Download Road to the USSR

Road to the USSR
Students will use the following reading to complete the timeline of events leading to the creation of the
USSR
War with Japan--In 1904, Russia went to war with Japan because the two were fighting over control
of Korea and Manchuria. The Russians believed that their massive size would make it easy for them to
defeat Japan. Not only was the war not easy for the Russians, the Japanese stunned the Russians by
defeating them. Not only was the pride of the Russians hurt, but the war caused Russia’s economic
troubles to become even larger.
A Peaceful March--As the crisis at home worsened, a young priest, Father Georgi Gapon, planned a
peaceful march of factory workers to the czar’s palace in St. Petersburg. There, the workers would
present a petition to Nicholas II, asking for better working conditions and some political freedoms.
Father Gapon and the marchers believed that if the czar heard their pleas, he would respond.
On a snowy Sunday afternoon in 1905, thousands of unarmed men, women, and children joined
Father Gapon. There carried banners bearing pictures of the czar and his wife. They sang the Czar’s
hymn, “God Save Thy People” and slowly moved forward.
As the group headed toward the palace, soldiers appeared. Father Gapon did not believe that
the guards would hurt the people, even after seeing their rifles. He signaled the marchers to move on.
Suddenly, shots rang out. By the days end, hundreds of people were dead and wounded. This day is
known as Bloody Sunday.
Revolution of 1905--The events of Bloody Sunday horrified Russians and sparked the Revolution of
1905. Riots and strikes swept the cities. In the countryside, peasants looted and burned the homes of
landowners.
To end the violence, Czar Nicholas II finally agreed to set up an elected assembly called the
Duma and to make other minor reforms. The Duma had little power, however, and the reforms failed
to resolve Russia’s basic problems. Since an autocratic ruler was in power, inequality and repression
remained. Many groups, such as the peasants and factory workers, were still very unhappy.
World War I--Between 1911 and 1913, a series of wars in the region known as the Balkans broke out.
Until 1914, these wars were contained to the region. But in 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand was
assassinated in Sarajevo by a Serbian man. This caused a domino effect of countries standing up for
one another and launched the world into World War I.
For Russia, the war was a disaster. The people at home were not as interested in the war as
they were with the problems at home. The men on the battlefields didn’t have enough equipment.
About one third of the soldiers didn’t even have guns. As Russia’s losses mounted, Czar Nicholas
took command of the army from the fronts. This didn’t help the army and allowed his wife and
Rasputin to take control of the government.
Riots broke out at home, as people lined the streets demanding bread and freedom. Nicholas
ordered that the army squash the protesters, but the army refused and Nicholas abdicates the throne.
The Duma becomes the new, provisional (temporary) government. The government signed a treaty
with Germany in 1918 to get out of World War I and work on their own problems at home.
After a civil war in Russia that lasts several years, the Bolshevik party comes out the winners.
They are led by Vladimir Lenin who renames the country the Union of Soviet Social Republic
(USSR).
Road to the USSR Timeline
Students will use their numbered events on the Road to the
USSR handout and their reading on the Road to the USSR to
complete the following timeline by putting the events in a
sequential order. Put the year at the top of the timeline and the
event at the bottom of the line.
Road to the USSR
Directions:
Using the following sources and clues in the reading, number the events in the correct
chronological order.
Farah, Global Insights. pp. 674-8.
Ahmad, World Cultures: A Global Mosaic. pp. 721-32.
Ludlow, Scholastic World Program: The Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. pp. 46-50.
World War I Begins - 1914. Russia, despite being poorly equipped and poorly trained,
enters the war against Germany.
A peaceful protest march, led by Father Georgi Gapon, is held to present a petition for
better working conditions and political freedoms.
Czar Nicholas II abdicates, or gives up the throne. The provisional government set up by
the Duma tries to restore order.
The Czar's soldiers fire upon the protesters killing over one hundred marchers. This
becomes known as Bloody Sunday.
Russo-Japanese War 1904. Russia's stunning defeat increases economic problems and
hardships at home.
Lenin seizes power, and the Communists gain control over the Russian empire. In 1922,
the country is renamed the Union of Soviet Socialists Republic (USSR).
Czar Nicholas II agrees to limited self-government by setting up an elected assembly called
the Duma.
The Russian economy cannot meet the needs of soldiers and civilians and pulls out of
World War I.
The Duma's power is limited, and discontent continues throughout Russia.
March 1917. One hundred thousand striking factory workers jam the streets of Petrograd
demanding bread and freedom. This is the day that marks the beginning of the Russian
Revolution.