Social Democratic Leaflets of the Period of Upsurge of the First Russian Revolution in the Upper Volga Region: January – December 1905
| 29 April 2025
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Publication of archival documents
Ierusalimskiy Yu.Yu., Yaroslavl, Russian Federation
Social Democratic Leaflets of the Period of Upsurge of the First Russian Revolution in the Upper Volga Region: January – December 1905
Abstract
The article studies leaflets of the social democratic organizations in the Upper Volga region during the upsurge of the first Russian revolution. Chronological framework of the study is January - December 1905. Territorial framework includes Tver, Yaroslavl, Kostroma and Vladimir provinces. Source base of the study is published and unpublished sources: leaflets of social democratic organizations of the Upper Volga region. In the early 20th century the Upper Volga region was among the most developed in the central industrial district. On its territory there were large industrial and commercial cities, such as Tver, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Vladimir, Ivanovo-Voznesensk, and others. Economic centers became centers of political struggle. The first wave of strikes of the first Russian revolution swept over Russia in January - February 1905. In the Upper Volga region there operated then the Northern Committee of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDRP). Leaflets of the Upper Volga social democratic organizations printed at the time told of the workers’ plight, their half-starved existence, low wages, oppressive system of fines. They stated workers’ demands, mostly of economic nature as yet. Leaflets of the social democrats were to explain the workers’ objectives and tasks in the coming revolution. By July the Northern Committee was abolished and in its place there sprang up Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Vladimir and Ivanovo-Voznesensk social democratic organizations. They became local centers of revolutionary resistance. Bolshevik proclamations prevailing in the social democratic literature attacked the policies of the imperial government and its attempts to connect with liberal bourgeoisie and workers. Leaflets printed during the All-Russian political strike (October 1905) chronicled the struggle of the Upper Volga region workers. Bolsheviks denounced the October Manifesto to point out mendacity and hypocrisy of the tsar's promises. The RSDRP leaflets derided the autocratic policy and the activities of liberal and popular socialist parties, reported class struggles and assured that only social democrats spoke for the people.
Keywords
Archive, source, leaflets, Social Democrats, Bolsheviks, first Russian revolution of 1905—1907, Upper Volga region.
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About the authors
Ierusalimskiy Yuriy Yr'evich, PhD in History, professor, head of department at the P.G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russian Federation, 8-910-966-1000, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it