Revolutionary Propaganda and the Peasant Movement of 1905: The Role of Illegal Printed Literature

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to examine the influence of illegal publications on the formation of peasant uprisings in 1905 and to clarify the mechanisms of dissemination of smuggled and locally produced texts in the rural environment. Particular attention is paid to the routes of transportation of literature, the specific features of underground printing, and the practical use of agitation recommendations in peasant protests. The methodology of the study is based on the principles of historicism and objectivity; the methods of analysis and synthesis, as well as historical-comparative and problem-chronological approaches, were applied. During the research, specific episodes related to the dissemination of illegal literature in border regions and at transportation hubs were selected. Based on these materials, a classification of the methods used to distribute printed materials was carried out, and the content of proclamations, leaflets, and brochures was analyzed. The obtained results were compared with descriptions of peasant uprisings found in investigative and police documents, which made it possible to trace a possible connection between agitational texts and practical forms of protest activity. Results.The study establishes that illegal printed publications became an important factor in shaping peasant uprisings in Right-Bank Ukraine. Archival materials demonstrate the large-scale transportation of foreign literature through the border districts of the Podillia and Volhynia provinces. Brochures and proclamations contained not only programmatic provisions but also specific instructions concerning strikes, boycotts, and confiscations, which contributed to the similarity of protest forms. Alongside foreign publications, local hectograph texts functioned actively, ensuring prompt agitation and adaptation of ideas to the conditions of particular communities. Foreign literature shaped strategic ideological guidelines, while local publications implemented them in practice. Conclusions. Illegal publications played a significant role in the formation of peasant uprisings in 1905. Foreign printed materials created the ideological foundation of protest, while local texts ensured rapid dissemination and practical clarification of models of collective action. Taken together, they became an important element of the information environment that influenced the character and dynamics of the peasant movement.