The Russian Revolution Two revolutions occurred in 1917 The 1 st in March was unplanned where angry mobs protested “Bread & Peace!” A week after riots ended, Nicholas II abdicated A Provisional Government set up by the Duma – introduced reforms but was powerless & lost support when continued to fight in WWI

The Russian Revolution Socialist revolutionaries set up own organizations to challenge Provisional Government Called soviets – councils made up of workers, soldiers, & peasants Bolshevik party was active in organizing soviets

The Russian Revolution Bolsheviks called for socialist revolution and were led by Vladimir I. Lenin Bolsheviks won support among soldiers & workers w/slogan calling for “Land! Peace! Bread!” Prov. Gov. called for Lenin’s arrest

The Russian Revolution Early Nov. – 2 nd Revolution, A.K.A. Bolshevik Revolution, occurred Bolsheviks captured gov’t bldgs & arrested mbrs. of Prov. Gov’t Lenin told peasants they could keep land they seized after March Rev. & took Russia out of WWI by signing Treaty of Brest-Litovsk w/Germany in March 1918

Vladimir Lenin Read the works of Karl Marx & adapted his ideas for Russia Once Bolsheviks in power, took steps to eliminate all other political parties Set up the Cheka, secret police force

Russian Civil War – Red Army (communists organized by Leon Trotsky ) vs. White Army (opposition grps. made up of capitalists & royalists & supported by Britain, France, and U.S.) Red Army won by ruthlessly taking anything they needed

Russian Civil War 1922 – Communists had taken control over most of the old Russian Empire Reorganized Russia into a union of 4 republics and re-named country the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or the Soviet Union The Russian Soviet dominated union USSR grew to include 15 republics, made up of more than 100 minorities

Russian Civil War 7 million died in civil war Crops, factories, & homes destroyed USSR on verge of economic collapse Lenin announced New Economic Policy (NEP) : gov’t stopped seizing grain from peasants & allowed them to sell surplus but continued to control heavy industry allowing just a few private businesses to operate

Joseph Stalin Took over when Lenin died in 1924 after struggle with Trotsky (who was later murdered by agents) Name means “steel” Set up brutal totalitarian state

Joseph Stalin Scrapped NEP & introduced 5-yr. Plans Communists believed socialism was important step to reaching communism Set ambitious goals for developing Soviet industry & increasing food production

Joseph Stalin Emphasized heavy industry (steel, coal, oil) over consumer goods Factories operated by forced labor & many people worked to their deaths Workers who didn’t meet quota were severely punished

Joseph Stalin Prison & slave-labor camps in Siberia Propaganda everywhere Collectivization of farms to increase food production Families would work together

Joseph Stalin But in reality, was disaster- peasants resisted new system, destroyed livestock & crops Stalin responded with violence – peasants shot Kulaks (prosperous peasants) sent to labor camps 5-10 million died as result

Communist System of Gov Supreme Soviet – elected legislature All citizens expected to vote for members but there was only 1 party In theory, Supreme Soviet made laws but in reality, the Communist Party ran the country Supreme Soviet met only 1x or 2x a year & only to approve decisions made by Communist Party

Communist System of Gov Communist Party operated at every level Controlled factories, schools, & farms Central Committee was head of party It elected a Politburo, small executive body, whose head was the general secretary (most powerful person in country) Totalitarian – all aspects controlled

Communist System of Gov Propaganda & terror used to convince people to support gov’t goals Mid-1930’s – “GREAT PURGE” – all those considered enemies of Stalin were charged with treason & executed or imprisoned (thousands disappeared) Many believe Stalin killed more than Hitler ever did in WWII

World War II Hitler signed non-aggression pact with Stalin in 1939 – Hitler free to fight Britain & France and Stalin free to expand territory Each invaded Poland & split it in 1939 & Stalin took the Baltic nations June 1941 – Hitler turned on Stalin & invaded Soviet Union

World War II German siege of Leningrad (formerly St. Petersburg) for 900 days – 1 million Russians died Soviets finally stopped German advance in Stalingrad & pushed Germans back to Eastern Europe, taking over E. Europe More than 20 million Russians died in WWII Stalin set up friendly communist gov’ts in E. Europe to prevent Germany from ever invading again