The Russian Revolution

WWI Sets the Scene for Discontent

By 1917 the Russian army is nearly broken

They are out of supplies and morale is low

End of the Czar The monarchy (Czar Nicholas II and

Alexandra) were unpopular because they were viewed politically incompetent

Food and fuel shortages led to strikes and rebellion

With no way to crush the riots, the czar abdicated

The Romanov Family

The New Government Provisional Gov’t temporary central

gov’t A rival for power in this new gov’t soon

came about There was a call for immediate peace,

transfer of land to peasants and control of factories by workers

This 3 pt. plan gained popularity, but dealing with the war meant that it could not be carried out

Lenin

Lenin (cont’d)

Leader of the Bolshevik revolutionary group

He wanted to take the provisional gov’t out of power and would introduce a socialist gov’t by force

The Man Behind the Legend…

Came from middle-class background His brother was killed for his work in an

assassination plot and this affected Lenin greatly

He tried to promote revolution and was exiled to Siberia

When released, traveled Europe where he wrote and kept an eye on events in Russia

Time for Action

After March 1917 revolution, he knew it was time to seize power from provisional gov’t

Promised “Peace, Land and Bread” and to provide one, stable gov’t for Russia

Bolshevik Revolution

The Bolshevik Revolution Nov 1917: Bolshevik coup: claim

absolute power A bloodless revolution They take over the gov’t and lay the

foundation for a socialist state Adopt political viewpoint: communism Based on Marx and Lenin

Civil War

Lenin wants peace w/ Germany Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (Mar 1918)

Withdraw from WWI Lost lots of territory, population

Reds vs. Whites War b/t communists & their political

opponents Reds = communists Whites = royalists, liberal democrats,

moderate socialists Red Army under Leon Trotsky Whites want to re-enter WWI receive aid from the Allies & U.S.

Increases communist distrust of the West

The Terror Communists take direct control of

industries; force peasants to send food to the cities

Imprison czar The Cheka: arrest anyone considered an

“enemy of the revolution” Restrictions on Russian Orthodox Church

Reds win war by 1921