Download Notes on Russian Revolution

The Russian Revolution
The Bolsheviks rose to power as a result of the czar’s poor
leadership.
 Russia fought alongside Britain and France in WWI for the
Allies. However, the war made things even worse in Russia.
The people turn against their ruler, Czar Nicholas II.
 Problems in Russia
 During the early 1900s, before WWI, many Russians
were discontent because they had to pay high taxes,
were mistreated, and had to work long hours in factories.
 Russia’s war with Japan (Russo-Japanese War) cost
Russia land and money and made matters worse. Food
prices went up, wages went down.
 An uprising in St. Petersburg led to many unarmed
civilians being killed. Czar Nicholas II agreed to some of
the demands of the people.
 A duma, or national assembly, was created, but it
had limited powers. This did not last long.
 The Czar is Overthrown
 Russia suffered higher casualties than any other country
in WWI. They suffered even more in Russia. There was
a lack of food, weapons, and supplies.
 The Russian people blamed the Czar and overthrew him.
 Duma created provisional (temporary) governments but
they eventually lost the support of the people.
 Vladimir Lenin
 People in Russia began to form soviets, or committees.
They were socialists who wanted workers to overthrow

capitalism and build a society in which all could share
equally in wealth.
 The Bolsheviks were one of these soviets. Their leader
was Vladimir Lenin. They vowed to take Russia out of the
war and give all land to the peasants.
 The Bolsheviks take over the government in Russia.
The Russian Civil War
 After Lenin took over, he signed a peace treaty with
Germany, which allowed Russia to withdraw from the war
if they gave up land that belonged to Russia.
 Lenin’s government became known as the Communists.
Many groups opposed them. The Communists were called
Reds. The people who opposed them were called Whites.
They wanted to defeat the Reds and get Russia back into
WWI. The Reds and Whites fought for 3 years, until the
Whites finally surrendered. Lenin and the Communists
ruled Russia.