French Revolution Russian Revolution Causes Causes Spread of Enlightenment ideas of natural rights Huge government debt Poor harvests and famine Social inequalities among the three estates 3rd estate (bourgeoisie and peasants) paid all the taxes Absolute rule of Louis XVI National Assembly was declared as the true representative body of France Storming of the Bastille 90% of population was poor peasants Nicholas II’s poor leadership Russo-Japanese War Non-industrialized Bloody Sunday Revolutionary groups (Bolsheviks and Mensheviks) wanted change The creation of the Duma (legislative body) The signing of the October Manifesto (constitutional [limited] monarchy) World War I

French Revolution Russian Revolution Effects Effects March Revolution Nicholas II abdicates (gives up his throne) Provisional Government takes over headed by Alexander Kerensky Provisional Government fails because it does not end World War I Lenin gains followers by promoting “Peace, Land, Bread.” Bolshevik Revolution Lenin takes over the new government becoming the first communist country in history The Russian Civil War begins between the Reds vs. Whites Nicholas II and his entire family is executed Lenin creates the NEP (New Economic Policy) to restore the Soviet economy Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen adopted Execution of Louis XVI Reign of Terror begins Robespierre controls the Committee of Public Safety The Directory (rule of 5 men) take over Napoleon gains power Napoleonic Code established (using Enlightenment ideas) French conquests spark nationalism