The Russian Revolution

The Problems of the Czar Events between show the Czar’s weakness: – Bloody Sunday (creation of the Duma) – Marxism’s popularity – World War I

Bloody Sunday 1905: 200,000 workers and their families approached the Czar’s palace to ask for better working conditions, more freedom, and a elected legislature. Up to 1,000 unarmed people were killed by the czar’s soldiers Czar sets up a parliament (called the Duma) but it is not truly democratic and it dissolves

Marxism’s Marxism’s Popularity Industrialization subjected workers to terrible conditions The Bolsheviks was a group committed to revolution; a man named Vladimir Lenin emerged as a major leader Lenin flees to Western Europe to escape arrest

Russia in WWI Meanwhile… Russia was losing 30,000 soldiers per month! Soldiers were rebelling and deserting Nicholas II was directing from the front and his wife Czarina Alexandra was left alone to maintain order – Which really meant that Rasputin was in control!

The March Revolution March 1917, women textile workers in Petrograd led a citywide strike – Nearly 200,000 workers protested – At first soldiers followed orders to shoot at protestors Later they joined the rebellion This local protest exploded into a general uprising Question #1: How do you imagine Nicholas II responded to this revolt?

The March Revolution Czar Nicholas II was forced to abdicate his throne – He stepped down from his position as leader – A year later he and his family were murdered The reign of the Romanov family finally ended after over 300 years

The Provisional Government Leaders of the Duma established a provisional (temporary) government Alexander Kerensky became the leader – He decided to keep Russia in WWI Question #2: What effect do you imagine the choice to keep fighting had on Kerensky’s popularity?

The Provisional Government Question 2 Answered: The decision to stay in WWI cost Kerensky the support of soldiers and civilians – Angry peasants demanded land – City workers grew more radical – Social revolutionaries formed Soviets

The Provisional Government Question 2 Answered: Soviets were local councils consisting of workers, peasants, and soldiers In many cities the Soviets had more power and influence than the provisional government

The Provisional Government Question 3: At this time Germany launched a “secret weapon” on the Russians. What do you imagine it was?

Lenin Returns! The Germans arranged for Lenin’s return to Russia – They believe that Lenin and his Bolshevik supporters would stir unrest in Russia and hurt the war effort – Lenin arrived in a sealed boxcar in April 1917

The Bolshevik Revolution Lenin and the Bolsheviks acted immediately upon his return – Seized control of the Petrograd Soviet – Soon took control of soviets in other major cities By the fall of 1917 people all over Russia were responding to Lenin’s cry of “Peace, Land and Bread”

The Bolshevik Revolution The Provisional Government topples – Bolshevik Red Guards (armed factory workers) took over government offices in Petrograd – They arrested the leaders of the Provisional Government

Question #4: If you were Lenin, what would your first acts have been, now that you were back in Russia? Bolsheviks in Power

The first actions of the Bolsheviks included… – All farmland was redistributed among the peasants – Control of factories was given to the workers – A truce was signed with Germany to end Russian involvement in WWI Question #5: What feelings did the Russian people have after leaving WWI?

Bolsheviks in Power Question #5: What feelings did the Russian people have after leaving WWI? – In the treaty they had to give up a large section of land to the Germans – Wide-spread anger against the Bolsheviks developed

Civil War Rages Bolshevik opponents formed the White Army Leon Trotsky lead the Bolsheviks Red Army Western nations aided the White Army

Devastating Results In the end the Red Army triumphed and crushed the opposition to the Bolsheviks 15 million Russians died – Fighting, hunger, flu epidemic Afterwards, Lenin and the Bolsheviks faced HUGE problems if they wanted to fix the country!