The Russian Revolution of 1917 Two revolutions rocked Russia.

1917 The Russian Czar Nicholas II was in trouble. More than one million Russians had died in World War I. Due to a food shortage, many Russian citizens were starving.

The March Revolution 1917 A strike of workers began a revolution in March. A new government seized power and promised to be democratic, but they decided to continue fighting the war against Germany. This decision drained more men, money, and food.

Vladimir Lenin An enemy of the Czar returned to Russia in April of 1917 from Switzerland where he was hiding from the Czar. He and his followers, the Bolsheviks started a second revolution. Lenin called for a classless society based on the Socialists teachings of the German Karl Marx.

The November 1917 Revolution Lenin and the Bolsheviks promised “Peace, Land and Bread”. He won control of the Russian Government in November 1917. He set up councils called “Soviets” to govern the nation. Lenin made peace with Germany. For the next three years Russia was unbalanced and full of civil wars.

Russian Citizens become Aware They had expected Democracy, but found that the Bolsheviks who were now called “Communists” ran the Soviets. A civil war erupted when rebel forces fought against Lenin’s “Red Army”. By 1921 the Communists had defeated the rebels.

March Revolution 1917 Goals: Overthrow the Czar Set up new Russian republic

The March Revolution 1917 Causes: Heavy loss of lives in World War I Food Shortages Military defeats Power-hungry Rulers Results: End of Czarist rule Beginnings of a Constitution Continued war with Germany

November Revolution 1917 Goals: Bolshevik overthrow of government Ideals of Karl Marx applied to Russia

November Revolution 1917 Causes: Continued loss of lives in World War I Continued food shortages Continued military defeats Return of Lenin Results Bolshevik-run soviets control government End of private ownership of land Peace with Germany Outbreak of Civil War

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Early 1918 Lenin signed this treaty with Germany. This ended Russia’s participation in World War I.

Rasputin Was an illiterate Siberian peasant, who falsely claimed he was a Monk. His powerful personality helped him gain the reputation as a healer. He was asked by the Czar’s wife Alexandra to cure her son who had hemophilia (An inherited disorder in which any injury can lead to uncontrollable bleeding.

Rasputin When doctors could not stop the son from bleeding, Rasputin was asked to help. Rasputin stopped the bleeding by using hypnosis. He was soon asked to move into the palace. He soon became too powerful, and the nobles decided to kill him.

December 29, 1916 Prince Felix Yussoupov who was a nephew of the Czar, lured Rasputin to his palace. The prince fed Rasputin cakes and wine that were laced with poison. Rasputin ate and drank all and showed no effect of the poison. The Prince became worried and grabbed a revolver and shot Rasputin.

Rasputin’s Death As the Prince and his assistants examined the body of Rasputin, he suddenly leaped up and grabbed the Prince. The Prince fled in terror. Rasputin then ran quickly across the snow covered courtyard toward the gate that led to the street. The assistants then shot Rasputin again and clubbed him until he was still.

Is Rasputin finally Dead? The assistants then dropped Rasputin’s body into the icy Neva River. Later when his body was found, doctor’s discovered that he had not died from bullets or poison or the clubbing, but from drowning.

Reaction of Rasputin’s Death The Russian people all showed up in the capital to rejoice the news of Rasputin’s death. The Czar’s wife was overcome with grief. She soon found a letter that Rasputin had written her.

Rasputin’s Letter “None of your children or relations will remain alive for more than two years. They will be killed by the Russian people.”

Three Years of Civil Unrest Time and again an uprising or rebel force would war against Lenin and his Red Army. Revolutionary forces would slaughter captured Communists and would try to assassinate Lenin. To Crush the revolutions, Lenin and the Communists would unleash a reign of terror.

The Cheka Was Lenin’s secret police. They would execute ordinary citizens if they were suspected or counterrevolution ideas or activities. The Czar his wife and all of their five children were shot to keep them from being a symbol for the counter revolution.

War Communism This was the Communists policy of taking over banks, mines, factories, and railroads. Peasants were forced to deliver “surplus” food to hungry people in the cities. Peasant laborers were drafted into the military or into factory work.

Leon Trotsky He assisted Lenin during the November Revolution of 1917. He turned the Red Army into an effective fighting force, which was under the close watch of Communist officials. His passionate speeches roused soldiers to fight. If a Army unit performed poorly, Trotsky would have every 10th man in the unit killed.

Leon Trotsky

1921 The Communists had defeated their foes. Although Lenin won, Russia was left in chaos. Millions of Russians had died since the beginning of World War I. Famine also killed millions of Russians. Lenin faced a huge job of rebuilding a nation and an economy in ruins.

1922 Lenin and the Communists controlled much of the old Russian empire. They called it the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.). The U.S.S.R. was made up of many republics or states. Russia was the largest republic and it controlled the others.

Lenin Soviet Leader 1917-1924 Chief Goal: To create a classless society with production in the hands of the people. Allows some private business, lets some peasants hold land. Standard of living rises for many workers and peasants.

January 1924 Thousands of Russians gather in Moscow’s Red Square, to come and view the body of Lenin, who had died a few days earlier. Lenin’s party debated as to what to do with the body. They decided to preserve the body and have it on permanent display. It would stay there for more than 65 years.

Lenin’s Body Displayed