several political parties struggle for power. But only the Bolsheviks, or "majority," have a strong organization and a popular message. They promise "bread, land, and peace." The Bolsheviks also have an independent army, and they are looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. the right moment to use it. Leon Trotsky: Kerensky's big mistake was to keep fighting the war. People want out of it almost as much as they want food. Vladimir Lenin: The Provisional Government is tottering [unstable]. It's time to overthrow it by force. Lev Kamenev: But it's too big a gamble. We should wait until we have more support. Lenin: No! We must not wait. Everything hangs by a thread. History will not forgive revolutionaries who wait until they can be victorious and risk losing everything. Narrator D: Lenin convinces the others to attack. The Provisional Government's last stand comes at Petrograd's Winter Palace, the former home of the czars. On October 25, 1917, remaining members of the Women's Death Battalion and their allies defend the palace. But their morale is low, and the Bolsheviks' Red Guards win easily. Vladimir Antonov-Ovseenko (to the Red Guards): I inform you that everyone in the Provisional Government is under arrest. Red Guard 1: Why waste time? They've spilled enough of our blood! Red Guard 2: Yeah, stick them on our bayonets! Red Gurards: Kill them! Kill them! Antonov-Ovseenko: Comrades, keep calm. I'll permit no violence. Remember, Russia is now in your hands. AFTERWORD The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, seized control of the government. On July 17, 1918, they herded the Czar and his family into a cellar and killed them. The victorious Bolsheviks did fulfill one promise to the Russian people: They pulled Russia out of World War I. But they proved even more controlling than the Czar. In 1918, the Bolsheviks renamed themselves the Russian Communist Party. In the name of the Russian people, the Communist Party seized all factories and farms. By centralizing the economy, the Communists sought to distribute resources equally among all Russians. Despite this ideal, the Communist government became one of the most brutal regimes in history. It banned rival political parties, smothered smoth·er v. smoth·ered, smoth·er·ing, smoth·ers v.tr. 1. a. To suffocate (another). b. To deprive (a fire) of the oxygen necessary for combustion. 2. dissent, and, under dictator Joseph Stalin, murdered millions of people. In 1922, Russia and its conquered territories became the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Rus. Soyuz Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik, former republic. It was established in 1922 and dissolved in 1991. (U.S.S.R.), or the Soviet Union. The growth of the U.S.S.R., its Cold War with the West, and the spread and decline of Communism, would all come from the seeds of the Russian Revolution. Your Turn WORD MATCH 1. czar 2. autocracy 3. cronies 4. abdicate 5. tottering A. unstable B. pals C. emperor D. absolute rule by one person E. give up power THINK ABOUT IT How might the Russian Revolution have been prevented? EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION www.spartacus.schoolnet.co. uk/Russian-Revolution.htm World History Play Word Match 1. C 2. D 3. B 4. E 5. A RELATED ARTICLE: CHARACTERS Narrators A-D A-D Advance-Decline, or measurement of the number of issues trading above their previous closing prices less the number trading below their previous closing prices over a particular period. Czar (ZAR ZAR In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the South African Rand. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. ) Nicholas II, ruler of Russia Czarina CZARINA. The title of the empress of Russia. Alxandra, his wife Alexei (ah-lek-SAY), their son Felix Yusupov (yoo-SOO-pof), Russian prince Dmitry (dah-MEE-tree) Pavlovich, Russian duke, relative of Nicholas II Alexander Guchkov, member of the Duma, Russia's parliament Vasily Shulgin, member of the Duma Alexander Kerensky, leader of the Russian Provisional Government The Russian Provisional Government was formed in Petrograd after the deterioration of the Russian Empire and the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. When the authority of the Tsar's government began disintegrating after the February Revolution of 1917, two rival institutions, Maria Bochkareva, leader of the Women's Death Battalion Vladimir Lenin, Bolshevik leader Leon Trotsky, Bolshevik Lev Kamenev, Bolshevik Vladimir Antonov-Ovseenko, Bolshevik * Baker * Woman 1 * Woman 2 * women in crowd * Red Guard 1 * Red Guard 2 * Red Guards Names in red are leading roles. * Starred characters are fictitious. |
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