The Russian Revolution

Czar Nicolas II Upheld autocracy in a changing Russia Arts and culture encouraged- Tolstoy, Tchaikovsky State Sponsored Industrialization Foreign Investment Encouraged Trans-Siberian Railroad Czar Nicolas II

Revolutionary Groups in Early 20th Century Russia Constitutional Democrats Social Revolutionaries Social Democrats Revolutionary Groups in Early 20th Century Russia

Constitutional Democrats Wanted a Constitutional Monarchy More interested in reform than revolution Constitutional Democrats

Social Revolutionaries Revolution must begin with the peasantry Rural Socialists Want overthrow of Czar Fair land distribution to peasantry Democratic Government Social Revolutionaries

Social Democrats Marxists Want fair distribution of wealth amongst workers Revolution must begin with the proletariat Divided into two factions – Bolsheviks, Mensheviks Social Democrats

Mensheviks Means “minority” in Russian Were majority of the Social Democrats Given name by Bolsheviks True Marxists Believed revolution could only happen after Russia had industrialized Mensheviks

Bolsheviks Means “majority” in Russian Were a minority in the Social Democrats Altered Marxism to fit current situation in Russia Believed the revolution could happen at once Only a tiny group of workers were needed to lead the revolution This small group would establish “The Dictatorship of the Proletariat” until the people could govern themselves Bolsheviks

Russo-Japanese War – Russia started by breaking agreements, but lost the war. Russo-Japanese War leads to the Revolution of 1905 Bloody Sunday- 22 Jan. 1905 Country wide strikes Czar approves minor reforms Duma is created, but dissolved within three months 1900-1914: A Series of Mistakes

World War I 1914 - (first year of war) 4 million Russians die 1915 – Nicolas II moves command headquarters to the front Leaves Czarina Alexandra in charge of government Alexandra is influenced by Rasputin World War I

World War I – 1916-1917 Food and fuel become scarce Inflation Army is primarily made up of draftees Distrust of Alexandra – German, Rasputin Strikes begin Feb. 1917 – bread riots begin Nicolas II abdicates World War I – 1916-1917

Provisional Government Led by Kerensky Soviets hold real power in most areas Provisional Government choses to continue war and loses more influence Lenin is returned to Russia with help of Germany Provisional Government

Red October Bolsheviks have little support at first As WWI gets worse, they gain support In October 1917, they overthrew the Russian Provisional Government in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) Power was given to the local Soviets Red October

Bolsheviks Take Petrograd Lenin orders Red Guards to take control of government office in Petrograd Little resistance is met and the takeover is almost bloodless Soon, Soviets in other cities are supporting the Bolsheviks Bolsheviks Take Petrograd

Gen. Kornilov forms an army to march on Petrograd to seize power back from Bolsheviks As he approaches Petrograd, his army defects and joins the revolution General Kornilov

Elections and Power Struggle Social Revolutionaries gain more seats in 2nd Congress of Soviets Disagreements between SR’s, Mensheviks Social Revolutionaries walk out of 2nd Congress of Soviets Bolsheviks take this opportunity to begin to seize power then dissolve the Congress Elections and Power Struggle

Russian Civil War