Download 1 Imperialism and the Great War III Imperialism and the Great War III

Imperialism and the Great War III
The Russian Revolution
By 1917, the impact of the Great War had been cruel to the Russian Empire. Russia was faced with food and fuel
shortages, war casualties were high and kept occurring, and inflation was mounting. In Russia, strikes increased among
low-paid factory workers, and the peasants, who wanted land reforms, were restless and ready for change; ready for a
revolution
THE LAST CZAR OF RUSSIA
Nicholas II (1894-1917) – the czar (emperor) of the Russia Empire who ruled Russia for a quarter of a century
under his leadership, Russia suffered a humiliating defeat against the Japanese in the Russo-Japanese
War
unlike most of Europe’s powerful nations, Russia had remained resistant in adopting many of the
Enlightened ideals of freedom and voting rights leading to unrest among the people of Russia
while beloved at the beginning of his reign, the addition of Rasputin and World War I severely damaged
his credibility and competence to rule the empire
Rasputin – a self-proclaimed holy man, he befriended and greatly influenced the royal family when he was
found to help heal the royal’s hemophilic son from his bleeding condition with supposed mystic powers
 he’s eventually killed by government officials
REVOLUTION: COMMUNISM TAKES HOLD
February Revolution (1917) – the first stage in the Russian Revolution centered around Petrograd (St. Petersburg)
revolution breaks out when women begin to riot due to food shortages, but were supported by workers
and soldiers  these rioters demanded a new provisional government and an end to the monarchy
Nicholas II attempted to suppress the riots by ordering his royal soldiers (Cossacks) to end the riots 
however, the soldiers do not put down the riots but joined in support of the new revolution with the
rioters
by March 2nd, the revolution had grown and Nicolas II abdicates his throne, the royal family is placed
under house arrest, and a provisional government is created
provisional government – government created during the Russian Revolution by the Russian legislature that attempts
the formation of a democratic republic like many other European nations
the provisional government wanted to continue the war for Russia’s honor and maintained the fighting
against the Germans on the Eastern Front
soviets “council” – first appeared in Petrograd consisting of workers and solders against the monarchy
very radical and represented the interest of the lower working class
Vladimir Lenin - was a Russian revolutionary and strong believer in socialism (a Marxist) who had been exiled
to Germany
like Karl Marx, Lenin believed capitalism could be destroyed only by violent socialist revolution
which was possible under the right conditions
with the help of the Germans, Lenin returns to Russia to help led a socialist revolution against
the provincial government with little success at first
For the next eight months the revolution splinters into two factions who attempted to led the revolution in their favor:
Bolsheviks – (the majority) followed Lenin’s idea of a socialist/communist government like the one mention by
Karl Marx in 1848
Mensheviks – (the minority) wanted to await the evolution of capitalism and the workers who sought a more
democratic government like the one proposed by the provisional government
Imperialism and the Great War III 2
THE BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION
October Revolution (Oct 6th, 1917) – Bolsheviks forces led by Lenin’s military leader, Leon Trotsky and his “Red
Army”, seizes the royal’s Winter Palace and overthrow and arrest the provisional government leaders  Russia
was now at the mercy of the revolutionaries
on Nov 7th., Lenin announces the establishment of a new government regime with himself in charge 
Communism requires a strong dictator to get the ball rolling
Lenin places Trotsky in charge of the army and takes Russia out of the war to help deal with Russia’s
economic problems
in the end the Bolsheviks change their name to Communists, yet not everyone is happy with the new
change as there were two factions attempting to change Russia and the other side isn’t happy and willing
to fight for their cause
Russian Civil War – war breaks out between Communist supporters of the new government and those who oppose it
wanting a more democratic government
the civil war drags on for a couple of years between the two armies of the opposing sides
Red Army – a well-organized army led by Leon Trotsky and the Bolsheviks who supported the new government
White Army – an unorganized, leaderless army who opposed the new government
still under house arrest, the royal family is moved to a small town controlled by the Red Army to await a
trial  most of the world still saw the royal family as the legitimate rulers of Russia and if they could be
captured, could rally more support for the White Army
July 16th, 1918 – fearful that the White Army may recapture the royal family the royal family are assassinated 
there was no going back, the revolution WOULD continue to change Russia
The Russian civil war continued for another five years ending with a victory for the Bolsheviks and the Red Army. Soon
the Bolsheviks expanded their communist revolution to neighboring countries surrounding itself with other communists
governments that came together in 1922 to form the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R. or Soviet Union).