russian revolutions cp 2012
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Russian Revolutions
Important People of the Russian Revolutions
Tsar Nicholas and Family
Nicholas only has one son – Alexei, who has a bleeding disorder (hemophilia).
Alexei
Alexei
Alexei is the only heir to the throne and the last male of the Romanov dynasty.
Alexandra (wife of Nicholas)
Alexandra is hated by most Russians for being German and out of touch with reality.
Rasputin
Said he was a monk and had “magical” healing powers.Claimed he could cure Alexei’s hemophilia.
Alexander Kerensky
Becomes leader of the Provisional Government (temporary government) after the first revolution.
Not a strong leader, and has many enemies and rivals.
Soviets
Soviets were groups of workers from local towns who united to rule over themselves and had more power than the provisional government (similar to a city council).
Karl Marx
Came up with the idea of communism (an economic system in which there is no private property and the government regulates every part of the economy).
He was the inspiration for Vladimir Lenin and the Bolshevik Revolution.
Vladimir Lenin
Leader of the Bolshevik Revolution and the communist party.
Leon Trotsky
Believer in the ideas of Karl Marx, close friend and supporter of Lenin, assisted in the Bolshevik Revolution.
Josef Stalin
Comes to power after Lenin by eliminating his enemies. Turns Russia into a totalitarian state.
Act 1 – Events Leading Up to the Revolution
How Russian Peasants Feel
World War I
In 1914 Nicholas II decided to get Russia involved in World War I. Russia was not strong enough to compete with the industrialized countries.
In 1915 Nicholas went to the Eastern Front and leaves Alexandra in charge.
Rasputin Rasputin claims he can
cure Alexei’s hemophilia.
Alexandra lets him live in the palace with the royal family and make important government decisions in exchange for him “helping” Alexei.
1. Who does he represent?
2. Who do they represent?
3. What is the message the artist is trying to send to the viewer?
Rasputin’s Influence Rasputin opposed
reforms and wanted to maintain a strict autocracy and Alexandra listened to him.
This was not good for Russia and the government advisers were not happy.
In 1916 a group of nobles at court murdered Rasputin.
Russia’s Suffering
Since Russia was not prepared to fight industrialized nations many soldiers were dying and they could not keep up with supplies.
Food and supplies were running out and prices were increasing.
To the Russian people it seemed like the government was doing nothing to solve these problems.
Russian men going off to fight in the war, and children dying from starvation. Alexandra and Rasputin live it up in the Winter Palace.
Act 2 – March Revolution
March Revolution
In 1917 women workers led a strike in Petrograd.
People rapidly joined in the strike protesting the lack of bread and fuel.
Soldiers were ordered to shoot the rioters, but the soldiers joined them.
Nicholas II Steps Down
Nicholas II is forced to step down from the throne.
Alexander Kerensky and the Duma (Russian parliament) take over the government and form the Provisional Government.
Provisional Government Kerensky decided to
stay in World War I which lost him a lot of support.
Soviets (local councils consisting of workers, peasants and soldiers) formed, and begin to gain more power than the Provisional Government.
Petrograd Soviet
Get us out of the war!
We don’t like Kerensky!
Lenin Returns to Russia Lenin, the
communist leader, had been chased out of Russia by Nicholas.
He now returns and begins gathering supporters to takeover the government and make Russia communist.
Act 3 – Bolshevik Revolution
Bolsheviks Gain Strength The Bolshevik party
had two messages, “Peace, Land, and Bread,” and “All power to the Soviets!”
Lenin saw that the provisional government was weak, and saw his opportunity to take action.
Goodbye Provisional Government
In November 1917 with no warning a group of Bolsheviks stormed the Winter Palace.
They took over the government offices and arrested leaders of the provisional government.
The Bolsheviks were in power.
Bolsheviks Have Power Lenin ordered that
all farmland be divided up amongst peasants and that workers take control of the factories.
He signed a truce with the Germans (Treaty of Brest-Litovsk) in March 1918. The treaty got them out of the war, but it also meant a large loss of land.
New Economic Policy
After the war the economy was a disaster. In March 1921 Lenin began the New
Economic Policy (NEP). He allowed peasants to sell excess crops
for profit instead of turning them over to the government.
Individuals were allowed to buy and sell goods for profit.
This went against the ideas of communism, but helped get the economy back on track.
Act 4 - Totalitarianism
Lenin’s Death
In 1924 Lenin dies.
A power struggle between several top members of the party begins to become the next leader of the Soviet Union.
Candidate 1 - Trotsky
Leon Trotsky thought he would become the leader after Lenin.
He had been a long time friend of Lenin’s and played a major role in the Bolshevik Revolution.
Trotsky believed the Soviet Union’s focus should be spreading revolution to other countries.
Candidate 2 - Stalin
Josef Stalin had joined the Bolsheviks later, and did not play a major role in the revolution.
Stalin rose through the ranks of the party quickly because of his hard work and dedication.
Stalin thought the focus of government should be on strengthening the Soviet Union’s economy and government.
Lets Vote!
Text your vote t0 37607
To vote for Stalin text 109256
To vote for Trotsky text 109258
Stalin Wins!
Through eliminating anyone he believed was the enemy or who stood in the way of him coming to power Stalin became the next leader of the Soviet Union.
Stalin made major changes to the Soviet Union.
Totalitarianism
Totalitarianism is when the government takes total control over every aspect of public and private life.
Stalin said it was worth giving up freedom to be protected by the government.
Censorship and Propaganda
To get the people on board with his new ideas Stalin used censorship (limiting information people receive) and propaganda (one sided information designed to persuade people).
Stalin created new curriculum to be taught in schools to make people loyal to him.
Economic Changes
Stalin created a command economy – meaning the government controlled the economy and made all the economic decisions for the country.
Stalin’s goal was to modernize industry and agriculture.
“Lets accomplish a plan of great deeds” – Five-Year
Plan propaganda
Agricultural Revolution – Collective Farms
Stalin combined the land into large government owned farms known as collective farms.
Many families would work together on this land owned by the government and produce food for the state.
Agricultural Revolution – Eliminating Kulaks
Peasant and kulaks (wealthy land-owning peasants) were unhappy about this.
Many of them killed their own livestock rather than turning them over to the government.
Eventually 90% of peasants lived and worked on collective farms and there was an increase in production.
“We will keep the kulaks from the collective farms”
Life Under Stalin
School children were indoctrinated with Stalin’s philosophies and beliefs from an early age.
Stalin increased access to education and training programs.
Women were treated as equals under the communist regime and had the same access to education and jobs as men.
Everyone was expected to participate in the economy and help the state. The collective (group) was valued over the individual.