Russia: War and Revolution 1914-1920

Czar Nicholas II (1894) Last Czar of Russia Nicholas II was a harsh and weak ruler The Russian economy was bankrupt because of the Russo-Japanese War and WWI Russia’s entry into WWI became very unpopular.

The 1905 Revolution War with Japan Results Background Tsar becomes more unpopular Russia is humiliated Government seen to be weak and incompetent Conditions for the people get worse price rises, food shortages and unemployment In 1904-1905 Russia and Japan fought for control of Korea and Manchuria The Tsar expected a quick victory Russia suffered defeats on land and sea. Japan destroyed the Russian Navy War with Japan

The 1905 Revolution Bloody Sunday Events Results Jan. 1905, 200,00 unarmed workers march to the Winter Palace Demands - Better living and working conditions - end to war - a parliament Soldiers fire on crowd killing 500 Tsar undermined in the eyes of the people Support grows for revolutionaries set off a wave of riots, strikes and murders

Bloody Sunday (1905)

Results of 1905 Revolution The October Manifesto - promise of freedom of speech, right to form political parties Establish a Duma No new laws without consent of the Duma Broken Promises Voting system was unfair rich had more influence than the poor Duma had little influence over the Tsar and new laws First two Dumas were dismissed for demanding reforms Further changes introduced to exclude socialist

Russia Weakens as WWI Gains Momentum The outbreak of war in 1914 fueled national pride and united Russians. WWI severely strained Russian resources after the Ottoman Empire entered the war on the side of the Central Powers WWI exemplified Russian military and economic weakness: Insufficient food Improper armaments Inadequate roads to supply army Supplies from Ottoman Empire were sharply cut.

Czar Nicholas II and Family

Tsar to the Rescue? Nicholas II went to battle to take charge of the Russian military much to the dismay of the his generals. Domestic affairs further crumbled in the hands of Tsarina Alexandria who relied on the advice of an illiterate peasant, Gregory Rasputin.

Rasputin

Causes of the 1917 Revolutions

When? 1917

Why?

1. Defeated in Russo-Japanese War in 1905

2. Peasants without land were angry

3. Tsar Nicholas II - Refused to make changes

4. WWI defeats and casualties

5. People freezing and starving

March Revolution Ends Tsarism After the Revolution of 1905, Nicholas had failed to solve Russia’s basic political, economic, and social problems. The elected Duma set up after the revolution and had no real power. Moderates pressed for a constitution and social change, but Nicholas blocked attempts to limit his authority. A corrupt bureaucracy and overburdened court system added to the governments problems.

Russia Begins to Crumble By 1917 , disasters on the battlefield combined with fuel and food shortages on the home front brought the monarchy to collapse. On the advice of military and political leaders the tsar abdicated.

Provisional Government Established Led by Alexander Kerensky. Continued war effort and failed to deal with land reform. July 1917 launched the Kerensky offensive against Germany.

Radical Plots Revolutionaries hatched plans to lead discontented peasants to overthrow the tsarist regime. Marxists attempted to ignite revolution among the proletariat-the growing class of factory and railroad workers, miners, and urban wage earners.

Bolsheviks Mensheviks Called for an elite group to lead the revolution and set up a “dictatorship of the proletariat.” “Peace, bread, and land” Slogan appealed to the war-weary and hungry Russian people. The Government Socialism could be achieved through gradual and moderate reforms. higher wages, increased suffrage social welfare programs.

November Revolution Brings Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks to Power Revolutionary Socialist, influenced by the works of Karl Marx. November 7,1917 the Bolsheviks overthrew the provisional government and took control of Russia. 1918 the Bolsheviks rename themselves the Communist Party. Withdraws Russia from WWI to focus on troubles at home. Treaty of Brest-Litovsk giving a huge chunk of land and population to Germany in exchange for peace.

Gregory Rasputin Russian mystic trusted by the Tsarina. Supposedly cured Tsarevich Alexi of hemophilia attacks. Survived one assassination attempt. Almost survived a second attempt, in which he was reportedly poisoned shot, and left for dead shot again when he revived beaten, and drowned.

Romanov Dynasty Second and last imperial dynasty of Russia (1613-1917). Went into hiding in Alexander Palace after Nicholas’ abdication from the throne. July 16, 1918: Nicholas, Alexandria and their children took a family portrait. Bolshevik authorities shot Nicholas and his immediate family.

Russia Plunges into Civil War: “Reds” v. “Whites” Communists. Nationalistic. Cheka: secret police. Executed those suspected of taking action against the revolution. War Communism policy: took over banks, mines, factories, railroads, peasants drafted into military. Crops taken to feed army and the hungry in the cities. Counterrevolutionaries. Allied powers entered the war hoping to help overthrow the communists and support the fight against Germany. Britain France United States Allied presence provided little help. Incited distrust.

Building the Communist Soviet Union In 1922, Lenin’s communist government united much of the old Russian empire into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR), or Soviet Union. Adopted the New Economic Policy (NEP). The NEP allowed some capitalistic ventures but, the state kept control of banks, foreign trade, and large industries. Small businesses were allowed to reopen for private profit. Peasants held on to small plots of land and freely sold surplus crops for profit. While the standard of living improved and production levels returned to prewar levels, Lenin saw the NEP as a “temporary” retreat from communism.

Joseph Stalin into Power Exiled Trotsky and had him murdered in Mexico Under Stalin’s totalitarian rule, the Soviet Union grew to become one of the worlds super power.