Unit: The Russian Unit: The Russian RevolutionRevolution

Topic: Bolsheviks Take Topic: Bolsheviks Take Over!Over!

Long-Term Long-Term CausesCauses

•Czars oppress the people, don’t allow Czars oppress the people, don’t allow them to learn about the them to learn about the EnlightenmentEnlightenment

•Poor conditions for the RussiansPoor conditions for the Russians

•Socialism begins to circulate among Socialism begins to circulate among the new working class (working class the new working class (working class unites, overthrows factory owners)unites, overthrows factory owners)

•Revolution of 1905 – “Bloody Sunday”Revolution of 1905 – “Bloody Sunday”

•Creation of the Duma; Nicholas II Creation of the Duma; Nicholas II doesn’t really pay attention to itdoesn’t really pay attention to it

Short-Term Short-Term CausesCauses

• Failure of the Russian troops at the Failure of the Russian troops at the Eastern Front and WWI = massive fuel Eastern Front and WWI = massive fuel and food shortages in Russiaand food shortages in Russia

• March Revolution; soldiers refuse to March Revolution; soldiers refuse to fire upon fellow Russians stealing fire upon fellow Russians stealing bread = loss of control of military and bread = loss of control of military and Russia alikeRussia alike

• Czar abdicates to avoid anarchy, Czar abdicates to avoid anarchy, assassination – Duma takes over assassination – Duma takes over temporarily – Socialists create the temporarily – Socialists create the Bolshevik Party and Lenin now rules Bolshevik Party and Lenin now rules Russia!Russia!

1. Goodbye, 1. Goodbye, WWI!WWI!

AA. In November 1917, . In November 1917, Lenin and the Lenin and the Bolsheviks led an Bolsheviks led an uprising that uprising that overthrew the overthrew the DumaDuma and and Alexander Alexander KerenskyKerensky; this was ; this was called the called the Bolshevik Bolshevik Revolution!Revolution!

B. B. In March 1918, In March 1918, Russia signed Russia signed the the Treaty of Treaty of Brest-LitovskBrest-Litovsk, , ending WWI.ending WWI.

C. It gave C. It gave Germany a Germany a large amount large amount of Russian of Russian land, but Lenin land, but Lenin wanted to wanted to make peace at make peace at any cost.any cost.

2. Russia’s 2. Russia’s Civil WarCivil War

A.A. From 1918 From 1918 to 1921, to 1921, Lenin’s Lenin’s Red Red ArmyArmy battled battled the the White White Army Army (loyal (loyal to the Czar) to the Czar) for control of for control of Russia.Russia.

B.B.The Communist party took over banks, The Communist party took over banks, mines, factories, and RRs.mines, factories, and RRs.

C.C. Peasants Peasants were forced were forced to deliver to deliver “surplus” “surplus” food to the food to the cities and cities and work in work in factoriesfactories..

D. These D. These strategies strategies were called were called “war “war communism.communism.””

E. The Whites killed many Communists E. The Whites killed many Communists and tried to assassinate Lenin.and tried to assassinate Lenin.

F. The Reds abducted and executed Czar F. The Reds abducted and executed Czar Nicholas II and his entire family, ending the Nicholas II and his entire family, ending the civil war for good.civil war for good.

• The Romanovs The Romanovs were canonized were canonized on August 20, on August 20, 2000 as saints 2000 as saints in the Russian in the Russian Orthodox faith, Orthodox faith, as victims of as victims of oppression in oppression in the Soviet the Soviet Union. Union.

•This is the This is the "Church on "Church on the Blood," the Blood," built on the built on the spot where spot where the royal the royal family was family was murdered.murdered.

G. By 1922, G. By 1922, Lenin and the Lenin and the Communists Communists had created had created the the Union of Union of Soviet Soviet Socialist Socialist Republics Republics (Soviet (Soviet Union), Union), and and the the Communist Communist Party was the Party was the ONLYONLY political political party.party.