Download The Russian Revolution

The Russian Revolution
From Tsar Nicholas II to V.I.
Lenin
Tsar Nicholas II-1894
• Shy, quiet man
• absolute ruler,
naïve to
dissatisfaction
• Tsarina: Alexandra
• drive to
industrialize
brought problems
• Dissent NOT
tolerated
Many questioned the Tsar
• Russia politically
unstable
 Liberals wanted a
democratic gov’t
 Minorities wanted
independence
 Peasants wanted
land, workers - better
conditions
 Military lost RussoJapanese war in
1904
Bloody SundayJan. 22, 1905
• Father
Gapon
leads
peaceful
protest
Winter
Palace
• Tsar’s
guards
kill
hundreds
1905 Revolution
• News of Bloody
Sunday spreads
quickly
• Revolts and strikes
spread
• Widespread
spontaneous nature
of rebellion reflects
deep resentment and
frustration
October Manifesto- 1905
 Freedom of
conscience,
speech
assembly and
press
 Tsar creates
Duma
(Congress)
 All laws
approved by
Duma
 Reforms are
shortlived
Russia in WWI- 1914-17
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Russia honors alliancejoins Allies
Tsar Nicholas II takes
personal command of
army
Army suffers staggering
defeats
Discontent of soldiers,
peasants, workers
Rasputin’s infuence1914-1916
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Tsar’s son, Alexi
(heir)born with
hemophilia
Romanov’s heavily
influenced by “holy
man”
Created scandal for
the Tsar
Killed by Russian
nobles
“February Revolution”
Provisional Govt-March 1917
• Women’s march for
“bread and peace” turns
into revolt
 Petrograd Soviet leads
workers’ revolution
 Tsar Nicholas II
abdicates
 Duma forms the
Provisional Government
 Provisional Gov’t stays
in WWI- big mistake!
The Soviets-1917
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As early as 1905,
radicals
organized
workers,
peasants and
soldiers into
Soviets= councils
In the confusion
created by the
February
Revolution,
socialists
reconvene the
Soviets
Lenin’s New View of
Karl Marx
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Lenin adapted
Marxist ideas to
fit Russian
conditions
Named his
followers
Bolsheviks
Advocated
Revolution!
Lenin: “Peace, Land,
Bread!”- April 3, 1917
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Exiled in 1898 for
forming Russia’s first
Marxist party
Germany gives him
safe passage to
Russia
Bold speeches!
Down with the
provisional govt
Peace, land and
bread! All power to
the Soviets!
Bolshevik RevolutionOct 25,1917
 Red Guards= best
trained and organized
revolutionary forces
 Red Guards, under
Trotsky (Bolshevik),
overthrow Provisional
Government
 Lenin proclaims a
Bolshevik state!
Civil War in Russia1918-1921
 Lenin proclaims
Russia a socialist
state, nationalizes
all land
 Treaty of BrestLitovsk (peace with
Germany)
 Civil War between
“Reds” and “Whites”
(anti-communists)
eventually won by
Lenin and the
Bolsheviks
A Costly Triumph- 1921
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WWI: lost 1/4 population;
millions of casualties;
billions spent
Civil war: the loss of
millions to death, injury and
immigration and the
destruction of property
1921: wages 1/10 prewar
levels; inflation over 1000%
Western nations blockade
Russia
Lenin concerned new
socialist experiment would
fail
Lenin Builds a
Communist State-1921
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The Soviet Union
• Lenin creates “New
Economic Policy” NEP
 NEP helps jump start
economy with small
scale –capitalism
 Central govt kept control
of major industries
• Communist party
introduced measures to
bring about a classless
society.