Russian Revolution

Czar Nicholas Romanov II Weak ruler of Russia Weak rule after loss of Russo-Japanese war, Bloody Sunday and Revolution of 1905 Forced to abdicate after February Family was captured and eventually executed

Grigory Rasputin Born a Peasant 1906 acted as a healer for Romanov family Power peaked in 1916 when Nicholas left for the front lines Assassinated Dec. 1916 Rasputin

V.I. Lenin Leader of the Bolsheviks Leader of Soviet Russian Government 1917-1924 Russia became a one-party communist state Signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk After multiple strokes, went into a coma and died

Joseph Stalin - Governed the Soviet Union from mid-1920s-1953 - with death of Lenin he formed a triumvirate against Leon Trotsky - Known for his collectives, the Great Purge and his Five Year Plans

Bloody Sunday Began the overthrow and the revolution Jan. 1905 Unarmed protesters marched on the palace Imperial guards feared an invasion and fired upon the crowd Only made Russia’s problem worse

Revolution of 1905 Triggered by Bloody Sunday Forced Nicholas II to transform the government from autocracy to constitutional monarchy Results: Created a weak Duma Created the October Manifesto Created constitution of 1906

February Revolution Technically began March 8, 1917 Russia still used Julian Calendar Riots and strikes over scarcity of food began in Petrograd (St. Petersburg today) Demonstrators were fired upon and still more took to the streets Mid-March Nicholas II abdicated his throne

October Revolution Also known as Red October or the Bolshevik Revolution Led by the Bolsheviks Took over government buildings and then the Winter Palace (seat of Provisional government) Civil war would continue until 1922 Bolsheviks would come to rule the Soviet Union

Soviet Union under Stalin

Five Year Plans Plan was to strengthen communism and modernization of the economy Stalin wanted to return Soviet Union to totalitarian state Factories and mines had production goals Lead to increases in industrial output Oil production doubled Demands were high on workers All children were required to attend state run schools

Collectivization and Famine Gulags Collected small farms, made into large farms (collectives) and redistributed Made many farmers unhappy and was unfair Gulags Stalin executed thousands and sent even more to labor camps Resistance continued During 1932 famine, stalin refused to send food or aid Millions starved to death

Great Purge Stalin held absolute power but feared people plotting against him 1934 he called for the Great Purge Anybody that could think for themselves were executed or sent to the Gulag Purges increased his power Soviet Union lost many great minds including military leaders and, proffesors, writers, etc.