Russia II The Russian Revolution A New Era in the USSR

Background Russia loses a war to Japan in 1905 World War I begins in 1914 Unprepared militarily and technologically No competent military leaders Industry incapable of producing the weapons needed 2 million Russians killed between 1914 and 1916

Beginnings of Upheaval Czar Nicholas II proves an incapable leader Poor military commander Absent from St. Petersburg Economic disasters Grigory Rasputin, a monk gained the confidence of the czar’s wife Alexandra Rasputin was able to help the czar’s son, Alexis with his hemophilia (difficulty clotting blood) Alexandra frequently consulted Rasputin Rasputin is murdered by the czar’s family in 1916

The March Revolution Strikes erupt in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) The czar orders soldiers to stop the strikes and protests Shoot them if necessary Soldiers refuse and many join the protest Duma: legislative body of Russia Establishes a provisional government Asks the czar to step down Czar Nicholas II abdicates on March 14, 1917

Provisional Government Alesandr Kerensky becomes the head of the government Chose to continue fighting the war Soviets Councils composed of workers, soldiers, and peasants Made up of socialists Formed army units Bolsheviks Soviet political party dedicated to violent revolution Led by Vladimir Lenin

Lenin and the Bolsheviks Lenin works to overthrow the Provisional Government Promised an end to the war Promised to redistribute land to the peasants Transfer factories and industries from capitalists to committees of workers Transfer power to the soviets November 6, 1917: Bolshevik forces seize power Renamed themselves the Communists Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Ended Russia’s part in World War I Gave up eastern Poland, Ukraine, Finland, and the Baltic provinces to Germany Winter Palace

Civil War Red ArmyWhite Army Communist government Leon Trotsky Commissar of War Led a well-disciplined fighting force Inspired by their vision of a new socialist order War Communism Ensured regular supplies for the army Cheka Secret police who destroyed all opposition Russian patriotism rallied against all opposing forces (many foreign) Anti-Communist forces Anti Leninist socialists who wanted a constitutional monarchy Allies from WWI Japanese British French American Many supported the return of the czar

The Czar and his family The czar and is five children had been held as prisoners In April 1918, they were moved to Yekaterinburg for “protection” On July 16 th, members of the local soviet murdered the czar and his family Their bodies were burned and thrown into a nearby mineshaft

Communist regime Total control of Russia is held by the Communists Russia becomes a centralized state dominated by a single party Hostility begins toward the Allied Powers who had tried to defeat the Communists

A New Era in the USSR New Economic Policy (NEP) Peasants were allowed to sell their produce openly Retail stores and small industries could be privately owned and operated Heavy industry, banking, and mines were government controlled Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) In 1922 Russia is formally renamed

Industrialization Lenin dies in 1924 Politburo Communist party’s main policy-making body begins a struggle for power Rivalry begins between Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin Joseph Stalin 1929: Stalin establishes a dictatorship in the USSR Trotsky is forced to flee the USSR. He is eventually murdered in Mexico in 1940

Five-Year Plans Economic goals to transform Russia from an agricultural country to an industrial country Production of military equipment Heavy machines Oil production Steel production Costs of Industrialization Number of workers increased, but housing decreased Salaries were very low Limits where workers could move Propaganda stressed the need for sacrifice to create the new socialist state

Collectivization System in which private farms were eliminated The government owned all of the land, and the peasants worked it Peasants resisted by hoarding crops and killing livestock Cost: Widespread famine (10 million died) Anyone who resisted was sent into a forced labor camps in Siberia The Great Purge: Stalin removed any threats (real and perceived) to his power Old Bolsheviks, army officers, diplomats, union officials, intellectuals, and ordinary citizens Approximately 20 million killed during Stalin’s reign