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Wikipedia - WWI

Russian czar resist change Russia like a firecracker with a long fuse. Explosion happened in 1917 but fuse had been burning for 100 years with oppressive czars. Alexander III clung to autocracy, gov’t where he has total power. Anyone who questioned the absolute authority of the czar, worshiped outside the Russian Orthodox Church, or spoke any other language than Russian was labeled dangerous. To wipe out revolutionaries Alexander III used harsh measures. Russian czar resist change

Imposed strict censorship on published materials and private letters Secret police carefully watched secondary schools and universities Teachers required to send detailed reports on every student Political prisoners sent to Siberia. TPS What behavior do you think would result in arrest as a political prisoner and why? Questioning czar, practicing a foreign religion, not speaking Russian National groups within Russia were oppressed, Pogroms broke out all over. What are Pogroms?? Check LL Nicholas II became czar, continued tradition

Russia Industrializes Russia doubled factories between 1863-1900 to become 4th leading steel producer in the world. With the help of British/French investors, began the longest continuous rail line in the world. Trans-Siberian Railway. Took 25 years to complete (1891-1961). Connected European Russia with Pacific Ocean. Industrialization lead to unrest why? TPS Low wages, child labor, bad working conditions led to strikes. Revolutionary movements also begin in Russia. Russia Industrializes

Group that followed the views of Karl Marx believed the industrial class would overthrow the czar. The workers then would form “a dictatorship of the proletariat” the proletariat – the workers , would rule the country. Russian Marxists split into two groups the Mensheviks (moderates) and Bolsheviks (willing to do anything for change). “Lenin” took control of Bolsheviks. Engaging personality/excellent organizer but ruthless. Fled to Western Europe until he could safely return.

Crisis Series of events from 1904 – 1917 showed czar’s weakness Russo-Japanese War – Russia/Japan competed over Korea and Manchuria. Two nations signed agreements with Russia broke. Russia had many losses in subsequent war which led to revolts. Bloody Sunday: Revolution of 1905 – 200,00 protested at czar’s winter palace in St. Petersburg. Carried petition wanting better working conditions, personal freedom and national legislature. Soldiers opened fire 1,000+ wounded, hundreds killed Result was revolt for 9 months, Nicholas finally created first Duma – parliament but dissolved it 10 weeks later. WWI – Fully unprepared to handle the military and economic cost of war. During war Nicholas moved to warfront and his wife Czarina Alexandra ran the govt. Allowed a self-described holy man Rasputin to run gov’t as a gift for easing son’s symptoms with his life-threating disease. Eventually murdered by nobles. Crisis

March revolutions of 1917 led to execution and fall of czar Nicholas and family. Duma set up a provisional government – temporary gov’t. Which led to further revolutions Socialist revolutionaries, competing for power, formed soviets – local councils consisting of workers, peasants, and soldiers. Many cities soviets had more influence than the provisional gov’t. Germans believing arrival of Lenin in Russia would hurt the Russian war effort, arranged to return him after years of exile. April 1917 reached Russia in a sealed railway boxcar.

Partner read P. 870 Bolshevik Revolution - Finish Why was Lenin’s NEP a surprising step, considering Russia’s history? How did Lenin’s Communist Party stray from Marx’s original concept of communism? Why did Stalin force Trotsky into exile? What was Lenin’s main concern about Stalin?