World War I

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

The Russian Revolution occurred during the first World War.

Russian Revolution

Russian Revolution (Chapter 30)

Alexander III

Hated Russian reforms Supported absolute rule Used harsh measures to

control Used secret police Controlled schools Oppressed non-Russian

groups Persecuted Jews (pogroms)

Russian RevolutionNicholas II, son of Alexander II

Autocratic ruler like his father Ruled a nation lacking industrial power Used top official to bring about

changes

Hired Sergey Witte helped finance Russian industry

Higher taxes & foreign investments Russia became leader in steel

making Built the Trans-Siberian railroad

Russian Revolution – Revolutionary Movement

Rapid industrial growth caused discontent among workers. Working conditions Child labor Low pay

Trade unions were outlawed Workers had low standard of living & lacked political

voice

Working People Arise

Russian Revolution

Political GroupsBolsheviks wanted a few dedicated

revolutionaries willing to sacrifice everything for radical change

Mensheviks wanted broad based popular support for the revolution

Mensheviks

Bolsheviks

Russian Revolution

Bolsheviks Led by Vladimir Lenin Ruthless leader Fled to Europe to avoid arrest

by the czar Waited until the czar had been

overthrown to return to Russia

First ruler of Russia under communist control.

Russian RevolutionRusso-Japanese War Russia & Japan competed for power over Korea

and Manchuria Signed treaties broken by Russia Japan attacked Russia in retaliation for broken

treaties Japan defeated Russia

Russian RevolutionBloody Sunday

200,000 industrial workers went to the czar’s palace• Petitioned for

• Better working conditions• More personal freedom • Elected national legislature

• Between 500 – 1,000 were killed the palace guards.• Nicholas agreed to the Duma, (elected legislature) but dismissed them when they wanted a constitutional monarchy

Russian RevolutionRussia in World War INicholas allowed Russia to enter WW I

Germany had the superior army Russia lost 4 million men in one year 1915, Nicholas II moved to the war front Czarina Alexandra ran the country Ignored the czar’s advisors Took advise and council from Rasputin

Russian RevolutionRasputinGrigory Yefimovich Rasputin is has been described as one of the most scandalous figures in Russian history. A semi-literate peasant from Siberia, he arrived in St. Petersburg, the capital of Russia, and within a few years had become one of the most influential men in the Russian government.

• believed to have magical powers• seemed to help the czar’s son, Alexis who suffered from hemophilia• Alexandra allowed Rasputin to make key political decisions• spread corruption throughout the court• eventually killed by a group of Russian nobles

Russian RevolutionMarch Revolution

1917 – Russia’s war efforts and the state of the nation were in decline- women workers led a strike in Petrograd- riots over bread & fuel shortages- soldiers shot the rioters at first,

then joined them- soldiers killed their commanding officers

Russian RevolutionCzar Abdicates

Riots spread throughout Russia Czar Nicholas abdicated his throne Imprisoned by Bolsheviks Executed along with his family which gave rise to

the many theories concerning Anastasia, his daughter

Duma established a provisional government Soviets were formed by revolutionaries seeking

power Lenin returned to Russia from exile

Russian RevolutionBolshevik Revolution

• Bolsheviks stormed the winter palace and overpowered the provisional government

• Lenin took over• Ordered all farmland to be given to the peasants• Gave control of the factories to the workers• Signed a treaty (Brest –Litovsk) with Germany,

surrendered land to Germany & its allies• Many objected to the Bolsheviks & their policies• Civil war broke out

Russian RevolutionRussian Civil WarMany Russians opposed

the Bolsheviks = Civil War

Red Army = BolsheviksWhite Army = Menshiviks 15 million Russians dies in thethree year battle. America gave aid to the White Army. Red army won giving the Bolsheviks, (Lenin)

control of Russia.

Russian Revolution

From czarismto “freedom”.

Russian RevolutionLenin Restores Order

Revision of Government and Economy• New Economic Policy

• Abandoned the state-controlled economy idea• Est. a mini-capitalism economy where peasants

could sell surplus goods• Government controlled industry, banks,

communications• Individuals could control farms and small business

Russian RevolutionLenin’s Government Reforms• Organized self-governing republics under the

control of the central government. (USSR)• Bolsheviks took the name Communist Party.

* Communism – classless society* Created a constitution based on socialist and democratic principles.* In reality – communist party held all of the power

• The USSR slowly recovered by 1928 the farms and

• factories were back to pre-war production

Russian Revolution

Joseph Stalin

Lenin died in 1924.Lenin’s death began a struggle forpower.Leon Trotsky & Joseph Stalin fought for control of the party.

Joseph Stalin became ruler of Russia.